Unit 3 - Essays - Causes of Mass Movements

Question 1

‘Water is the most important factor influencing mass movement on slopes.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Answer 1

‘Water is the most important factor influencing mass movement on slopes.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Point: Water is often the immediate and most powerful trigger of mass movement due to its role in increasing pore pressure and acting as a lubricant.
Point: In cold climates, water-induced freeze–thaw weathering is crucial in triggering rockfalls.
Point: However, water is not always the main cause—human activities can drastically weaken slope stability.
Point: Other physical factors such as slope gradient and vegetation loss are also significant contributors.

Question 2

“Mass movement on slopes is mainly the result of human activity.” With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Answer 2

“Mass movement on slopes is mainly the result of human activity.” With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Point: Human industrial activity can directly initiate large-scale mass movements.
Point: Urban development can reduce slope stability and trigger otherwise dormant natural weaknesses.
Point: Intense natural forces, such as tropical storms, often remain the fundamental cause of mass movements.
Point: In some cases, natural geomorphological processes are solely responsible.

Question 3

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which precipitation is the main factor in causing mass movements.

Answer 3

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which precipitation is the main factor in causing mass movements.

Point: Intense rainfall is a dominant factor in triggering mass movement, especially in tropical and mountainous regions.
Point: While precipitation is a factor, it often interacts with human-induced changes to slope stability.
Point: In some cases, precipitation is not the dominant factor; geological and climatic conditions are more significant.
Point: Some mass movements occur without any significant precipitation, being driven primarily by human activity and subsurface conditions.

Question 4

‘Human activity is the main factor in reducing the stability of slopes.’ With the aid of one or more examples, how far do you agree with this statement?

Answer 4

‘Human activity is the main factor in reducing the stability of slopes.’ With the aid of one or more examples, how far do you agree with this statement?

Point: Human interventions such as construction and drilling can directly destabilise slopes, increasing the likelihood of mass movements.
Point: Residential and commercial construction often undercuts natural slopes and increases loading, reducing slope stability.
Point: In many regions, it is intense natural forces—like rainfall or earthquakes—that are the dominant drivers of slope failure, even when human presence is limited.
Point: Rather than acting alone, human activities often exacerbate naturally unstable conditions.