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Geography > Landslides > Flashcards

Landslides Flashcards

1
Q

What are landslides?

A
  1. Collapse of slopes
  2. Occurs when a mass of soils and rock of all sizes moves down a slope rapidly due to gravity
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2
Q

How do landslides affect us?

A
  1. many injuries and death
  2. bury buildings and damage infrastructure ( water&gas pipes, power line)
  3. Block roads and stop traffic
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3
Q

What are the TWO forces that control the slopes stability? Explain.

A

Driving force:
1. Pulls slope materials downhill under the force of gravity
2. Controlled by slope gradient and weight of slope materials

Resisting force:
1. Prevents slope materials from sliding down
2. Affected by cohesion of slope materials and force of friction

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4
Q

How the TWO forces affect the slope stability ?

A
  1. Resisting force > Driving forces : stable
  2. Driving forces > Resisting forces : unstable , may collapse
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5
Q

Why are the causes of landslides in Hong Kong?

A
  1. Natural factors : Heavy rainfall, Strong weathering, Large slope gradient
  2. Human factors : Human activities on slopes, Poor maintenance of man-made slopes
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6
Q

How can Heavy Rainfall causes landslides?

A
  1. Large amount of water adds much weight to the slope
  2. Driving forces increases
  3. Rainwater seeps into soil
  4. Reduces cohesion and force of friction
  5. Resisting forces decreases
  6. Slope materials fall down
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7
Q

How can Strong weathering causes landslides?

A

Weathering: wearing away or breakdown of rocks on earth’s surface
1. Many areas in Hong Kong made up of granite (easily weathered under hot and wet climate)
2. Leaves thick layers of loose materials on slopes
3. Resisting force of loose materials is small

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8
Q

How can Large slope gradient causes landslides?

A
  1. Larger slope gradient; stronger force of pulling slope materials downhill
    ( >30 ° , high risk)
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9
Q

How can Human Activities on slopes causes landslides? How different is cutting slopes in the past and now?

A
  1. Slopes are cut and filled to build roads and buildings
  2. Increases slope gradient —> driving force increase
  3. Vegetation removed —> cohesions of slope materials decreases —> resisting force decreases

Past: without taking adequate preventive measures —> unsafe
Now: stricter laws and better slope management —> safe

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10
Q

How can Poor maintenance of man-made slopes causes landslides?

A

Poor maintenance —> Man-made slopes will break
1. Cracked slope surface and drainage channels allows more water to seep into soil
2. Weight of slope materials increases—> Increase of driving force
3. Cohesion and friction of slope materials decreases —> reduces resisting force

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11
Q

How to prepare for and respond to landslides?

A

Preventive measures: building barriers, strengthening and monitoring slopes, setting up laws, setting up warming systems, education
Remedial measures: (providing relief to people affected)

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12
Q

How can building barriers prevent or reduce the loss of landslides?

A
  1. Build barriers on slope (flexible Barrier) or bottom of slope (check dam)
  2. Prevent slope materials from rushing down to settlements
  3. Reduces loss of life and property
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13
Q

Which department have the responsibility for monitoring slopes? How can we strengthen and monitor slopes to prevent or reduce the damage of landslides?

A

Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) monitors, checks and maintain slope regularly
The Lands Department keeps records of the maintenance responsibilities of man-made slopes for public access

Increase resisting force:
1. Retaining wall —> support steep slope
2. Gabion wall —> provide support at the foot of a slope
3. Drainage channels* —> drain water from slope surface
4. Soil Nails —> anchor the soil to the slope
5. Cover slopes with shotcrete* —> prevent water seeping into slope
6. Weep holes* —> drain water
7. Plant vegetation (grass) —> hold soil together

With * = also reduce driving force

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14
Q

How can setting up laws prevent or reduce the damage of landslides?

A
  1. Restrict development on steep slopes
  2. Requires property owners to carry out proper slope maintenance measures
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15
Q

How can setting up warming systems prevent or reduce the damage of landslides?

A

Hong Kong Obeservatory
1. Heavy rain —> landslip warning
2. Alerts the public to reduce exposure to potential landslides & stay away from slopes

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16
Q

How can Education prevent or reduce the damage of landslides?

A

Landslip warning —>
1. Stay at home or in a safe place
2. Avoid walking and standing close to steep slopes
3. Avoid driving in hilly areas or on roads with landslip warming signposts
4. Move to safe shelter if your home is not safe

17
Q

What are the remedial measures after a landslide occurs?

A
  1. Well-trained rescue teams and emergency aids —> increase chance of saving lives
  2. People lost homes —> temporary shelters
  3. Financial aid and insurance compensation —> help people rebuild homes

Geography (5 decks)

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