Chapter 10- Mass Movement Flashcards
What is regolith
Loose material when rocks are weathered and eroded
What is mass movement
It is when gravity causes regolith forms to move down a slope
Define gradient
It refers to the steepness of the slope
Why is water content important in mass movement
It makes the regolith heavier causing it to move downslope. Water can also act as a lubricant
Describe human activity
Building roads or quarrying in upland areas can make the land unstable and cause mass movement
Explain vegetation in the way of mass movement
The roots of plants and trees keep the soil stable and help prevent mass movement
Explain animals in the form of mass movement
Burrowing animals and overgrazing can make the slope unstable and cause mass movement
Name the factors that affect mass movement
Gradient,water content, human activity, vegetation, animals
Name a slow type of mass movement
Soil creep
Describe soil creep
Soil creep is the movement of soil down a slope under the influence of gravity
What are terracettes
Wrinkles in the land caused by mass movement
Name a types of fast mass movement
Bog bursts,landslides,mudflows,avalanches
Describe a bog burst
It is when a mass of big or peat moves down a slope after a period of heavy rainfall
Describe mudflows
Mudflows occur when soil and regolith become saturated with water and move downslope
Describe landslides
It is rapid movement of regolith down a steep slope
