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DRRR Q2-TOPIC 1

The document discusses geological hazards, focusing on landslides and sinkholes, their causes, and signs of impending occurrences. Landslides can be triggered by factors such as geology, morphology, and human activity, particularly during heavy rainfall, while sinkholes result from the erosion of soluble rocks, either naturally or through human activities. The document also highlights early warning systems and signs to recognize potential hazards, such as unusual noises, cracks, and ground depressions.

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11 views

DRRR Q2-TOPIC 1

The document discusses geological hazards, focusing on landslides and sinkholes, their causes, and signs of impending occurrences. Landslides can be triggered by factors such as geology, morphology, and human activity, particularly during heavy rainfall, while sinkholes result from the erosion of soluble rocks, either naturally or through human activities. The document also highlights early warning systems and signs to recognize potential hazards, such as unusual noises, cracks, and ground depressions.

Uploaded by

maryrosegimaoencinares
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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YOUR TOPIC: Geological Hazards: Landslides and Sinkholes

YOUR TARGET:

• discuss the different geological hazards;


• analyze the causes of geological hazards; and
• recognize signs of impending geological hazards

Geological Hazards

Geological hazards are gradual or sudden natural earth processes which cause injury, loss of life, property damage, loss of
livelihood and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental changes. These include earthquakes, landslides,
volcanic eruption, sinkholes etc. This module discusses the geological hazards landslides especially rainfall-induced
landslides and sinkholes.

1. Landslide
A landslide is rock, dirt, or debris falling down a sloping section of land. Landslides are caused by storms,
earthquakes, volcanoes or other factors which makes the slope unstable.

There are three major causes of landslides:


a) Geology – this refers to the material of the soil or rock in the area or can be the layers of earth has weakened or
stiffened in some part.
b) Morphology – this refers to the structure of the land. The soil or rock has weakened through loss of vegetation or
root system which holds the soil in place. Another is prolonged rainfall or heavy water leakage that increases the
weight of the land mass therefore as the water flows, sediments and soils also comes with it.
c) Human activity – to make way for agriculture and construction, trees are needed to be cut down. Irrigation,
deforestation, and excavation can weaken the integrity of the earth.

Rainfall-induced Landslide
This occurs due to prolonged or heavy rainfall, increasing the weight of the land mass. The development of a
rainfall-induced landslide may take several days but the landslide itself will only take a few minutes to cause a
disaster. Rainfall induced landslides can form debris flows when they mix with additional water and sediments from
their path. It may sweep away a whole community in an instant.

The diagram shows an example of a rainfall-induced landslide:

As you can see in the picture above, as the water flows down the slope of a mountain, some sediments and soil may be
swept away. If the integrity of the soil is compromised for example poor vegetation or weakened earth, much more of it will
come flowing down.
The impending signs of a rainfall-induced landslide

Rainfall-induced landslide can happen anytime during a heavy and prolonged rainfall. We cannot tell when exactly it will
happen but there are some signs that may indicate so:

• Unusual noises, such as breaking trees, or knocking boulders together, can mean moving debris.

• As the landslide nears, a slight rumbling sound that rises in amplitude is noticeable.

• Rapid rise in water levels of the creeks, likely followed by increased turbidity (soil content).

The Early Warning System (EWS) of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) and Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) are monitoring systems designed to forecast
events accompanying landslides in order to provide a warning about hazards. By reducing the impact, it mitigates risk.

2. Sinkhole
A sinkhole is a depression or hole caused by the collapse of the surface layer of the ground. Water is the primary
cause of most sinkholes when it dissolves soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. Sinkholes has two
kinds, natural or man-made.
• Natural sinkholes are caused by physical or chemical erosion. The natural flow of water may erode rock
material while acidic substances may also dissolve and eventually weaken it.
• Man-made sinkholes are caused by drilling, mining, road construction, and broken water or underground
pipes. Water may penetrate through mud and rocks and eventually erode the ground underneath.

Types of sinkholes

1. Solution sinkholes – are common in areas that have thin cover of soil on the surface of the ground which
exposes the bedrock to water erosion. As the bedrock erodes, particles collect in the spaces it leaves and a
small depression is formed over a period, eventually forming a hole. The bedrock may collapse suddenly, or it
may happen over time.

2. Cover Subsidence Sinkholes - this occur when the bedrock is covered by soil and materials that are not well-
knitted together. The soil in these areas are made mostly of clay or sand. Once the bedrock starts to erode, the
clay or sand starts to enter through the cracks and settles into the spaces left behind, creating a cavity on the
surface of the soil.

3. Cover Collapse Sinkholes – occur when the bedrock is covered by a deep layer of soil and earth. A crack
starts once the bedrock begins to get eroded. Weak points begin to form in the layers of soil above it. The weak
points eventually become a large hole within the bedrock that cannot support the weight above it. The collapse
occurs in an instant and can create large holes in a matter of minutes

The impending signs of a sinkhole

Sinkholes either man-made or natural can occur anytime. We cannot tell when will the hole emerge but there
are some signs that may indicate an impending disaster.

• New cracks at the foundations of buildings and houses

• Cracks in an area

• Depressions at ground level

• Rapid appearance of a crater in the ground.

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