Geomorphology Basics
This field of geography studies the processes that shape Earth’s surface.
What is geomorphology?
A landslide is the downslope movement of this material under gravity.
What is rock, soil or debris?
A sudden drop of rock from a cliff is classified as this type of movement.
What is a rockfall?
Earthquakes trigger many simultaneous landslides because they affect slopes in this way.
What is shaking large areas at once?
These Australian states contain the most landslide‑prone regions. (Hint, there are 3)
What are NSW, QLD, and VIC?
These two natural agents weaken slopes over time through weathering and water movement. Name one.
What are weathering and heavy rainfall?
Unlike a landslide, an avalanche is made of these materials.
What is snow and ice?
Very slow downslope movement of soil is known as this.
What is creep?
Excavation at the base of a slope contributed to the Thredbo 1997 disaster by doing this.
What is undercutting the slope?
The Thredbo region is risky because its slopes have this characteristic.
What is unstable or weak ground?
This is why geomorphology is essential for understanding natural hazards.
What is understanding the processes that cause hazards?
Road cutting and deforestation are examples of this type of landslide trigger.
What are human triggers or anthropogenic processes?
A rapid flow of mud after a volcanic eruption has this specific name.
What is Lahar?
The 1972 Hong Kong disaster happened because of rapid urban development and this weather event.
What is monsoon rainfall?
Countries like Nepal have few reported landslides but high fatalities because of this factor.
What is limited preparedness or weaker infrastructure?
Human actions like construction and deforestation do this to natural slope stability.
What is reduce slope stability?
Some gentle slopes fail while steep slopes don’t because this factor matters more than slope angle.
What is soil type or material strength?
These types of slides—block or translational—are most destructive in urban areas because they move large coherent masses.
What are block slides or translational slides?
Aberfan (1966) showed that landslides can be entirely human‑induced because the slope was composed of this type of waste.
What is mining waste (coal spoil)?
This global region, including Nepal, India, and Bhutan, reports the highest landslide deaths.
What is South/Southeast Asia (the Himalayan region)?
Human‑modified slopes often experience more severe hazards than natural slopes because of this reason.
What is disruption of the natural balance and internal strength of slopes?
Areas with steep slopes may avoid landslides if they contain this strong material.
What is solid rock?
Landslides are classified based on movement type, material, activity, and this factor related to speed.
What is velocity?
In Southern Italy, Avelino district had the highest relative losses because of this vulnerability.
What is poor building quality or weak slope management?
Reforestation is the most suitable mitigation method for the Gold Coast hinterland because vegetation increases this slope‑stabilising property.
What is shear strength or slope stability?