Even a cursory inspection of Hillslope Hydrology and Stability by Lu and Godt will impress most professionals interested in processes at the interface between geotechnical engineering and hydrology. This unique textbook represents an attempt to systematically unify concepts from vadose zone hydrology and geotechnical engineering into a new hydro-geo-mechanical approach with special emphasis on quantifying natural mechanisms for the onset of hydrologically induced landslides. Professionals will particularly appreciate the comprehensive coverage of concepts ranging from fundamentals of geomechanics and soil properties to the state-of-the-art concepts of hillslope hydrology, with explicit treatment of soil heterogeneity, layering, and vegetation mechanical and hydrologic functions. The authors have been able to weave a coherent picture based on the cutting-edge state of knowledge regarding landslides as natural geomorphological processes and as ubiquitous natural hazards in mountainous regions.

Students will appreciate the lucid coverage of topics offering a systematic introduction to key ingredients essential for understanding the occurrence of landslides in their broader natural context (often missing in technical textbooks). Students are guided through aspects of precipitation with its instantaneous to inter-annual patterns, as well as aspects of soil types and the geomorphological context of landslides. This provides a solid foundation for introduction of more specific technical aspects of infiltration, hillslope hydrology, and hydro-mechanical properties, and assembles the roles of these factors on a hillslope mechanical state. Students will find clear explanations of fundamental concepts inspired by numerical examples to help them develop appreciation for the orders of magnitude for the quantities involved. Numerous motivating homework problems further promote self-study.