When is mud dangerous?

1.What conditions might cause a mudflow?
Some conditions that might cause a mudflow, are, the angle in which the slope is at, the composition of the soil, and how much water the soil has saturated.

2.What conclusions can you draw from the two images?
That the soil on slide plane that is tilted at a higher angle, is more likely to create a mudflow than the soil on the slide plane that is tilted at a lower angle.

3. List at least two ways you could make the mud slide off the 30° slide plane without changing the plane's angle.
One way to make the mud slide off the 30° slide plane without changing the angle is to saturate the mud with more water, so that when it absorbs enough water, it will bring the mud down the plane. Another way is to create some type of disturbance like an earthquake that will disturb the mud.

4.What conditions in nature would be represented by the answers you gave for question 3?
One of the conditions would have to be a very rainy area. Without the rain, the mud wouldn't be able to absorb water, it would be dry instead of moist, which is not a good condition for a mudflow. Another area would be near tectonic plates, because a mudflow would need a decent sized earthquake.

5. List at least two factors that contribute to the formation of mudflows on volcanoes.
One factor is when a volcano erupts, it melts the ice and snow, which creates water. This water runs downhill carrying ash particles and other debris. Another factor is if the volcano had a sudden outburst of water at the base of its glacier.

6. How might forest fires affect an area's potential for experiencing mudflows?
It would increase the chance, because the plants and trees were holding down most of the soil, with their roots, but if it's all burned, it has the potential of experiencing a mudflow.

7. Hypothesize about how mudflows could change the topography of an area after a fire.
Mudflows could change the topography of an area after a fire, by changing the shape of the earth, because when mudflows occurs, there's no idea of what shape it will take, when it dries.

8. What human activities strip soil of its protective vegetation and increase its vulnerability to mudflows? This would be construction, some people may want to build a house in the woods, but have to clear out trees. If they were to clear out trees on a hill, they are more susceptible to experiencing a mudflow.