ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the effect of climate on the generation of possible geohazards. In the first half of 2004, Guangdong experienced five extreme climate events: one extreme drought, one 20-day cold front, one extreme heat wave, eight major storms, and seven major tidal events. Three climate conditions; namely, extreme drought condition, extreme wet condition, and steady-state condition, are studied. The climate conditions prior to a particular rain event have a significant effect on the pore water pressures in the slope. When the prior climate condition is very wet, the runoff rate from the new rain event is as low as 0.4. In response to the drastic changes in runoff rate due to prior climate conditions, given the same moderate rain event, the runoff amount generated after a long period of drought can be twice that generated after a sustained wet period. Climate conditions affect engineering behavior of soils and the geological environment.
