Imagine you are at the beach, building a sandcastle. Dry sand cannot hold a form, so the addition of water is necessary to build the castle. However, too much water will destroy the sandcastle and cause the sand to flow away in a slurry

This is similar to the role pore water has on sediments in a slope. What role does water play to maintain a slope? What role does water play to cause mass wasting of the slope?
What will be an ideal response?


Answer: The surface tension of pore water helps to hold sediments in a slope together, provided the amount of water is small. As long as there isn't much water, the sediments will remain in contact with each other and maintain the slope. However, increasing volumes of water will force the sediments apart, reducing the force of friction holding them in place and buoying the sediments upward. As a result, the slope will fail.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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The magnetic dip preserved in a rock indicates

A. the rock's magnetic latitude at the time that it crystallized. B. how far from a spreading ridge the rock has traveled. C. how far east or west of north the rock crystallized. D. how deep in the crust the magma crystallized.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which country has no land zoning?

A. Canada B. Switzerland C. Mexico D. Asia

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Poverty is usually defined as

A. not being able to live sustainably B. not being able to meet one's basic economic needs. C. earning less than $100 per year. D. meeting one's dietary needs on a day-to-day basis E. not owning one's own home.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences