INTRODUCTION TO

SLOPE STABILITY
AND
LANDSLIDES
J. David Rogers
 Landslide susceptibility map of the continental United
States, taken from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Worldwide annual landslide losses cost between
US$10 and 20 billion per year, causing on average,
about 1,000 deaths per year in the CircumPacific
countries (from Schuster, 2003).
 Part 1

BASIC CONCEPTS
OF SLOPE
EQUILIBRIUM
Concepts of Equilibrium

Slopes in equilibrium with their

environment typically exhibit
concave, straight, and convex
hillslope profiles shown at left.
Slopes out-of-equilibrium typically
exhibit anomalous, hummocky
profiles, shown at right
 Stepped
Topography

Stepped topography is not necessarily indicative of

slope instability, but can be structurally controlled by
underlying stratigraphy, as shown here. Shales are
most often associated with landslides.
 Out-of-
Equilibrium
Slopes
Slopes that are
experiencing
rampant erosion
are typically out-
of-equilibrium, and
exhibit truncated
concave slope
profiles, shown at
left.
 The slope profile is also
influenced by runoff
requirements and the
relative position of
controlling base level, as
sketched here.
Note change in hill profile
as channel moves away
from the ridgeline
Beginning of an erosive cycle. Note slight changes in hillslope profile
Continuation of an erosive cycle, with gradual shift of the hillslope
profile, resulting in hummocky topography. Hummocky slopes are
typical of slopes experiencing landslippage.
 EXAMPLES OF HUMOCKY
TOPOGRAPHY

Hummocky topography
is usually indicative of
solifluction or active
landslippage