Erosion and Landslides Lesson

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Erosion and Landslides Lesson

• Global Precipitation Measurement Mission
• Developed by
• Kristen Weaver
• GPM Master Teacher
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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Guiding Questions

• Erosion How can soil and other materials be
  moved from one place to another?
• Landslides What are landslides and how do they
  occur?
• Landslides Inquiry Lab How will different types
  of soil affect how much precipitation it takes to
  cause a landslide?
• Predicting landslides What do we need to know to
  predict when and where a landslide may occur? How
  can we get that data?
• Using Satellites How can we measure
  precipitation from space, and why do we want to?
• Risk and Preparation What areas are currently at
  risk for landslides? What can people do to
  prepare?

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Engage

• Look at the different types of soil in the tray
  in front of you. How many ways can you think of
  to move the material from one side of the tray to
  the other?

Image Source Microsoft Office Clip Art
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Landslides
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Landslides

• What is a landslide and what causes one?

A landslide is defined as "the movement of a mass
of rock, debris, or earth down a slope" (Cruden,
1991). Landslides are a type of "mass wasting,"
which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and
rock under the direct influence of
gravity.  Source USGS Landslide FAQ

• What variables might affect whether a landslide
  occurs at a particular time and place?

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What causes a landslides?

• Landslide a rapidly moving mass of debris, rock,
  earth, and/or mud triggered by intense and/or
  prolonged rainfall, earthquakes, freezing,
  coastal/river weathering, and human influence

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Landslides Lab

• Ingredients for a landslide
• Steep Slopes
• Weak soil
• Rain
• Earthquakes
• Human activity

La Conchita landslide, California in
2005 Destroyed 13 houses, severely damaged 23
others, and caused 10 fatalities.
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Landslides Lab

• Today, you will investigate one of those
  variables type of soil and how much
  precipitation it takes to start a landslide.
  Make sure you follow the lab directions and make
  careful observations as you proceed.

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Lab Results
of Sprays to Landslide Volume of Water Used
Sand Group 1
Sand Group 2
Sand Group 3
Sand Group 4
Average
of Sprays to Landslide Volume of Water Used
Soil Group 1
Soil Group 2
Soil Group 3
Soil Group 4
Average

• Was your hypothesis supported by the data?
  Explain.

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Landslides Why study them?

• They happen all over the world
• They kill thousands of people each year and cause
  extensive property damage

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Vargas State, Venezuela, December 1999
Fatalities 30,000
Laguna Beach, CA June, 2005
La Jolla, CA October, 2007
Gansu Province, China August 2010, Fatalities
1,765
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Predicting Landslides

• What do we need to know to be able to predict
  landslides?
• How can we get that data?

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Landslide Risk in the U.S.

• Landslide risk levels in the continental United
  States
• Risk potentials red very high, yellow high,
  green moderate
• (Note landslides can still happen in the black
  areas, but the potential is low)

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Tracking Precipitation from Space

• As you saw in the experiment, knowing how much
  rain is falling in an area is very important to
  predicting when and where a landslide may occur.
  Scientists are using satellites, such as the
  Tropical Rainfall Measure Mission (TRMM) to track
  that data. Soon, the Global Precipitation
  Measurement (GPM) satellite will launch,
  improving the data and extending its range.

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Landslide modeling with satellite data
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Landslide Risk Hotspots

• These maps show areas currently at high risk for
  landslides, based on precipitation data from
  TRMM. Click on the image for a website with the
  most recent data.

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How can we make better predictions?

• Satellites can provide a more complete picture of
  rain from space, allowing scientists to look at
  storms, rainfall totals, and changes throughout
  days to years
• The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)
  has been providing rainfall data since 1998 in
  the tropics and mid latitudes
• The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
  Mission will extend observations of rain and snow
  up to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles

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Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
The GPM Core Observatory will provide improved
measurements of precipitation from the tropics to
higher latitudes
GPM is an international mission which will use
inputs from an international constellation of
satellites to provide improved space and time
coverage of precipitation (rain, snow) over the
globe
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GPM Too Much, Too Little

• Why do we need to measure precipitation using
  satellites?

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Landslide Research

• You will now research landslide risks, and use
  that information, plus data from your own
  experiment, to create a public service
  announcement for one of the areas currently in
  danger of a landslide, you may create a poster,
  script or any other form of presentation approved
  by your teacher.
• Be sure that your announcement includes
• A description of what a landslide is
• A description of and data from your own
  experiment
• Data from TRMM/GPM about where is currently at
  risk for landslides
• How to prepare in case of a landslide
• Some kind of diagram or visual aid

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Landslides Hazards Video
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Landslide Research

• Possible sources for research
• USGS Landslides Hazards Program
  http//landslides.usgs.gov/
• Most current data from TRMM about landslide
  hazards locations http//trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/publi
  cations_dir/potential_landslide.html
• Landslide Hazards Publication http//pubs.usgs.go
  v/fs/2005/3156/2005-3156.pdf
• Preparation for Landslides http//www.ready.gov/l
  andslides-debris-flow

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• Extension Activities

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Stay Connected!

• Follow us on Twitter _at_NASA_Rain
• Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/NASA.Rain
• Precipitation Education Website
  pmm.nasa.gov/education

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Extension Faces of GPM
Meet a scientist who studies landslides!

• Dr. Kirschbaum discusses her role with GPM, how
  she became a scientist, and how remotely
  sensed satellite data can be used to study and
  evaluate natural hazards such as landslides.

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GPM Core Observatory

• The GPM Core Observatory will carry two
  instruments that can view precipitation (rain,
  snow, ice) in new ways and connect measurements
  to those taken on other partner satellites

GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) 10-183 GHz 13
channels that provides an integrated picture of
energy emitted by precipitation, including light
to heavy rain to falling snow (Ball Aerospace)
Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) Ku-Ka
bands Two different radar frequencies that can
look at precipitation in 3-D throughout the
atmospheric column (JAXA)
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Landslides dynamic agent, destructive force
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the on-board
HiRISE camera took this image of a landslide in
the Zunil Crater, which may have been triggered
by a Marsquake or small impact
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
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Landslides landscape catalyst, destructive force

• Landslides happen on Mars and other moons as well!

Can you spot the landslide?
The impact of a meteorite near the edge of Noctis
Labyrinthus on Mars appears to have set off an
enormous landslide into the canyon.