Which of the disasters below is least likely to be the cause of or the after effect of a landslide?
A.
Tornadoes
B.
Earthquakes
C.
Volcanic eruptions
D.
Fires
E.
Floods
To determine which of the disasters is least likely to be the cause or after-effect of a landslide, we can analyze the nature of each disaster.
Landslides are primarily triggered by the movement of mass materials on slopes, such as soil or rocks. Let's assess each of the options:
A. Tornadoes: Tornadoes are intense, rotating columns of air that are primarily associated with severe thunderstorms. While they can cause considerable damage by generating strong winds, tornadoes do not directly influence the stability of slopes or trigger landslides. Therefore, A - Tornadoes are the least likely cause or after-effect of a landslide.
B. Earthquakes: Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, resulting in ground shaking. Earthquakes can indeed trigger landslides when they occur in areas with unstable slopes or weak geological conditions. Thus, earthquakes are a potential cause or after-effect of landslides.
C. Volcanic eruptions: Volcanic eruptions involve the ejection of magma, ash, and gases from a volcano. While they can induce secondary hazards such as pyroclastic flows and ashfalls, they do not directly cause or trigger landslides in most cases. However, local geological factors can influence the susceptibility to landslides in volcanic terrains. Thus, volcanic eruptions could potentially be a cause or after-effect of landslides.
D. Fires: Fires can occur due to various factors such as natural causes, human activities, or lightning strikes. While fires can impact vegetation and expose slopes to erosion, they are not a direct cause or after-effect of landslides. However, wildfires can remove vegetation cover and destabilize slopes, increasing the likelihood of future landslides. So, fires may indirectly contribute to landslides.
E. Floods: Floods result from an overflow of water, typically caused by heavy rainfall, dam failures, or rapid snowmelt. While floods do not directly cause landslides, they can contribute to slope instability by saturating the soil, increasing pore pressure, and reducing the strength of the materials. Thus, floods can potentially trigger landslides or be an after-effect of landslides.
Based on this analysis, the disaster least likely to be the cause or after-effect of a landslide is A. Tornadoes.