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Mass movement (Types of mass movement (Soil creep : (Soil creep is the…
Mass movement
Types of mass movement
Soil creep :
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Trees grow at an angle,with the base of the tree turned down slope
As the soil moves downslope, a series of steps called terracettes can form. This gives the surface a wrinkled appearance
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Mudflows
Mudflows occur when soil and regolith become saturated with water after periods of heavy rainfall and move downslope like a river of
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Landslides
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Causes of landslides: coastal erosion, deforestation, heavy rainfall, earthquakes, undercutting by road building or quarrying.
Avalanches
An avalanche is the rapid movement of snow and ice downslope when the weight of the snow is too much for the slope to hold
Factors of mass movement
Gradient:
Gradient refers to steepness of the slope. The stepper that the slope is the faster the regolith moves
Water content: water makes regolith heavier, heavier regolith moves downslope faster. Water can also act as a lubricant. This makes the movement of the regolith easier, therefore heavy rain can speed up mass movement
Human activity: people sometimes dig into slopes in upland areas during construction and when mining or quarrying. Digging into the slope makes the slope steeper and more unstable.
Vegetation: Grass and shrubs protect the soil from weathering and erosion. The roots of plants and trees bind the soil together. They keep it stable and help to prevent mass movement
Animals: Burrowing animals can loosen the soil, making it unstable. Overgrazing by cattle and sheep removes the vegetation cover exposing the soil. This too can make the slope unstable and lead to mass movement
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