Mass movement Flashcards
What is mass movemt
mass movement is the movemeny of material down a slope under the influence of gravity
What is the name given to the loose material?
Regolith
What are the 5 factors that affect mass movement
Gradient, animals, water content, vegetation and human activity
What does vegetation do to prevent mass movement?
roots of plants help to keep soil together.
How does water content effect mass movement?
water content makes the regolith heavier causing it to move faster down the slope
How can humans effect mass movement
Humans can speed up mass movement by making upland areas unstable by buiding EG: roads or quarries
How can animals effect mass movement
burrowing animals can losen the soil causing it to become unstable
also overgrazing animals like cattle and sheep can effect mass movement
What are the 5 types of mass movement?
Bog bursts, soil creep, avalanches, landslides, mudflows
Describe soil creep
Soil creep is the slowest form of mass movement
It occurs on gentle slopes
It can be as slow as 1cm per year
Describe mud flows
Mudflows are the fastest type of mass movement
Happens when the soil is saturated with water
Mudflows can be as fast as 100kph
Describe Bog Bursts
Bog Bursts happens after long periods of heavy rainfall
Peat can become saturated with water causing it to overflow and flow downslope causing great damage
Describe a landslide
A landslide is the rapid movement of regolith downslope
It occurs when a slope becomes unstable which can be caused by human activity
Describe an avalanche
An avalanche is the rapid movement of ice or snow downslope
List 4 ways to prevent mass movement
reduce deforestation, sensible construction, drainage and support
How would you know soil creep has occured?
You would see the evidence on its impact on walls, roads, trees and houses
