How does vegetation affect slope stability? What happens if ...

[jasdeep_brar]

How does vegetation affect slope stability? What happens if vegetation is removed from the slope? What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Briefly explain why saturated clay is a very unstable slope material. What will be an ideal response?

[smrtceo]

Answer to Question 1

Vegetation makes a slope more stable by absorbing water from a rainstorm to decrease water
saturation in the slope; plant root systems bind soil particles together and hold the soil to bedrock.
Removing vegetation causes landslides by leaving the ground bare, saturated with water, and without
plant roots to hold soil in place.

Answer to Question 2

Clay grains are platy and tend to align with their larger flat surfaces parallel to one another. Clay also
absorbs water and traps it between grains. These properties make clay very susceptible to slippage
along grain surfaces. Clay beds are frequently the slippery layer along which overlying rock units slide
downslope.