Skriða

Skriða is the Icelandic term for a mass movement of rock, earth, and debris down a slope, commonly translated as landslide. The term can describe either the event itself or the ongoing process of movement.

Etymology: The word derives from Icelandic roots related to slipping or sliding; it is used in geology and hazard reporting in Iceland and in Nordic languages to denote rapid slope failure.

Types and processes: Landslides include rockfall, rockslide, debris slide, debris flow, mudflow, and slump. They range from rapid, instantaneous events to slower, creeping movements, often controlled by gravity and substrate saturation.

Causes and triggers: Principal factors are rainfall and snowmelt, earthquakes, volcanic activity, groundwater pressure, and rainfall-induced slope destabilization. Human activities such as deforestation, excavation, and infrastructure construction can increase risk.

Impacts and risk: Skriða can damage roads, buildings, and utilities; they may trigger secondary hazards like flooding or dam failure. Hazard assessment uses slope stability models, monitoring networks, and remote sensing.

Monitoring and mitigation: Early warning systems, slope stabilization, drainage improvements, regrading, and controlled vegetation are used to reduce risk. Land-use planning and hazard zoning are common preventive measures in vulnerable regions, including Iceland.

See also: Landslide.