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Landslides I
Dude where’s your house!
Optional
Field
Trip!
2020
Goals for today
(Study with these!)
1. Describe how the impact of landslides depends on:
Population density, Economic infrastructure, and
Population Preparedness
2. Explain why British Columbia has the highest
frequency of landslides in Canada and what we should
expect as our population expands into the mountains
3. Distinguish between the 3 main failure modes (falls,
flows, and slides) and how they are influenced by
geology
4. Categorize, Identify, and Name a variety of different
landslides
Note!
Note some slides near the end of
this lecture are not explicitly
covered during lecture.
You are still responsible for this
information (i.e. it’s in the
learning goals)
Even with Landslides
All roads lead to Rome …
“And as a rock falls precipitate
from some mountain-crest, torn
thence by the wind, or washed
forth by the swollen rains, or
loosened by the stealthy lapse of
years; under mighty impulse the
destroying cliff crashes in abrupt
descent and bounds over earth,
involving in its train forests and Photo: Brett Gilley
herds and men…” men and women anyone who doesn’t pay
attention to the next 4 classes
Virgil (20 BCE), “The Aeneid”
Clicker Question
Have you, a close friend, or family
member, ever seen a landslide
occur?
(A) No
(B) Yes, in the distance.
(C) Yes, very close, but everyone was okay
(D) Yes, and it caused damage (to person
or property)
Clicker Question
Right now how far are you from the
nearest landslide prone area?
A) 10 minute walk
B) 30 minute drive
C) 2 hour drive
D) 30 minute drive and 2 hour ferry
ride
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=xsXQBnZ_xjI
Video
Turn to your neighbour.
Discuss:
1) What were the important
features of that landslide?
2) Is there anything else you
noticed in the video?
Landslide or Mass
Movement?
Landslide
Slide
Mass movement
Mass wasting
So really…
Who cares?
D
Landslide Impacts
Why are some landslides so much
more damaging to people and or
property?
Photo: Martin Collazos
Impacts
Huascaran, Peru (1970)
2.5 million m3 of rock – 25,000 dead
Photos: USGS
Impacts
Pemberton, B.C. (2010)
~40 million m3 – 0 fatalities
Photos: John J.
Clague
Clicker Question
Why was the landslide in Peru so much more
deadly?
A) There were more rocks released that moved
faster and further
B) City planners in Pemberton did research and
knew not to put a town there (Developed
World)
C) There was a higher vulnerability in Peru
D) There was a higher hazard in Peru
E) The time of day the slide occurred
Landslide Impacts
Human and Economic impacts of
landslides are broadly governed by:
1) Population density (lives and
injuries)
2) Cost of infrastructure ($$$)
3) Population preparedness (both)
Local Human Impacts
North Vancouver
Riverside Drive (2005)
– 1 fatality
Local Economic Impacts
Photo: Me
Clicker Question
On average, how often does a landslide occur
on the Sea-to-Sky Highway (HWY 99)?
A) About once every 50 years
B) About once every 10 years
C) About once per year
D) More than once per month
E) Every day
Clicker Question
On average, how often does a landslide
close the Sea-to-Sky Highway (HWY 99)?
A) About once every 50 years
B) About once every 10 years
C) About once per year
D) More than once per month
E) Every day
Human Impacts
Canada: ~3 lives/yr
USA: ~30 lives/yr
Increasing
population
density
Tajikistan 19%
Peru 12%
Human Impacts
Reported yearly landslide fatalities are a
low number 1000s or so
Unfortunately underestimated
Most fatalities are associated with the
landslide trigger (earthquakes, floods,
volcanoes etc.)
Not the landslide itself
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/01/12/brazil-flood-mountains-rain-toll.html
Human Impacts
Dave Petley (of:
http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/ )
Google searched worldwide on landslide
fatalities
2004-2010 ~ 33000 deaths!
~5000 per year!
Economic Impacts
Impossible to determine.
Some Estimates:
Canada – $1.4 Billion per year
US - $3.5 Billion
Japan - $4 Billion
Venezuela - $62 Million
Clicker Question
Why are the economic impacts of
landslides so much lower in Venezuela?
A) There are fewer landslides
B) Less people are injured
C) Less buildings are damaged
D) The cost of rebuilding is less
E) There are far fewer mountains
Why do we care?
We want to live
(Deaths and injury)
We want to own property that
doesn’t get destroyed
($$$ economy and rebuilding)
Fatal landslides 2002-2008
3-10
10- 50
>50
Natural Resources
Canada
Why BC ?
What do you think?
• Mountainous terrain
• Lots of Rain
• Complex geology
• Unconsolidated glacial
sediments
• Many Triggers
BC Ministry of Energy
and Mines
Classification of Landslides
(i.e. Names)
Classified by
1) Type of material
2) Type of movement
3) Rate of movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mKC3
eID074
Soil Creep
Photo USGS
Worksheet Photo 3
Photo: Nasa
Worksheet Photo 5
Worksheet
Photo 6
Photo USGS
Photo by John Clague