Natural and
Human
Causes of
Landslides
and Sinkholes
Activity 2
Match it!
STATEMENTS
1._________ influences landslides through factors like heavy CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES
rainfall, which saturates the ground and reduces its strength,
especially in areas with steep slopes or loose soil.
Temperature fluctuations, such as freeze-thaw cycles in A. Forest Fires
colder regions, weaken rocks and soils over time, increasing
susceptibility to landslides.
B. Erosion
2. __________ directly shake the ground, increasing pore C. Climate
pressure and reducing shear strength, leading to landslides.
Indirectly, ___________ can alter geology or cause ground D. Earthquake
ruptures, affecting slope stability.
3. _______ contribute to landslides by destroying vegetation
that stabilizes slopes. Loss of vegetation exposes soil to
erosion by rainfall and runoff, increasing landslide risk. The
intense heat of fires can alter soil properties, making it more
prone to erosion and destabilization.
4. _________ removes material from the base or toe of a slope,
reducing its support and stability, and increasing landslide
likelihood. This _______ can be caused by various factors,
including water, wind, ice, and gravity.
STATEMENTS
CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES
5. __________ can trigger landslides through various
mechanisms, including the destabilization of slopes by
volcanic ash and debris, rapid melting of snow and ice by
A. Gravity
volcanic heat, and generation of lahars (volcanic B. Weathering
mudflows) by mixing volcanic ash with water.
C. Volcanic
6. _________ is a natural procedure of rock deterioration
that leads to weak, landslide-susceptive materials. It is eruption
brought about by the chemical action of water, air, plants
and bacteria. When the rocks are weak enough, they slip
away causing landslides.
7. Steeper slopes coupled with gravitational force can
trigger a massive landslide. Steeper slopes can also cause
the debris to move farther from the foot of the area.
A landslide is the movement of
rock, soil, and debris down a
slope, often triggered by factors
like heavy rainfall, earthquakes,
or human activities.
NATURAL CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES
refer to the geological and
environmental processes that occur
in nature and contribute to the
occurrence of landslides.
1. __________ influences landslides by affecting the
stability of slopes through factors such as rainfall and
temperature. Heavy rainfall, particularly in areas with
steep slopes or loose soil, can saturate the ground,
increasing its weight and reducing its strength, which
can lead to slope instability and trigger landslides.
Climate
2. __________ directly shake the ground,
increasing pore pressure and reducing shear
strength, leading to landslides. Indirectly,
___________ can alter geology or cause
ground ruptures, affecting slope stability.
Earthquake
3._______ contribute to landslides by destroying
vegetation that stabilizes slopes. Loss of vegetation
exposes soil to erosion by rainfall and runoff,
increasing landslide risk. The intense heat of fires can
alter soil properties, making it more prone to erosion
and destabilization.
Forest Fires
4. _________ removes material from the base
or toe of a slope, reducing its support and
stability, and increasing landslide likelihood. This
_______ can be caused by various factors,
including water, wind, ice, and gravity.
Erosion
5. __________ can trigger landslides through various
mechanisms, including the destabilization of slopes
by volcanic ash and debris, rapid melting of snow and
ice by volcanic heat, and generation of lahars
(volcanic mudflows) by mixing volcanic ash with
water.
Volcanic
Eruption
6. _________ is a natural procedure of rock
deterioration that leads to weak, landslide-susceptive
materials. It is brought about by the chemical action
of water, air, plants and bacteria. When the rocks are
weak enough, they slip away causing landslides.
Weathering
7. Steeper slopes coupled with gravitational
force can trigger a massive landslide. Steeper
slopes can also cause the debris to move farther
from the foot of the area.
Gravity
HUMAN CAUSES OF LANDSLIDES
refer to activities and
practices undertaken by
humans that contribute to
or exacerbate landslide
occurrence.
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.
Clear cutting
Clear cutting is a technique of timber harvesting
that eliminates all old trees from the area. This
technique is dangerous since it decimates the
existing mechanical root structure of the area. It
changes the amount of water infiltrating the soil.
Rainfall-Induced landslides are the most common and widespread damaging
landslides in the Philippines, with an average of 20 typhoons each year due to
prolonged or heavy rainfall. Most rainfall-induced landslides are shallow (less than
a few meters deep), thin, and move quickly.
Rainfall can be a cause for landslides, but soil conditions are also very critical.
Researchers wanted to take into account a number of variables, including weather
type, soil type and land-cover characteristics. However, there was no single source
for the data they needed.
The features of precipitation occurrences, including the accumulated volume of
rainfall, length and severity, and the slope of the terrain show the greatest effect
on the stability of the slope and the rate of occurrence of landslides and debris. In
addition, the precipitation-induced landslide depends on the type of land covered
and the type of soil. In short, the cause of rainfall-induced landslides still rely on
the factors mentioned.
SINKHOLE
NATURAL CAUSES OF SINKHOLE
– Dissolution of sedimentary rocks
Sinkholes occur when sedimentary rocks are dissolved. When
these rocks are dissolved, it can either form a void of water or air.
A void filled with air form a hole and a void filled with
underground water makes a lake or a pond. Sinkholes can be in
the form of holes or depressions on the ground.
SINKHOLE
HUMAN CAUSES OF SINKHOLE
– Underground water pumping
Pumping water underneath the ground causes drainage to alter their
flow which causes the soil to be eroded by water. Broken pipes
underneath the ground can also cause internal erosion making a void
underneath the ground. Altering drainage systems cause water to
branch into other routes where there is soluble rock can cause erosion
through the flow of water.
Assessment
Directions
Choose the letter of the
best answer. Write your
answer in a ¼ sheet of
paper
1. What is a landslide?
a. A sudden rush of water down a slope.
b. A rapid movement of snow and ice.
c. The downward movement of soil on a slope.
d. A strong wind blowing over loose sediment.
2. Which of the following is not a natural
cause of landslides?
a. climate
b. erosion
c. weathering
d. cross cutting
3. Which of the following is a natural
cause of landslide?
a. clear-cutting
b. mining
c. deforestation
d. forest fire
4. Which of the following is a natural
procedure of rock deterioration that
weakens the landslide-susceptible
materials?
a. climate
b. mining
c. sunlight
d. weathering
5. How can individuals help prevent
landslides caused by human
activities?
A) Reporting illegal logging or mining activities
B) Encouraging unregulated construction on
slopes
C) Disposing of waste in landslide-prone areas
D) Clearing vegetation from hillsides
Answer Key:
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. A
THANK
YOU FOR
LISTENING