ABSTRACT
Slope stability and landslides belong to one system and landslides are the result of slope instability. This chapter aims to review of landslides and slope stability is given with emphasis on environmental aspects and controls. Factors affecting earth slope instability are external loading conditions including surcharge loading, earthquake actions, blasting vibration, moving vehicle, and construction operation. It also include environmental factors including rainstorms hurricane, flash flood, El Nino and La Nina effects, dry–wet and freeze–thaw cycles, acid rain and acid drainage, pollution intrusion, tree/vegetation roots, and animal, insect, and microbiological attack. Progressive failures related to landslides and surface soil erosion has been recognized by geologists, agricultural scientists and for geotechnical engineering which is considered for the design of various earthen structures. Soil erosion is caused by the drag action, especially rainfall on the surface of bare or unprotected soil surfaces. It involves a process of both particle detachment and transport.
