Why does a landslide occur? What role do the Atterberg limits play? How does re-sloping a hill affect the stability of the hillside?The referenced cucaracha shale in the reading is primarily composed of a material known as smectite clay, which has the ability to swell in the presence of water. The Culebra Cut experienced hundreds of landslides over time, both big and small. Every time a landslide occurred, the Canal would be dredged (or scooped out) and the slopes of the Culebra cut would be re-shaped. The "slide-dredge-reslope" cycle continued throughout the construction of the Canal, resulting in the excavation of nearly 98M cubic yards! The average rainfall in Panama is 105.5 inches. Based on your understanding of the Atterberg Limits, explain the cause(s) of the repeated landslides in the Culebra cut using 2 paragraphs (no more than 3). Your argument must be clear, concise and rooted in science.