mass movement

Question 1

what is mass movement

Answer 1

the downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity, processes act as an input into the littoral zone from the store of the land

Question 2

what are three things mass movement is dependent on?

Answer 2

1. rock type
2. cliff slope/angle
3. climate + level of saturation

Question 3

what are the 4 main types of mass movement?

Answer 3

soil creep, landslide, mudflows, rockfall

Question 4

what is soil creep?

Answer 4

particles rise and fall due to wetting and freezing-> movement of soil particles downhill (very slowly)= formation of shall terracettes

Question 5

what are mudflows?

Answer 5

earth and mud flow over underlying bedrock due to an increase in water content of soil, water gets trapped in rocks-> pressure increases, weakening slope

Question 6

what are landslides?

Answer 6

heavy rainfall leads to water between joints and bedding planes in cliffs (parallel to cliff face)-> reduce friction= landslide when block of intact rock moves down cliff face quickly down flat slope

Question 7

what is rockfall?

Answer 7

the sudden collapse/breaking away of individual rock fragments, triggered by mechanical weathering, mostly occurs on vertical cliff faces where scree is built at the base