Mass Movement Flashcards
What is the gradient
How steep the slope which the mass movement is occurring,
The steeper the slope the faster the movement
Name the four influences of mass movement
Gradient
Human activity
Water content
Vegetation
Explain why the water content is so Important
Water makes regolith heavier. The more water in the substance the quicker it moves
Explain why the human activity is so Important
People often cut into mountains or hills, which leaves a steeper slope, which means the movement will be faster.
Explain why the vegetation is so Important
Roots of plants and trees bing the regolith together and slows down the speed of the regolith.
Explain mass movement
Mass movement is the movement of any loose material down hill under the influence of gravity.
What is the loose material caused by mass movement called
Regolith
What is the regolith made up of
Soil, mud and rock.
Name four types of mass movement
Soil creep, bogburst, landslide, mudflows
What is the slowest form of mass movement
Soil creep
Explain soil creep and name some effects it has.
It’s the downslope movement of soil under the influence of gravity. It causes telegraph poles to tilt and tree trunks grow at an angle. Walls bulge because of the soil building up behind it and terracettes are formed when the soil gathers to make a series of steps.
How slow is soil creep
It occurs of a speed of about 1cm a year
What is a landslide
A land slide is the very rapid movement of Earth and rock down a steep slope and often occurs after heaven rainfall.
Why do landslides occur
They occur when a slope becomes unstable. When a mountain/hill has been cut into for road building or quarrying the slope can become unstable.
Explain a mudflow
These are moving Rivers of rock soil and water. They are the fastest forms of mass movement.
