ABSTRACT
The deterioration processes of weathered rocks, and residual soils were studied, especially with relation to the effects of land use and human modifications of the land surface and the influence of climatic anomalies and seismic events. The loss of strength, the internal cracking and the widening of discontinuities with time and the resulting accelerated weathering due to external agents play an essential role in the processes of landslides in high mountain areas. The processes, the events and the different ways of measuring and analyzing the deterioration of residual soils are presented. The processes include weight relief due to highway cut, surface erosion, deforestation, land use, coseismic deterioration, moisture changes and underground water leaching. The deterioration effects include pressure dissipation, internal fracturing and volume change, widening of discontinuities and loss of strength.
