Geography Essay Planning

Introduction

• Mass-wasting is the natural downhill movement of earth materials such as soil, rock, and snow caused by gravity.
  
  

• Mention avalanches as a type (large amounts of snow and debris rapidly slide down a mountain slope).
  
  

• (incident/issue we are covering)
  
  

• This report will explore the concept of mass-wasting, the human and natural causes of events like avalanches, and how the loss of life and damage from such disasters can be minimized.
  

What is mass-wasting?

• Mass-wasting is the downhill movement of earth materials by gravity.

• List types: landslides, mudflows, avalanches.

• Avalanches are rapid movements of snow and debris that can cause severe damage due to their speed and volume.

• Triggered when snowpack becomes unstable due to changes in temperature, added weight, or external forces.

What are the human and natural causes of mass-wasting?

• List: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, snowmelt.

• (Cause of specific incident/case study)

• Introduce El Niño and La Niña as climate factors influencing weather and avalanches:
  El Niño: warmer, wetter conditions → heavier snow, earlier melt → increased avalanche risk.
  La Niña: colder, sometimes drier → snow accumulation + weak snow layers → avalanche risk.

• List human causes: deforestation, construction, poor land management → soil instability.

How can damage and loss of life be minimized?

• Continuous monitoring especially during El Niño and La Niña cycles due to extremes

• Early warning systems to detect changes in volcanic activity and snowpack stability.

• Engineering solutions: snow fences, avalanche barriers

• Well-trained emergency and promoting reforestation

Conclusion

• Mass-wasting events like avalanches pose serious threats to both people and the environment, especially in mountainous regions.

• (Incident highlights factors of mass wasting especially in mountainous area)

• Importance of integrated monitoring, planning, and education to reduce damage and save lives.

what way to format answers

(Intro — What is — Causes — How to reduce — Conclusion)