Mass Movement
What is mass movement? Mass movement is any of the several processes which gravity moves sediment downhill. There are four processes of mass movement. These processes include landslides, mudflows, slump, and creep. The processes of mass movement however, can be rapid or slow.
What are Mudflows?A mudflow is a very fast/rapid downhill movement. It is a mixture of water, rock, and soil. The amount of water in a mudflow can reach up to 60%. Mudflows often occur after a heavy rain in an area that is usually dry.
The video at the right is a huge mudflow in Austria, and is a great example of what a mudflow looks like. The photo to the right is a picture of a mudflow. |
|
What are Landslides?Landslides are the most destructive way of mass movement. They occur when rock and soil slide quickly down a steep hill or slope. Although, that's not the only way lanslides can occur. They can also occur when a construction comopany work on a road, and have to cut highways through rock, hill, or mountains.
Also, the video to the right is footage of a landslide caught on tape. The slideshow on the right contains a few landslide photos. |
|
What is a Slump?A slump is when a mass of rock and soil suddenly slip down a slope. It is different than a landslide because the material in a slump moves down in one large mass. When a slump occurs, it looks as if somebody pulled the bottom out from under part of the slope.
|
The slideshow above is a slideshow of the mass movement called slump.
|
What is a Creep?A creep is the very slow downhill movement of soil, and rock. It can occur on gentle, or steep slopes. Creep is the slowest type of mass movement. It is so slow that you can barely notice it. As an example, it can be compared to an hour hand on a clock. Creep mainly results from the freezing and thawing of water in cracked layers of rock underground.
|
The slideshow above is a few pictures of the mass movement called creep.
|