GEOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
Module exam GL3 June 2005
MASS MOVEMENT HAZARDS
Geology Department, Greenhead College, Huddersfield.
Holbeck Hall Hotel, Scarborough
LEARNING TARGETS
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When you have completed this study guide, you will:

know about the frequency of mass movements

understand how mass movements take place on slopes

be able to suggest ways in which mass movements can be promoted by human
intervention

have learned some case studies which show how hazardous mass movements can be

have learned how mass movements can be monitored

suggest ways in which mass movements can be prevented

be able to answer a variety of examination questions on this topic.
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GEOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
Module exam GL3 June 2005
Resources
Here is a choice of resources to use. You do not need to look at them all but clearly the more you read
the better your knowledge of case studies will be. Tick the box once you have used the resource.
If you read a photocopied extract then highlight it to help you reread it for revision. If you make notes
from a video tape make sure that the notes are headed with the name of the tape so that you know the
source of your information. Case studies are very useful for essay questions so you should keep a
separate list of the examples that you have researched.
MMH1
MMH2
MMH3
MMH4
MMH5
MMH6
MMH7
MMH8
MMH9
MMH10
MMH11
Specification notes on Mass Movement Hazards
Britain on the slide after record rainfall Independent on Sunday 7 Jan 2001
Lancashire landslides Earthwise BGS 2004
Units 32-36 from Foundations of Engineering Geology by A.C. Waltham
Video Tape Raging Planet Avalanches and Lahars Tape 32
Video Tape Landforms Coasts from 52-56 minutes from start of tape. Tape 43
Power point on mass movements and engineering solutions
Geoscience Dee Edwards and Chris King p 164-165
Debris Flow hazards in the Andes Mark Bromley Geography Review Sept 2001
Video Tape Aberfan Landslide 20 mins. Tape 45
Video Tape Horizon. The Runaway Mountain. 50 mins. Tape 45
Websites
www.walesontheweb.org/cayw/index/en/622/334
www.usgs.gov/themes/landslid.html
www.geologyshop.co.uk/landslips.htm
http://landslides.usgs.gov/html_files/landslides/newsinfo.html
www.swgfl.org.uk/jurassic/opencost6.htm
www.kingston.ac.uk/~ku00323/landslid/vaiont.htm
www.nerc-bas.ac.uk/tsunami-risks/html/HVaiont.htm
There are many other websites you could search.
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TASK 1
Read through the notes on Mass Movement Hazards (MMH1). Underline any
ideas, works or phrases that you do not understand. The rest of the Study Guide will
help you learn the topic and some case studies that you can use in essay questions.
TASK 2 LANDSLIDE DISTRIBUTION
Read MMH2 and answer these questions
1. Why were there so many landslides in Britain in the autumn of 2000?
2. Name five areas which have been affected by landslides.
3. What damage to the human and physical landscape have the landslides caused?
4. What does Allan Rodgers suggest should be done to prevent such damage and
why?
Use this box for notes
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GEOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
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Module exam GL3 June 2005
TASK 3 TYPES OF MASS MOVEMENT HAZARDS
Using MMH4 Unit 32 Slope Failure and Landslides, draw simplified labelled
diagrams of the main types of mass movements:



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rock falls
debris flows/mudflows
single rotation landslides
multiple rotation landslides
planar slides
For each make brief notes on how the mass movement occurs and what geological
features promote the failure of the slope.
TASK 4 EXAMPLES OF LANDSLIDES
Study these three landslides:



Scarborough, East Yorkshire
Vaiont Reservoir Slide, Alps, Italy
Aberfan slide, S. Wales 1966
For each describe the geological structure which made the slope susceptible to mass
movement and the trigger which caused the mass movement to occur.
Watch MMH5, MMH6 and MMH11.
TASK 5
PHOTOGRAPH OF SCARBOROUGH LANDSLIDE
Annotate the landslide photo on the front cover of this study guide.
TASK 6


SLOPE STABILITY
Draw and annotate the diagram at the top of p65 in Unit 32 MMH4 which
illustrates the forces which affect the stability of a slope.
Write a short account in your own words of the forces which act to prevent
slope collapse.
List at least five changes which could occur on the slope to reduce its stability and
allow mass movement to take place. These could be physical conditions or human
interventions.
Use this box for notes
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VC/Dept/Geol/003
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GEOLOGY STUDY GUIDE
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Module exam GL3 June 2005
TASK 7 ANGLE OF REPOSE
Using at least two different types of breakfast cereal find out the angle of repose of
each. Before you carry out the experiment put forwards hypotheses suggesting what
you expect to find.
Create a slope from the cereal and increase the slope angle gradually so that you can
measure the angle at which the slope finally loses stability. Devise a method of
doing this. You may find that adding milk or sugar changes the angle of repose so
repeat the experiment according to taste.
Write a brief account of your findings, including diagrams to show your
methodology.
TASK 8 SLOPE STABILISATION
1. Read MMH1 and highlight the main methods of slope stabilisation.
2.
Now read MMH4 Unit 36 Slope Stabilisation to find out in more detail what
techniques can be used. The four main techniques are:-




Slope profile modification
Drainage of landslides
Methods of supporting landslides
Strengthening slopes
3.
Draw a large copy of the diagram at the bottom of p72 and annotate it to show
different methods of slope drainage.
4.
Draw a large copy of the diagram on p73 which shows different methods of
supporting unstable cuttings and preventing rockfalls.
TASK 9
LANDSLIDE MONITORING
Draw a large copy of the diagram at the bottom p.71 MMH4 to illustrate how
landslides can be monitored to show their level of risk of further movement.
TASK 10 EXAM QUESTION PACK
Complete the Mass Movements EQP
Deadline……………………………………
TASK 11 ESSAY QUESTION
Describe how sites of potentially hazardous mass movement can be monitored. In
your answer examine why monitoring may not be effective. Illustrate your answer
with examples where possible.
(25)
TASK 12
ESSAY QUESTION
With reference to examples, describe the factors responsible for mass movement on
slopes in Britain.
(25)
Use this box for notes
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VC/Dept/Geol/003
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