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Heavy rains and massive deforestation can lead to hillslope failures. In an event of heavy rains, the soil is being saturated and it becomes very loose, which mean it is very vulnerable to hillslope failure. The loose soil will not hold on to each other well and gravity will pull in downwards. However, most of the time, trees are planted in the hillslopes so that the tree roots are able to hold on to the loose soil and prevent in from sliding downwards. Due to massive deforestation, there are now much fewer trees to do the job, and thus increasing chances of hillslope failure.

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can also lead to hillslope failures. The seismic radiation of earthquakes are strong enough to vibrate the particles in the soil on hillslopes such that they become looser and more prone to sliding downwards. Volcanic eruptions also have the same effect as earthquakes. However, eruptions on volcanoes with glaciated peaks can cause the ice to melt, mix with the soil and volcanic materials and rush down as a big chunk of debris.

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Q: What can lead to hillslope failure?
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