Methods of Mass Movement
- Created by: lewis.mackk05
- Created on: 28-10-22 16:40
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- Mass-Movement Processes
- What is Mass-Movement?
- Mass Movement can be classified in different ways, as a flow or a slide.
- Movement depends on different factors, e.g. angle of the slope/cliff; rock type and structure; vegetation cover; how wet the ground is.
- In a slide the material remains intact, in a flow the material becomes jumbled up
- The 3 Flows of Mass Movement
- Solifluction
- Occurs mainly in tundra areas. When the top layer of soil thaws and becomes saturated, it flows over the frozen layers beneath
- Averages 5cm to 1 metre every year
- Earth Flows and Mudflows
- An increase in the amount of water (e.g. due to heavy rain) can reduce friction, causing earth and mud to flow over bedrock
- Soil Creep
- Very slow downhill movement of soil particles
- This is the slowest form of mass movement
- Solifluction
- The 3 Slides of Mass Movement
- Rock Falls
- Most likely to occur when strong, jointed rock faces are exposed to mechanical weathering (e.g. freeze thaw)
- Material falls to form scree (talus) at the foot of the slope
- Block falls are similar. A large block of rock falls from the cliff as a single piece due to the jointing of the rock
- Slumps
- Common where softer materials like clay overlie more resistant or impermeable rock like limestone
- Often in saturated conditions on moderate to steep slopes
- Rotational Movement
- Slumping causes rotational scars and terraced cliff profiles
- Rock Falls
- What is Mass-Movement?
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