Geological Knowledge Entry

Landslides: Human Health Effects

Authors

• M. Geertsema,
• L.M. Highland,

Abstract

Landslides affect many regions around the globe. There are many types of landslides – occurring in a variety of materials and traveling over a range of velocities. Landslides may be triggered by earthquakes, rain, permafrost thaw, deforestation, and by other factors. Damaging wildfires, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes are often made worse by subsequent landslides. Submarine landslides, or surface landslides, that move into water may trigger tsunamis. Although landslides can result in significant human and economic losses, they also play a role in maintaining ecological diversity. A number of landslide mitigation techniques are explored.