Week 8: Mass Wasting
Recorded fatal landslides in East Asia. 2004–2017 South Korea has endured a significant history of severe mass wasting events, which refer to the downward movement of soil and rock due to gravity. These events tend to intensify during the monsoon season, a period characterized by heavy and continuous rainfall, which saturates the soil and destabilizes slopes. Landslides are recognized as the primary natural hazard in the region. These landslides can have devastating impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the environment, posing major risks to public safety and resulting in considerable economic losses. The combination of steep terrain, urbanization, and extreme weather conditions exacerbates the threat of mass wasting, highlighting the need for effective monitoring and mitigation strategies in vulnerable areas across the country. In a 2018 study published in the journal Engineering Geology , researchers Su-Gon Lee and Mike Winter have meticulously documented th...