The steeper the slope, the greater potential for gravity to pull objects down . The shallower the slope, the less effect gravity has on pulling objects down. There are several factors that influence mass wasting, but ultimately it is a battle between friction and gravity. ... But if gravity is stronger, the slope will fail.
What is the connection between mass wasting and slopes?
When the gravitational force acting on a slope exceeds its resisting force, slope failure (mass wasting) occurs. The slope material’s strength and cohesion and the amount of internal friction within the material help maintain the slope’s stability and are known collectively as the slope’s shear strength.
What factors contribute to mass wasting?
Mass-wasting events are triggered by changes that oversteepen slope angles and weaken slope stability , such as rapid snow melt, intense rainfall, earthquake shaking, volcanic eruption, storm waves, stream erosion, and human activities. Excessive precipitation is the most common trigger.
How does the steepness of a slope affect the downhill movement of soil?
On a steeper slope, the shear stress component of gravity, g s , increases, and the perpendicular component of gravity, g p , decreases . Another force resisting movement down the slope is grouped under the term shear strength and includes frictional resistance and cohesion among the particles that make up the object.
Why slope is a major factor in mass wasting?
In mass wasting the materials come down the slope without the aid of transporting medium like running water, ice, or wind . Mass wasting occurs continuously on all slopes. Some act very slowly, others very suddenly, often with disastrous results.
How can we prevent mass wasting?
Engineering solutions include barriers and retaining walls, drainage pipes , terracing the slope to reduce the steepness of the cuts, and immediate revegetation. Rockfalls can be controlled or eliminated by the use of rock bolts, cables, and screens and by cutting back slopes to lesser gradients.
How does deforestation contribute to mass wasting?
Deforestation can cause mass wasting through erosion after trees are removed . This is particularly bad in the tropical rain forest as the top soil washed away quickly and takes a long time to re-grow. The impact of mass movements increases as populations grow and cities expand into unstable areas.
What is the fastest type of mass wasting process?
A rock fall are the fastest of all landslide types and occurs when a rock falls through the air until it comes to rest on the ground—not too complicated. In Utah, they are common in the spring and fall because of freeze-thaw weathering.
What are 4 types of landslides?
They are classified into four main types: fall and toppling, slides (rotational and translational), flows and creep .
What are the three major agents of erosion?
Most erosion is performed by liquid water, wind, or ice (usually in the form of a glacier). If the wind is dusty, or water or glacial ice is muddy, erosion is taking place. The brown color indicates that bits of rock and soil are suspended in the fluid (air or water) and being transported from one place to another.
What are the 4 types of mass wasting?
The most common mass-wasting types are falls, rotational and translational slides, flows, and creep .
Which change can lead to slope failure?
Which change can lead to slope failure? the shearing stress on the material exceeds its frictional resistance (or shear strength) .
What is the role of clay in mass wasting?
Mass wasting is more prone on slopes that contain clay and shale. ... A layer of clay on a slope can prevent water from filtering through the slope . Instead, the water stays near the surface and saturates the ground. This can cause the surface layers to lose friction and slide.
How does mass wasting affect human?
As human populations expand and occupy more and more of the land surface, mass movement processes become more likely to affect humans. The table below shows some of the most deadly movement processes since 1900. In a typical year in the United States, landslides cause over $2 billion in damages and 25 to 50 deaths.
Can mass wasting be reduced or prevented?
We cannot prevent mass wasting , however, in many situations there are actions we can take to reduce or mitigate the damaging effects of mass wasting on people and infrastructure. Where we can neither delay nor mitigate mass wasting, we may consider trying to initiate the slope failure in a controlled manner.
What are four ways to prevent mass movements?
Mass movement control must be primarily preventive: e.g., mapping vulnerable zones, drawing up a land use plan, banning building work or any modification of slopes , and protection in the form of coppice forests.
