The document outlines the causes and effects of landslides, categorizing them into natural (e.g., climate change, earthquakes, erosion) and human-induced factors (e.g., mining, deforestation). Landslides can lead to significant economic decline, loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, and adverse ecological impacts. The overall implications of landslides are severe, affecting both human populations and natural landscapes.

1. DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
TOPIC- CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF
LANDSLIDES
NAME- NITHIN KALLEPALLY

2. What Is A Landslide?
◦ The term landslide or less frequently, landslip, refers to several forms
of mass wasting that include a wide range of ground movements,
such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failure
◦ A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a sloped
section of land. Landslides are caused
by rain, earthquakes, volcanoes, or other factors that make the
slope unstable. s, mudflows and debris flows

3. CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES
◦ While landslides are considered naturally occurring disasters, human-induced changes in
the environment have recently caused their upsurge. Although the causes of landslides are
wide ranging, they have 2 aspects in common; they are driven by forces of gravity and result
from failure of soil and rock materials that constitute the hill slope:

4. NATURAL CAUSES OF
LANDSLIDES
CLIMATE -
◦ Long-term climatic changes can significantly impact soil stability. A general reduction
in precipitation leads to lowering of water table and reduction in overall weight of soil mass,
reduced solution of materials and less powerful freeze-thaw activity. A significant upsurge in
precipitation or ground saturation would dramatically increase the level of ground water.
When sloped areas are completely saturated with water, landslides can occur. If there is
absence of mechanical root support, the soils start to run off.
EARTHQUAKES -
◦ Seismic activities have, for a long time, contributed to landslides across the globe. Any moment
tectonic plates move, the soil covering them also moves along. When earthquakes strike areas
with steep slopes, on numerous occasion, the soil slips leading to landslides. In addition, ashen
debris flows instigated by earthquakes could also cause mass soil movement

5. WEATHERING
◦ Weathering is the natural procedure of rock deterioration that leads to weak, landslide-
susceptive materials. Weathering is brought about by the chemical action of water, air,
plants and bacteria. When the rocks are weak enough, they slip away causing landslides

6. VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS -
◦ Volcanic eruptions can trigger landslides. If an eruption occurs in a wet condition, the soil
will start to move downhill instigating a landslide. Stratovolcano is a typical example of
volcano responsible for most landslides across the globe.
EROSION -
◦ Erosion caused by sporadic running water such
as streams, rivers, wind, currents, ice and waves
wipes out latent and lateral slope support
enabling landslides to occur easily due to
heavy rainfalls and excessive deforestation.

7. FOREST FIRES -
◦ Forest fires instigate soil erosion and bring about floods, which might lead to
landslides
◦ Forest fires occurring naturally or due to human errors could lead to this landslides
GRAVITY -
◦ Steeper slopes coupled with gravitational force can trigger a massive landslide.
◦ The downward attraction of earth pulls down the weak layers of the soil on a
mountain or hill which causes the landslides

8. HUMAN CAUSES OF
LANDSLIDES
MINING -
◦ Mining activities that utilize blasting techniques contribute mightily to landslides. Vibrations emanating from the blasts can
weaken soils in other areas susceptible to landslides. The weakening of soil means a landslide can occur anytime.
DEFORESTRATION –
◦ Deforestation is the permanent removal of trees to make room for something besides forest. This can include clearing the
land for agriculture or grazing, or using the timber for fuel, construction or manufacturing.
◦ ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS:
 Inappropriate drainage system: Surface runoff of irrigated water on slopes exposes soil under cultivation to erosion. Part
of this water is absorbed by soil increasing its weight, which can put an additional load on the slope

9. ◦ Change in slope/land use pattern, deforestation, agricultural practices on steep slopes:
contributed to creep and withdrawal of toe support in many cases
COMBINATION OF FACTORS:
◦ For example, an earthquake may trigger a landslide, which in turn may dam a valley causing
upstream flooding and subsequent dam burst. This will lead to flooding in lower catchments
areas.
OTHER FACTORS -
◦ building roads and structures without adequate grading of slopes, poorly planned alteration
of drainage patterns, and disturbing old landslides
◦ And many more human errors….

10. EFFECTS OF LANDSLIDES
◦ Landslides have affected both the human beings as
well as the wild life 'adversely. Every year there are
reports of casualties of humans and animals and
destruction of human property worth crores of
rupees. This has disturbed the normal life of
people. The magnitude of the damages caused by
these hazards every year is very large and it
becomes costlier to overcome these problems. The
study of the impact of landslides on man and
nature in the study district is important as human
interference with nature becomes more
pronounced during the last decade

11. EFFECTS OF LANDSLIDES
LEAD TO ECONOMIC DECLINE -
◦ Landslides have been verified to result in destruction of property. If the landslide is significant, it could drain the economy
of the region or country. After a landslide, the area affected normally undergoes rehabilitation. This rehabilitation involves
massive capital outlay. For example, the 1983 landslide at Utah in the United States resulted in rehabilitation cost of about
$500 million. The annual loss as a result of landslides in U.S. stands at an estimated $1.5 billion.
LOSS OF LIFE -
◦ Communities living at the foot of hills and mountains are at a greater risk of death by landslides. A substantial landslide
carries along huge rocks, heavy debris and heavy soil with it. This kind of landslide has the capacity to kills lots of people
on impact. For instance, Landslides in the UK that happened a few years ago caused rotation of debris that destroyed a
school and killed over 144 people including 116 school children aged between 7 and 10 years. In a separate event, NBC
News reported a death toll of 21 people in the March 22, 2014, landslide in Oso, Washington.

12. DECIMATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
◦ The force flow of mud, debris, and rocks as a result of a landslide can cause serious damage to property.
Infrastructure such as roads, railways, leisure destinations, buildings and communication systems can be
decimated by a single landslide
AFFECTS BEAUTY OF LANDSCAPES
◦ The erosion left behind by landslides leaves behind rugged landscapes that are unsightly. The pile of soil, rock
and debris downhill can cover land utilized by the community for agricultural or social purposes.

13. IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM -
◦ The soil, debris, and rock sliding downhill can find way into rivers and block their natural
flow. Many river habitats like fish can die due to interference of natural flow of water.
Communities depending on the river water for household activities and irrigation will suffer
if flow of water is blocked.
LANDSLIDES AND FLOODING-
Debris flow can cause flooding by blocking valleys and stream channels, forcing large amounts
of water to backup causing backup/ flash flood.
Geological Factors -
Many slides occur in a geologic setting that places permeable sands and gravels above
impermeable layers of silt and clay, or bedrock. Water seeps downward through the upper
materials and accumulates on the top of the underlying units, forming a zone of weakness

14. OTHER CONSEQUENCES -
◦ Landslides cause property damage, injury, and death and adversely affect a variety of
resources. For example, water supplies, fisheries, sewage disposal systems, forests, dams,
and roadways can be affected for years after a slide event.
The negative economic effects of landslides include the cost to repair structures, loss of
property value, disruption of transportation routes, medical costs in the event of injury,
and indirect costs, such as lost timber and fish stocks. Water availability, quantity, and
quality can be affected by landslides. Geotechnical studies and engineering projects to
assess and stabilize potentially dangerous sites can be costly.

15. THANK
YOU…