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Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Geotours

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Geotour 13: Examples of Landslides

Portuguese Bend Landslide, CA

1a. Double-click placemark Problem 1. This flies you to the infamous Portuguese Bend area in California. This region has experienced a massive (and progressive) landslide that has cannibalized the subdivision that once existed on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

Check and double-click placemark Problem 1a to fly in closer to the region. Many of these buildings reside on a hummocky debris apron. How did urbanization likely contribute to cause the mass wasting?

a) water from septic systems, sprinklers, etc. lubricated the slope making it more unstable
b) undercutting the slope to make flatter areas for buildings made the slope more unstable
c) weight of buildings and roads made the area more unstable
d) all of the above

1b. Do you think making the road here was a smart thing to do?

a) yes, it will help stabilize the slope
b) yes, it will serve as a boundary to prevent further building on the unstable area
c) no, the road just undercuts the slope above it, making it even more unstable

1c. Would you buy the home highlighted by placemark Problem 1c?

a) no, it is going to experience additional collapse
b) yes, it will likely be cheap, and no problems will happen in my lifetime
c) yes, it will likely be cheap, and I can make a quick profit

La Conchita Mudslide, CA

2a. When you double-click on placemark Problem 2a, you will be looking ENE at the steep, seaward-sloping face of a terrace. The placemark is positioned on the most recent, active mudslide, which is the infamous La Conchita mudslide.

Why do you think this mudslide occurred?

a) the area has little vegetation to hold the soil
b) the area could have been undercut by the road half-way up the slope
c) the sea terrace on which the houses sit has over-steepened the cliff
d) all of the above

2b. What do the areas marked by placemarks Problem 2b represent?

a) construction sites
b) older mudslides
c) former tsunami erosional features
d) old stream valleys

2c. Do you want to buy a house near placemark Problem 2c?

a) yes, it will likely be cheap, and no problems will happen in my lifetime
b) no, it is likely to experience another mudflow collapse
c) yes, it will likely be cheap, and I can make a quick profit

Gros Ventre Slide, WY

3a. Double-click on placemark Problem 3a, which will fly you to a view of the Gros Ventre Slide and the adjacent Slide Lake.

What specific part of the slide is placemark Problem 3a?

a) slide scar
b) slide toe
c) hummocky debris apron
d) the material is not part of the slide

3b. Based on the position of the lake, in what direction does the water of the Gros Ventre River flow at this locality?

a) west to east
b) east to west

3c. Which contributed to the slide?

a) river erosion had made the slope unstable
b) heavy rains made the materials heavier and lubricated the slip surface
c) rock layers were dipping towards the valley
d) all three of the above answers are correct
e) only the first two above answers are correct

Vaiont Dam, WY

4a. Check and double-click on placemark Problem 4 to fly you to the site of the Vaiont Dam disaster in 1963.

Which answer correctly identifies the features highlighted by placemarks Problem 4a-i, -ii, and -iii?

a) 4a-i: dam; 4a-ii: hummocky debris apron; and 4a-iii: slide scar
b) 4a-i: hummocky debris apron; 4a-ii: slide scar; and 4a-iii: dam
c) 4a-i: slide scar; 4a-ii: dam; and 4a-iii: hummocky debris apron

4b. What caused the landslide to occur?

a) the layers dip towards the valley
b) the reservoir formed by the dam lubricated the slip surface
c) both of the above answers are correct
d) none of the above answers are correct

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Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Geotours

Geotour 13: Examples of Landslides

Portuguese Bend Landslide, CA

La Conchita Mudslide, CA

Gros Ventre Slide, WY

Vaiont Dam, WY

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