Activity 4 - Slope of Land in your Community

Use the resources listed below to help you complete this activity.

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

Angle of Repose

"Would the angle of repose of the same material be different on Mars than on Earth?" - NASA
An interesting site, which in addition to answering this question, also provides a good review behind the physics of the angle of repose of a material.

Mass Movement

"Debris-Flow Hazards in the United States" - USGS Fact Sheet 176-97
Site examines different types of debris flows, where they are likely to occur, and steps to takes to minimize the damages associated with debris flows.

""Real-Time" Monitoring of an Active Landslide " - USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
Site contains data related to the monitoring of an active landslide:

• Highway 50, California
• Florida River, CO
• Johnson Creek Landslide, Coastal Oregon
• Seattle, Washington
• Portland, OR
• Puget Sound, Coastal Bluffs, Washington
• Woodway, Washington

"Landslide monitoring, Woodway, Washington" - USGS
Site devoted to the study and monitoring of a landslide in western Washington. Includes a summary of the data collected, including rainfall, pore pressure, and movement data.

"Landslide Recognition and Safety Guidelines" - USGS
Comprehensive site reviews what makes an area susceptible to landsliding and what do to if you are in a high-risk area, as well as providing links to finding out more about landslides.

"Landslide Images" - USGS
A compilation of landslide images, including a color map of the United States illustrating landslide distribution and several photographs of damage caused by landslides.

Inquiring Further:

To learn more about catastrophic mass movements, visit the following web sites:

""Real-Time" Monitoring of an Active Landslide Above Highway 50, California" - USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory
Site contains data related to the monitoring of an active landslide between Placerville and South Lake Tahoe, California.

"Landslide monitoring, Woodway, Washington" - USGS
Site devoted to the study and monitoring of a landslide in western Washington. Includes a summary of the data collected, including rainfall, pore pressure, and movement data.

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Last updated: May 11, 2010

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the AGI Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.