Mass wasting , also known as slope movement or mass movement, is the geomorphic process by which soil, sand, regolith, and rock move downslope typically as a solid, continuous or discontinuous mass, largely under the force of gravity, frequently with characteristics of a flow as in debris flows and mudflows.
What is the sudden movement of rock and soil down a slope?
A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of “mass wasting,” which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
What refers to the movement of rock down?
mass movement, also called Mass Wasting , bulk movements of soil and rock debris down slopes in response to the pull of gravity, or the rapid or gradual sinking of the Earth’s ground surface in a predominantly vertical direction.
What is it called when rocks fall down a slope?
7.17. 1 Introduction. Rockfall is the free or bounding fall of rock debris down steep slopes under the influence of gravity. ... Rockfalls result from the weathering of bedrock outcrops on steep slopes, the ultimate detachment of the weathering products and their removal downslope.
What is slope movement?
Slope movements are also collectively referred to as mass movements or landslides. ... Slope movements can be defined as the outward and downward displacement of slope-forming material under the influence of gravity . They have a very widespread distribution, since unstable landslide-prone slopes occur almost everywhere.
How do humans affect mass movement?
Humans can contribute to mass wasting in a few different ways: Excavation of slope or its toe . Loading of slope or its crest. Drawdown (of reservoirs)
What are 2 types of erosion?
- surface erosion.
- fluvial erosion.
- mass-movement erosion.
- streambank erosion.
What are the 4 types of mass movement?
- Rockfall. Bits of rock fall off the cliff face, usually due to freeze-thaw weathering.
- Mudflow. Saturated soil (soil filled with water) flows down a slope.
- Landslide. Large blocks of rock slide downhill.
- Rotational slip. Saturated soil slumps down a curved surface.
How can we prevent mass movement?
Mass movements can sometimes be avoided by employing engineering techniques to make the slope more stable . Among them are: Steep slopes can be covered or sprayed with concrete covered or with a wire mesh to prevent rock falls. Retaining walls could be built to stabilize a slope.
What are the six types of mass movement?
Types of Mass Movement: Creep; Fall, Slip, Flow; Solifluction ; Rock Glaciers; Slumping (Earthflow); Mudflow (lahar); Debris Flow, Debris Slide, Debris Avalanche; Rockslide; Rockfall; Debris Fall.
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 causes debris flow?
Debris flows generally occur during periods of intense rainfall or rapid snowmelt and usually start on hillsides or mountains. Debris flows can travel at speeds up to and exceeding 35 mph and can carry large items such as boulders, trees, and cars.
Which kind of rock often forms caves?
Solution caves are formed in limestone and similar rocks by the action of water; they can be thought of as part of a huge sub- terranean plumbing system. After a rain, water seeps into cracks and pores of soil and rock and percolates beneath the land surface.
Which mass movement is the fastest?
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.
How do slopes develop?
The slope processes include weathering, erosion, transport and deposition of the material . Weathering is the process by which material is prepared for transport. Weathering is the response of the materials within the lithosphere to conditions at or near its contact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.
What are the different types of slope?
- postive slope (when lines go uphill from left to right)
- negative slope (when lines go downhill from left to right)
- zero slope (when lines are horizontal)
- undefined slope (when lines are vertical)
