- Asked 2/26
- 2070 Magh · 2 marks
- 2078 Baisakh · 1 mark
Landslide versus debris flow
Short answer
In a landslide, material slides or falls as a block on a slip surface with low to medium water content, speed slow to rapid. A debris flow moves like a viscous fluid, very rapid and saturated, following channels and depositing fans far downvalley.
Differentiate between landslide (slope failure) and debris flow.
| Point | Landslide (slope failure) | Debris flow |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Mass slides or falls as a block along a slip surface | Mass flows like a viscous fluid |
| Water content | Low to medium | Very high, saturated |
| Material | Rock, soil or debris | Mixture of mud, boulders and water |
| Speed | Slow to rapid | Very rapid |
| Path | Short, on the slope | Long, follows channels or gullies |
| Slope | Steep to moderate | Steep channel, gentle fan deposit |
| Trigger | Rain, earthquake, cutting | Intense rainfall, GLOF, landslide dam failure |
| Deposit | Near the source | Fan or levees far down the valley |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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