Mass Wasting Flashcards
What is mass wasting?
Movement of Earth material on a slope under the influence of gravity
What is the difference between driving and resisting forces?
Gravity vs. friction
What can affect slope stability?
Removal of support at base
Oversteeping
Water
Devegetation
Human influence
Does slope angle/height matter?
It does, because the slope determines if the driving or resisting force prevails
What are the types of mass wasting?
Rock falls and topples, slides, flows, soil creep, debris flow, debris avalanche, rock avalanche
What flows are there?
Creep, debris flows, debris avalanche, rock avalanche
What triggers debris flows?
Rainfall, ideal setting is a steep-dipping channel that often follows stream/river valleys
Characteristics of translational vs rotational slides/slumps?
Along an essentially straight or planar surface vs. along a curved surface, also known as a slump
What is a sensitive clay flow?
When a material is subjected to sufficient stress, its behaviour may drastically change from that of a solid to a slurry-like fluid
