Landslides

LandslidesBy: Kyle Armbruster

Debris flows, sometimes referred to as mudslides, mudflows, lahars, or debris avalanches, are all common types of fast-moving landslides.

Types of landslides

Landslides generally occur during periods of intense rainfall or rapid snow melt or shortly after.

When landslides occur

They usually start on steep hillsides as shallow landslides that accelerate to speeds that are typically about 10 miles per hour, but can exceed 35 miles per hour.

Where landslides occur

The consistency of debris flows ranges from watery mud to thick, rocky mud that can carry large items such as boulders, trees, and cars.

What can mudflows do

Every year, landslides in the United States cause approximately $3.5 billion in damage, and kill between 25 and 50 people.

Casualties in the United States are primarily caused by rockfalls, rock slides, and debris flows.

Damage from landslides

Landslides often accompany earthquakes, floods, storm surges, hurricanes, wildfires, or volcanic activity. They are often more damaging and deadly than the triggering event

Also during heavy rain or when there is not enough vegetation and the land starts to move.

How landslides start

One of the most common spots for landslides is in India. One place is the rohtang pass which translates in English to pile of corpses. Below is some of the back up landslides can cause.

Some common places for landslides

Landslides pictures

Google images search (landslide pictures) (rohtang pass)

www.fema.gov

References