Landslide dam

Abstract

Landslides are part of normal landform evolution. Our landscapes would not appear as they are, and sediment flux on hillslopes and within river systems would not function as effectively without landslides. Impacts of landslides occur on various levels. Impacts have significance for both natural environments (e.g., removal of soil from the upper slopes and accumulation on the slope foot or in the adjacent fluvial system) and for human systems (e.g., human lives, economic activity, infrastructure, and the built environment). In a strict philosophical sense, “negative” consequences for the natural environment do not exist. However, it is evident, that society has to assume responsibility for many of the negative consequences associated with landslides. To judge the extent of exposure to landslides is crucial, but it is also important to employ appropriate adaptation and coping strategies. Future work on landslide impact has to be threefold. First, more research is required on the full range of landslide types, associated triggering mechanisms, and the controlling factors such as slope geometry, material properties of lithology and regolith, hydrological patterns, and vegetation. Second, there is a need to fully understand the role of human intervention and social systems such as coping strategies in influencing the degree of impact. Third, and most importantly, the linkage between the landslide system and the societal dimensions (Bell and Glade, 2004), its change over time (e.g., Hufschmidt and Crozier, 2008), and the possible consequences have to be explored. Only then, are we able to understand our coupled natural environment and slope systems better and are able to reduce the impact of landslides.