SOCIAL SCEINCE SOCIAL SCEINCE

PROJECT REPORT PROJECT REPORT

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LANDSLIDESLANDSLIDES

LANDSLIDESLANDSLIDES

Natural causes of Landslides Natural causes of Landslides

Earthquakes:Earthquakes: Seismic activities have always been a  Seismic activities have always been a main cause of landslides throughout the world. Any time main cause of landslides throughout the world. Any time plate tectonics move the soil that covers them moves plate tectonics move the soil that covers them moves with it. When earthquakes occur on areas with steep with it. When earthquakes occur on areas with steep slopes, many times the soil slips causing landslides. slopes, many times the soil slips causing landslides. Furthermore, ashen debris flows caused by earthquakes Furthermore, ashen debris flows caused by earthquakes can also trigger mass movement of soil. can also trigger mass movement of soil. Heavy Rainfall:Heavy Rainfall: When sloped areas become completely  When sloped areas become completely saturated by heavy rainfall many times landslides can saturated by heavy rainfall many times landslides can occur. Without the aid of mechanical root support the soil occur. Without the aid of mechanical root support the soil simply runs off when it contains too much water.simply runs off when it contains too much water.

Human causes of Landslides Human causes of Landslides

Clear Cutting: Clear Cutting: Method of timber harvesting Method of timber harvesting which completely removes all old growth timber which completely removes all old growth timber from the area. This method is hazardous from the area. This method is hazardous because it destroys the existing mechanical root because it destroys the existing mechanical root structure in the area. structure in the area. 

Mining:Mining: Mining operations that use blasting  Mining operations that use blasting techniques often cause other areas that are at techniques often cause other areas that are at the risk of sliding to slide due to vibrations under the risk of sliding to slide due to vibrations under the soil.the soil.

CUTTING TREESCUTTING TREES

Clear Cutting IncreaseClear Cutting Increase

Large trees provide strong root structures that Large trees provide strong root structures that penetrate fragile cracks in the underlying penetrate fragile cracks in the underlying bedrock and anchor the soil.Old growth trees bedrock and anchor the soil.Old growth trees natural have large leaf surface areas which natural have large leaf surface areas which cause much water transfer. The water is drawn cause much water transfer. The water is drawn up from the soil and eventually transpired back up from the soil and eventually transpired back to the atmosphere.Forests create a canopy of to the atmosphere.Forests create a canopy of foliage high up in the air to help dissipate rain foliage high up in the air to help dissipate rain fall over large areas.Heavy logging machinery fall over large areas.Heavy logging machinery damages precious topsoil and decreases its damages precious topsoil and decreases its ability to absorb water.ability to absorb water.

  

Future ProblemsFuture Problems        The damage that The damage that landslides cause on landslides cause on the environment is the environment is equally devastating to equally devastating to the damages caused the damages caused to man made to man made structures. Loss of structures. Loss of habitat is caused by habitat is caused by landslides which landslides which upsets the upsets the ecosystem. ecosystem.

Conclusions and SolutionsConclusions and Solutions

        It is obvious that landslides have become a very serious It is obvious that landslides have become a very serious problem, especially in Washington and other coastal regions of problem, especially in Washington and other coastal regions of the United States, and although landslides can occur as a result of the United States, and although landslides can occur as a result of natural processes, many of these landslides can be avoided with natural processes, many of these landslides can be avoided with proper planning and the implementation of different timber harvest proper planning and the implementation of different timber harvest techniques. Many communities that have come to depend upon techniques. Many communities that have come to depend upon timber harvesting as their primary economic function have begun timber harvesting as their primary economic function have begun to lobby for alternative methods in which the harvesting is carried to lobby for alternative methods in which the harvesting is carried out to not only insure future yields, but also to prevent more out to not only insure future yields, but also to prevent more occurrences of environmental hazards in their areas. One main occurrences of environmental hazards in their areas. One main method that logging companies have begun to adopt is old growth method that logging companies have begun to adopt is old growth selective felling, which allows most of old growth trees to remain. selective felling, which allows most of old growth trees to remain. This method has proven to be very successful in preventing This method has proven to be very successful in preventing landslides yet has  also allowed timber companies to maintain landslides yet has  also allowed timber companies to maintain production production

Before a landslideBefore a landslideFind out if landslides have Find out if landslides have happened inhappened inyour area in the past.your area in the past. Look out for landslide warning Look out for landslide warning signs likesigns likedoors or windows jammed for the doors or windows jammed for the firstfirsttime, new cracks appear in walls, time, new cracks appear in walls, bricks,bricks,foundations, retaining walls, tilt of foundations, retaining walls, tilt of utilityutilitypoles or trees.poles or trees. Consider relocation in case Consider relocation in case your house isyour house islocated in an area particularly located in an area particularly vulnerablevulnerableto landslides.to landslides.

During a landslideDuring a landslideListen to any unusual sounds Listen to any unusual sounds that might indicatethat might indicatemoving debris, such as trees moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulderscracking or bouldersknocking together. A trickle of knocking together. A trickle of flowing or fallingflowing or fallingmud or debris may precede mud or debris may precede larger flows.larger flows.While you are outdoors during While you are outdoors during a landslidea landslide Try to get out of the path of Try to get out of the path of the landslide or mudflowthe landslide or mudflowby running to the nearest high by running to the nearest high ground orground oraway from the path.away from the path.

After a landslideAfter a landslide Stay away from the landslide area as thereStay away from the landslide area as theremay be danger of additional slides. Do notmay be danger of additional slides. Do notdrive through.drive through. Watch for flooding which may occur after aWatch for flooding which may occur after alandslide.landslide. Check for injured or trapped persons nearCheck for injured or trapped persons nearthe slide, without entering the slide area.the slide, without entering the slide area.Direct rescuers to their locations.Direct rescuers to their locations. Help neighbours who may require specialHelp neighbours who may require specialassistance– infants, elderly people and assistance– infants, elderly people and disableddisabledpeople.people. Listen to local radio/television stations forListen to local radio/television stations forthe latest emergency information.the latest emergency information. Look for and report broken utility lines toLook for and report broken utility lines toappropriate authorities.appropriate authorities.

PRESENTED BY:-PRESENTED BY:-

Name:SHIVAM AGARWALName:SHIVAM AGARWAL

Class/sec:IX-AClass/sec:IX-A

Roll no.:26Roll no.:26

School:KHAITAN PUBLIC SCHOOLSchool:KHAITAN PUBLIC SCHOOL