MASS MOVEMENTS AND SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AS A NATURAL HAZARD

I.INTRODUCTIONFormillionsofyearswindandwaterhaveshapedtheearth,mountainshavebeenliftedanderodedaway,waterhasevaporatedfromtheoceansandfallenbackonland,rivershaveformedandcarriedwaterandsedanmentfromthemoufltainstotheseas.Someoftherivers--suchastheColoradoRiverintheGrandCanyonregionofNorthAJnerica-foundstablecoursesastheycarvedthemselvesintotheground,others--suchastheYellowhiverinChina-havechangedtheircoursesfrequentlyallthewayintorecenthistory.Itwasonlyafewthousandyearsagothatmanstarte…

MASS MOVEMENTS AND SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AS A NATURAL HAZARD

Compared to other natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods and volcanic eruptions, events related to the movement of sediment cause fewer deaths and less damage. However, considerable costs abase and numerous people lose their lives every year due to sliding slopes, debris flows, lahars, erosion of embankments, and collapses of bridges. Sediment transport related disasters are not only often caused, triggered or induced by human activities, they also can be reduced or even prevented if they are anticipated through scientific and other investigations, observation of nature, and adequate treatment of artificial deposits and design of structures in rivers.