GEOLOGY 101, FAQS
Mass Movements
Joseph Hull
 copyright  Joseph Hull

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1.            What earth materials are involved in mass movements?  Is loose snow one of them?  How about glacial ice?

 

2.            How does increasing rainfall destabilize slopes?  Think of at least two ways.

 

3.            Vegetation, especially large trees, are thought to hold the hillside in place, but this is usually not true, especially for Western Washington.  Why do our trees NOT contribute much to hillside stability?

 

4.            Has the past glacial history of Seattle (last glacial event:  15,000 years ago) influenced Seattle's mass movements?  YES or NO, and explain your answer.

 

5.  There are slides/solid (landslides, etc.) and there are flows/fluid (mudflows, etc.).  What are the other kinds/categories of mass movements besides these two?

 

6.  What mass movements were associated with the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption?  How did these mass movements differ?

 

7.  Mass movements in Seattle cause a lot of damage every year, both to private and public property.  Give 1 feasable measure that the City of Seattle could take to significantly either (A) reduce the number of mass movements or (B) reduce the damage they cause.  Explain also why you chose "reduce the number" or "reduce the damage".

 

 

8.  It has been suggested that “landslides stabilize help stabilize slopes.”  How is it possible for a landslide to stabilize a slope?  Give at least one explanation.

 

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