G102/202                                                                             

Puget Sound mass wasting                                                                         

 

 

Use this worksheet to help you better understand the web page article  http://classes.colgate.edu/bselleck/geol210/lab2ex.htm  

Click on the indicated heading and answer the following questions.

 

Click on the heading:  Puget Sound Landslide

 

Read this article (the entire article) and use the following questions to help you better be able to discuss this article

 

1)  What event does this article discuss?

 

 2)  What type of mass wasting event was the Rolling Bay Slide and where was it located?

 

3)  Why are some areas such as the Pacific NW, parts of China, the former Soviet Union etc… so susceptible to mass wasting events?

 

4)  What is the driving force of mass wasting?

 

5)  What role does water play in mass wasting?

 

6)  What is colluvium?

 

7)  What are some precautions that are used to help prevent tragedy from occurring due to mass wasting (i.e. what are some physical structures that can be built or installed in an area known for mass wasting)

 

8)  What is a geomorphologist?

 

9)  What are some techniques that were being used to gather data on the Mitman Ridge area near Coos Bay

 

10)  Why is it so difficult to predict debris and mud flows?

 

11)  What effect does vegetation have on slope stability (both good and bad)

 

12)  Based on the USGS open File image 97-289, which areas of the United States has the greatest landslide incidence?  Why do you think this is?

 

13)  Based on an ever increasing population and decreasing land availability discuss who’s responsible for preventing tragedies such as the Rolling Bay Slide. 

                Some thoughts:  What restrictions should be placed on construction (if any)

                                              As a future home/land owner would you be willing to sacrifice possible building locations

                                                (i.e. no view lots etc…)

                                             What role should government play in this discussion, or should it be buyer beware?