Question

As a geologist working in a foreign country for the first time, you are asked to assess the potential for rapid mass movement in a particular region. In what aspects or characteristics (geologic, geographic, biologic, etc.) of the region do you need for your assessment? Also, how could you possibly determine if mass movement has been active in the recent geologic past (hundreds or thousands of years

Answer 1

Answer:

Mass movements are caused by alterations in the natural balance of a slope. There are several factors that a geologist should pay attention to determine the geologic activity at a region.

Explanation:

Such factors are: Erosional debris, structure of rocks, the vegetation cover which may reduce stability, the slope’s steepness, which will usually induce mass movement according to its inclination, earthquake tremors, which increase the mass movement, and if there is a current of water undergroung, because this puts pressure on the soil particles and impairs slope stability. These factors affecting slope conditions have a great effect on mass movement or mass wasting. Also, the climatic factors such as precipitation and frost activity may produce downslope mass movement and the geologist should pay attention to it.

One methodology to study recent mass movement activity is the Mora-Vahrson-Mor method. It develops an approximation of the degree of susceptibility to slippage of the studied region and the phenomena that influence this condition. It is valuable in identifying critical areas and useful in targeting priorities in terms of destiny of the resources destined to detailed geotechnical studies.