C2 Living with natural hazards

Interactive Geography

Unit 3 Landslides

In this unit, you are going to…

 A. Knowledge
 learn the causes of landslides in Hong Kong
 learn the effects of landslides on Hong Kong people

 B. Skills, values and attitude

 identify the warning signals associated with natural hazards in Hong Kong
 identify major relief features on a contour map of Hong Kong
 find the height of the ground and calculate slope gradient from a contour map
 construct an annotated cross‐section and calculate its vertical exaggeration
 observe in field to identify the preventive measures of landslides along hill slope

 C. Concept map

Lowland Highland

Heavy rainfall
Relief of Hong Kong
Hilly relief
Granitic rocks
Natural factors
Landslide Causes Urban development
Human factors
Poor maintenance

Negative effects Engineering works

Regular inspection
Preventive measures Better land use planning
Response Education
Remedial measures
Setting up of warning systems
Emergency assistance
Slope rehabilitation
Slope greening

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Interactive Geography

 Concepts Relief of Hong Kong Distribution Cross section

3.1 What is the relief of Hong Kong?  Refer to p. 28‐29 in textbook

a. Name the two important lowlands in the figure above.

b. Name the peaks in the figure above.

c. There are man‐made lowlands along the harbour and the building of new town. How are they
created? Reclamation

Total area  1 100 km2

 two‐thirds of it are hilly
Distribution Highland Lowland
 in the central and eastern parts  in the northwestern and northern
of the New Territories parts of the New Territories
 in the central part of Lantau  Narrow strips of natural lowlands are
Island also found on both sides of Victoria
Harbour
Example Tai Mo Shan (957 m) Yuen Long Plain
Lantau Peak (934 m) Sheung Shui‐Fanling Plain

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Map reading – drawing a cross‐section  Refer to p. 30‐33 in textbook

Study the map below and answer the following questions.

a. What is the vertical interval of the map?

50 m

b. The closer the contour lines, the steeper the slope is.

c. Draw the cross section of XY.

Title: The cross section of XY

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 Concepts Landslide Impacts Causes Measures

3.2 What is a landslide? How does it affect Hong Kong?  Refer to p. 36‐37 in textbook

A natural hazard
occurred in Sau Mau
Ping in 1976, eighteen

a. What kind of natural hazard is shown in this photo?

Landslide

b. Which season does this hazard usually occur in Hong Kong? Why does it occur in that season?
In summer / there is heavy rainfall in the season

c. What are the impacts of this natural hazard on us?

 Death and injuries □ Flooding  Blocked roads
 Damage buildings  Economic loss

d. Name the two most fatal landslides in Hong Kong.

Po Shan Road and Sau Mau Ping

Landslide
Movement downslope movement
Amount of soil and rocks a large amount of soil and rocks
Speed fast speed
Due to the pull of gravity
Impacts  injure and even kill people
 cover roads and interrupt transport
 cause economic loss

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3.3 Why do landslides occur in Hong Kong?  Refer to p. 38‐41 in textbook

When the shear stress is greater than the shear strength, earth materials on a slope become
unstable.
Natural factors How does it affect the slope
a. Heavy rainfall  Rainwater increases the weight and the shear stress
of earth materials.
 The spaces between soil particles are filled with
water  the cohesion and friction of earth
materials decrease
The slope becomes
b. Hilly relief  The steeper the slopes, the larger the shear stress. □ stable
 In Hong Kong, 60% of the slopes have an angle  unstable
greater than 20°.
c. Granitic rocks  Granite is the main type of The soil and rocks on
rocks in Hong Kong. steep slopes tend to
move downslope.
 It has a well‐jointed
structure.

 This makes them easily

weathered by the hot and
wet climate.

Human factors How does it affect the slope

a. Urban  Many natural slopes are cut to provide more land
development The risk of landslide
for development. Most of the man‐made slopes are
 increases
 built in the early years
□ decreases
 poorly designed
b. Poor  Some man‐made slopes lack regular maintenance.
maintenance
 Rainwater can infiltrate into the slope through
cracks easily.

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Map reading – Slope gradient and vertical exaggeration  Refer to p. 42‐43 in textbook

Study the map below and answer the following questions.

a. Calculate the slope gradient of XY.

Slope AB XY
250m – 50m 250m – 50m
Vertical distance
= 200m = 200m
Horizontal distance (5.5×100)m = 550m (2.5×100)m = 250m
= 200m / 550m = 200m / 250m
Gradient
= 1:2.75 OR 1 in 2.75 = 1: 1.25 OR 1 in 1.25

b. Which slope is steeper?

Slope XY is steeper.

c. Calculate the vertical exaggeration of XY.

Slope XY
Vertical scale 1:5000
Horizontal scale 1:10000
Vertical exaggeration 1:5000 / 1:10000 = 2 times

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3.4 How do we respond to landslide?  Refer to p. 44‐47 in textbook

A B C

In 1970s, we lived in a squatter We moved to a public housing

area on a slope. Later, the estate. It is close to a slope. The ‐‐
government cleared the area. slope is well maintained.

a. Why did the government have to clear the squatter area?

To avoid the potential damages brought by landslides

b. What is needed for housing projects near dangerous slopes?

Landslide risk assessment is needed for housing projects near dangerous slopes.

c. What should the government do to ensure the safety of the public housing estate?
The government should check and maintain the man‐made slopes regularly to ensure their
safety.

d. List three examples of engineering works that can be carried out on the man‐made slopes.
Soil nails / retaining walls / cover the slope with concrete / weepholes / surface channels

e. What should the government do when there is a high risk of landslides?

Issue a landslip warning

f. What other measures can the government do to raise the public awareness of slope safety?
The government can hold exhibitions, advertise on TV commercials and update the website of
“Hong Kong Slope Safety”.

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Preventative measures Functions

1. Engineering works
Soil nails and retaining walls  to offer physical support to steep slopes
Cover the slopes with concrete  to prevent water from infiltrating into the
slopes
Weepholes and surface channels  to drain excess water
Flexible and rigid barriers  to trap rock debris from falling down the slopes
2. Regular inspection and maintenance
Check and maintain most of the  to ensure the safety of these slopes
man‐made slopes in Hong Kong regularly
3. Better land use planning
Many squatters on hillsides have been
 to avoid the potential damages brought by
cleared
landslides
Landslide risk assessment
4. Education
Hold exhibitions, advertise on TV
commercials and update the website of  to raise public awareness about slope safety
“Hong Kong Slope Safety”
5. Setting up of warning systems
Warning signs are posted near slopes  to remind pedestrians and drivers
 to advise people to stay away from high‐risk
Issue a Landslip Warning
slopes
Remedial measures ‐‐ to fix the situation when a landslide occurs
1. Emergency assistance
 Rescue teams will be sent to rescue victims immediately
 Temporary shelters will also be provided
 Rock debris on the roads will be cleared
2. Slope rehabilitation
Engineering works will be carried out to enhance the safety of the collapsed slopes
3. Slope greening
Promote slope greening to reduce the visual impacts of engineering works

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 Landslide in Gansu  Refer to p. 48‐49 in textbook

Impacts Many people were killed

Extensive areas were buried, many houses were destroyed
Power and water supplies were stopped
Causes Heavy rainfall
Hilly relief
Loose soil
Serious deforestation
Poor land use planning
Conduct a nationwide survey to identify dangerous slopes
Preventative Produce landslide risk assessment maps
Provide training for government officials
Measures
Provide emergency supplies
Remedial Build retaining walls
Carry out various soil conservation measures on the collapsed slopes

 Geographical Terms and Glossaries

Relief of Hong Kong

Relief 地勢 Hilly 崎嶇

Highland 高地 Tai Mo Shan 大帽山

Lantau Peak 鳳凰山 Lowland 低地

Sheung Shui – Fanling
Yuen Long Plain 元朗平原 上水–粉嶺平原
Plain
Plain 平原

Draw a cross section

Contour line 等高線 Vertical interval 垂直間距

Cross section 橫切面 Intersection 相交點

Frame 框架 Vertical scale 垂直比例

Y‐axis 縱軸 Align 對齊

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Relief features in Hong Kong

Gentle slope 緩坡 Steep slope 陡坡

Concave slope 凹坡 Convex slope 凸坡

Escarpment 單斜山 Spur 山咀

Valley 山谷 Basin 盆地

Saddle 鞍形山口 Ridge 山脊

Cliff 山崖 Shoulder 山肩

Landslide
Gravity 重力 Po Shan Road 寶珊道

Sau Mau Ping 秀茂坪 Shear stress 剪切力

Shear strength 抗剪強度 Cohesion 內聚力

Friction 摩擦力 Granite 花崗岩

Joint 節理 Weathering 風化

Maintenance 維修 Drainage channel 排水渠

Slope gradient
Gradient 坡度 Vertical distance 垂直距離

Horizontal distance 水平距離 Vertical exaggeration 垂直誇大率

Ratio 比率

Measures
Geotechnical
Engineering works 土力工程技術 土力工程處
Engineering Office
Soil nail 泥釘 Retaining wall 擋土牆

Concrete 混凝土 Weephole 排水孔

Surface channel 排水明渠 Flexible barrier 防石欄

Rigid barrier 泥石壩 Man‐made slope 人造斜坡

Squatter 寮屋 Assessment 評估

Exhibition 展覽 Warning sign 警告標誌

Landslip warning 山泥傾瀉警報 Rehabilitation 復修

Slope greening 斜坡綠化

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 Self‐review tool  Refer to p. 50‐53 in textbook

Part 1 Multiple Choice (7)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
C A D B D A B

Part 2 Data response question (13)

1. Damage of roads / burying of buildings (ship factories) / loss of property / fire (Any 2)
2. Vertical distance of XY: 70 m
Horizontal distance of XY: 120 m
Gradient of XY = 70 m / 120 m
= 1:1.7

3. a. Title: The cross section of slope XY before the landslide

b. Vertical exaggeration = 1:2 000 / 1:2 000 = 1 time

4. More than 300 mm of rainfall was recorded before the landslide / rainwater infiltrated into the
soil, and increased the weight of soil and the shear stress / shear strength decreased / steep
slopes / earth materials slid downslope easily

Part 3 Short essay (6)

Discuss the effectiveness of engineering measures in reducing the risk of landslides.

Step  Brainstorm and write down any glossary that comes to your mind about the question.

Soil nails reduce water infiltration reduce water content weepholes

drain excess water surface channels flexible barriers rigid barriers
concrete provide physical support to slopes trap rock debris retaining walls

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Step  Sort and group your ideas.

Retaining walls
Weepholes
 Provide  Drain excess
physical support water and reduce
Soil nails water content
Surface channels
Engineering
measures to

Flexible Covering the

barriers  Trap rock  Reduce water
slopes with
debris infiltration
concrete

Rigid barriers

Step  Draft the ideas into short sentences.

 Retaining walls help provide physical support to slopes.
Purpose 
 Soil nails help provide physical support to slopes.
 Weepholes help drain excess water and reduce water content of the slopes.
Purpose   Surface channels help drain excess water and reduce water content of the
slopes.
 Flexible barriers help trap rock debris.
Purpose 
 Rigid barriers help trap rock debris.
Purpose   Covering the slopes with concrete helps reduce water infiltration.

Step  Expand the sentences by using the 5 ‘W’ questions to add more details. The following is an
example.
What Retaining walls are built.
Who Retaining walls are built by the government.
When /
Where Retaining walls are built in landslide‐prone areas by the government.
Retaining walls are built in landslide‐prone areas by the government to provide
Why
physical support to the slopes.

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Step  Enrich your essay by introducing TWO other measures.

Other measures Purpose
Regular inspection and maintenance To ensure slope safety / to avoid potential damages
/ better land use planning / brought by landslides / to raise public awareness about
education / setting up of warning slope safety / to alert people to stay away from
systems dangerous slopes

Step  Organise the sentences into paragraphs.

Write a topic Engineering measures are effective in reducing the risk of landslides /
sentence to outline
improving slope safety.
that engineering
measures are
effective.
Engineering measures are commonly adopted in areas where landslides
Describe how the
engineering
frequently occur. The risk of landslides can be largely reduced by
measures reduce providing physical support to the slopes, for example, retaining walls and
the risk of soil nails. In order to drain excess water and reduce water content of the
landslides.
slope, weepholes and surface channels are constructed. Besides, the risk of
landslides can be effectively reduced by constructing flexible and rigid
barriers to trap rock debris from sliding down the slope. In order to reduce
water infiltration into the slope, the slopes are covered with concrete.

Describe TWO Apart from engineering measures, other measures are also important. For
other measures
example, regular inspection and maintenance of slopes help ensure slope
that help reduce
the risk of safety. Better land use planning helps avoid potential damages brought by
landslides. landslides. / Education helps raise public awareness about slope safety.
Setting up of warning systems helps alert people to stay away from
dangerous slopes.

Summarise the To conclude, engineering measures help reduce the risk of landslides
main points of the
effectively.
essay briefly.

Writing tips:
Link the paragraphs smoothly by
using connectives and conjunctions

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