Landslides

[Robyn Appleton]

"The causes of landslides are not a mystery to mankind. Layers of rock and soil such that rain running along a clay or rock layer can create a slippery surface for the weight of the layers above it is a common cause. A rock jumble from previous mountain building, broken or fractured rock easily dislodged. We have stated that the earthquakes man experiences between the periodic passages of Planet X can be considered aftershocks from the last passage, and this is true of landslides also. Mountain building rumples the landscape, so the land is not flat but has steep ravines and hill sides. Older mountain ranges are recognized for their rounded or smoothed appearance, because of frequent landslides distributing the rubble.

"As we approach another passage, another Pole Shift, the pace of landslides has picked up. Why would this be? Plates under pressure will put pressure on regions that contain rumpled hillsides and deep ravines, as these give more readily than strictly flat land, thus act as a weak link. In addition, due to the wobble, the weather has gotten more extreme, with drought and deluge increasing in extremes. Dry ground, suddenly flooded with rainwater needing to seek its level as runoff, will create internal water slides between the rock and soil layers that constitute the rumpled hillsides. Is there an early warning system that mankind could use? The trembles that soil about to slide emits could be detected, yes. These are not earthquakes, and have their own frequency. "

ZetaTalk Chat Q&A: March 22, 2014

[Kojima]

Earthquake in Greenland triggers fatal landslide-induced tsunami

POSTED ON JUNE 19, 2017 BY TEMBLOR

http://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/earthquake-in-greenland-trig...

This picture shows the settlement of Nuugaatsiaq, which was hit by a tsunami over the weekend. The tsunami was triggered by a landslide following a M=4.1 earthquake. (Photo from: knr.gl)

Over the weekend, a M=4.1 earthquake on Greenland’s western coast caused a massive landslide, triggering a tsunami that inundated small settlements on the coast. At this stage, four people are feared to have died, nine others were injured, and 11 buildings were destroyed. In the hardest hit village, Nuugaatsiag, which is home to around 100 people, 40 people have been evacuated to Uummannaq, the eleventh-largest town in Greenland (see picture below).

This Temblor map shows the location of the M=4.1 earthquake on the western coast of Greenland. Despite its small magnitude, the quake caused a landslide, which triggered a tsunami that killed four people.

While this earthquake appears to be tectonic in nature, according to Professor Meredith Nettles of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University, Greenland also experiences what are known as glacial earthquakes. Glacial earthquakes are a relatively new class of seismic event, and are often linked to the calving of large outlet glaciers. While this type of event has also been observed in Antarctica, the majority have been recorded off the coast of Greenland, and show a strong seasonality, with most of them occurring late in the summer.

Because glacial earthquakes have a different mechanism than normal earthquakes, standard earthquake monitoring techniques cannot be used to detect them, which explains why they were not known about until 2003. Additionally, while a tectonic M=5 quake typically lasts about 2 seconds, a comparable M=5 glacial earthquake can emit long-period (great than 30 seconds) seismic waves. It is because of this, that they have a separate classification.

In order for a glacial earthquake to occur, a large-scale calving event has to take place. When a glacier calves, there is both a sudden change in glacial mass and motion. While a glacier is technically a river of ice, meaning it slowly flows downhill, when a large calving event take place, there is a brief period when horizontal motion reverses. Couple this with a downward deflection of the glaciers terminus, which causes a upward force on earth’s surface, and you have the recipe for a glacial earthquake. These earthquakes tend to be M=4.6-5.1.

Despite the fact that this tectonic quake was by no means large, it was big enough to trigger a massive landslide into the ocean, and the ensuing displacement of water was enough to form a tsunami that devastated parts of Nuugaatsiag. Prof. Nettles said to us, “The M=4.1 earthquake does not explain the large, long-period (slow) seismic signal detected by seismometers around the globe. The long-period signal appears to be due to a landslide, and the time of the long-period signal is later than the time of the high-frequency (earthquake) signal. It is possible the earthquake triggered the landslide.” What this means is that both the earthquake and landslide generated seismic signals, but that the earthquake signal appeared first, suggesting the quake triggered the slide. The video below shows a view of the landslide, while the photos show the landslide and the devastation caused by the tsunami. In response to this event, and the risk of aftershocks, people have been advised to stay away from the coastline.

This picture, taken by the Arctic Command shows part of the landslide that triggered the deadly tsunami.

This photo shows damage in Nuugaatsiaq, following a deadly tsunami over the weekend. (Photo from: Olina Angie K Nielsen via Facebook)

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Mudslide-brings-down-power-lines-c...

Mudslide brings down power lines, closes road

Posted: Mon 11:25 AM, Jun 19, 2017  | 

Updated: Mon 12:02 PM, Jun 19, 2017

LKVIEW, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Crews are working to remove debris from the roadway after a mudslide on Monday morning.

It happened just after 11 a.m. at the intersection of Little Sandy Road and Elk River Road.

Metro 911 Dispatchers say the mud slide brought down power lines.

All lanes are blocked at this time.

The Pinch Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia Department of Highways and Kanawha County Sheriff's Department are all responding to the scene.

No injuries were reported in the slide.

[Howard]

Extreme Mudslide in Northern Tajikistan (May 28)

A late spring thaw in the mountains of northern Tajikistan unleashed an enormous mudslide on May 28, sending torrents of debris into a river and partly blocking the road to Kyrgyzstan.

Source

https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-landslide/28516667.html

[KM]

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/sri-lanka-25-killed-42-missi...

Sri Lanka: At least 25 feared killed, 42 missing in flood and mudslide

A team of 400 soldiers have been rushed to the rescue and help of over 7,800 people who have been affected by the calamity.

Locals gather to watch rescue operation in Bellana village in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka, Friday. 

At least 25 people were killed and 42 went missing in Sri Lanka due to floods and mudslides caused by torrential rainfall on Friday. A team of 400 soldiers have been rushed to the rescue of over 7,800 people who have been affected by the calamity.

Sri Lankans watch military rescue efforts at the site of a landslide in Bellana village in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka, Friday, May 26, 2017. 

According to a Reuters report, at least five landslides have been reported in Kaluthara, which is the worst-hit district on the west coast of the Lankan island. This is the time of the year when the island nation witnesses highest rainfall, from the month of May to September. As the rescue operations continue, Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardana has issued a warning that the situation can worsen in the next 72 hours,

[M. Difato]

Massive landslide covers Highway 1 in southern Big Sur (May20)

 http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20170522/NEWS/170529949

Big Sur >> Caltrans said Monday its unclear how long Highway 1 in southern Big Sur will remain closed after a landslide covering between a quarter and a half mile brought millions of cubic yards of dirt and rock down the hillside at Mud Creek on Saturday.

According to Caltrans spokeswoman Susana Cruz, there are five active landslides in the area, which is about 9 miles north of the southern Monterey County border. It’s believed four of the slides came down together at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Springs in the area keep the soil muddy, she said.

“There was so much saturation and so much weight,” Cruz said..."

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/weather/topstories/landslide-on-california...

[M. Difato]

Landslide halts Amtrak’s Seattle-Portland trains, adding to West Coast rail stoppage (May 5)
http://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/landslide-halts-amtraks-sea...

Hoping to take the train south from Seattle? Right now, you just can’t get there from here.

Amtrak suspended its Amtrak Cascades train service between Seattle and Portland early Friday due to a landslide on the tracks. BNSF Railway, which owns the tracks, has placed a 48-hour moratorium on their use, suspending rail traffic on the route through Saturday, May 6.

Debbie Buchwach, of Tualatin, Ore., said her daughter, Lauren Brown, 23, and friend Jasper Owens, of Washougal, were on the train bound for Seattle Thursday evening when it stopped south of Olympia and sat for about four hours before arriving at the Olympia station around 10:45 p.m. From there, Brown and Owens caught an Uber ride to their destination, the Crypticon convention in SeaTac. The Uber ride cost $90, $20 more than the cost of their two train tickets to Seattle.

Friday, Amtrak arranged for bus transportation for ticketed passengers. Between Seattle and Portland buses were available for Trains 507, 508, 509, 513 and 516, an Amtrak official said. On Saturday, buses are available as an alternative for all scheduled trains on the route. Normal rail operations continue north of Seattle and south of Portland to Eugene, Ore.

Meanwhile, a service cancellation of the Coast Starlight train between Seattle and Los Angeles is expected to continue through mid-May because of bridge damage that occurred as a result of a freight train derailment near Redding, California, on April 25. The Coast Starlight is operating according to its normal schedule between Los Angeles and Sacramento only...."

[jorge namour]

Hautes-Alpes: Several hectares of mountain threaten to collapse

15 April 2017,

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=y&...

Since Monday, the Pas de l'ours, at Aiguilles, threatens to collapse. Rockfall and deformation of the roadway were observed by the patroller of the roads department of the department.

A landslide threatens the commune of Aiguilles, in the Hautes-Alpes. Indeed, since Monday, several hectares of mountain are about to collapse, reports Le Dauphiné Libéré.

Concrete slides were laid near the departmental road 947, which serves the villages of Ristolas and Abriès. Rock falls have already been observed, as well as deformations of the roadway.

PHOTO FROM LINK:

http://www.ledauphine.com/hautes-alpes/2017/04/14/un-pan-de-montagn...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://strangesounds.org/2017/04/landslide-destroys-seven-story-bui...

The building accommodates 39 people from 11 households. An initial investigation showed that eight people were missing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTnGsOXmgMM

[Tracie Crespo]

http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/35136020/watch-mudslide-on-highw...

www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/35136020/watch-mudslide-on-highway-95-n...

WATCH: Mudslide on Highway 95 near Bonners Ferry caught on camera

Posted: Apr 12, 2017 4:45 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 12, 2017 5:08 PM EDT

BONNERS FERRY, Idaho -

Flaggers are directing traffic on Highway 95 south of Bonners Ferry after a mudslide covered the road last Friday. 

The slide was caught on camera and the video shows tons of mud, rocks and trees giving way and pushing two layers of concrete barriers off the road. The Idaho Department of Transportation says in all, 800 cubic yards of debris covered the road. 

No one was injured in the slide. 

IDT says Land Surveyor Mathew Wilson (who shot the video) was assessing the hillside stability when he heard popping and cracking. Knowing a slide was imminent, flaggers on scene quickly stopped traffic and minutes later the hillside gave way. 

Debris was cleared by Friday evening, but as of Wednesday, one lane of the highway is closed as the hillside remains unstable. 

Several areas of North Idaho are impacted by this year's historic winter precipitation. Slides have occurred on Idaho State Highways 3, 5, 57, and 97, according to IDT. 

[KM]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4399288/Man-captures-incred...

The incredible moment a mountain COLLAPSES in Malibu, sending rocks and debris flying and covering cars below in a cloud of dirt

• Lloyd Cotsen filmed a 'dirt waterfall' when a mountain collapsed in Malibu
• At first there is a small trickle of dirt before a large chunk of rock falls
• No one appears to have been injured from the falling rocks

This is the incredible moment a mountainside collapsed and fell on top of several cars in a crowded parking lot 

Dust and rubble filled the air after the 'dirt waterfall' near Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.

At first there is a trickle of dust falling off the mountain like a stream. Lloyd Cotsen noticed this and pulled out his camera to film the incoming collapse.

Lloyd Cotsen filmed the moment a trickle of falling rocks turned into a 'dirt waterfall'

Meanwhile, oblivious surfers walk by unaware of the impending rock slide. 

A beach-goer notices how close their car is to the crumbling mountain and decides to move their car.

After a minute the amount of rocks and dust begins pouring, a large chunk of the mountain becomes unhinged and plummets down the side.

'That's a new landscape': In a minute the rock slide transformed the mountain 

'Holy sugar,' declares an astonished woman nearby.

Cotsen says at the end of the video: 'I caught it all on video too. That might be better than the whales.'

'Holy moly, that's a new landscape.' 

Lawn furniture tumbled down the mountain after the end of the video. No one appears to have been injured.  

Costen told Storyful: 'I was just waiting with my friends who were loading up their paddle boards and noticed the “dirt waterfall”. So, I turned my camera on it just while I was talking to my friends. If they had left sooner, I would have missed it.'