9. Mass Movement Factors That Influence Mass Movement
Slope or Gradient The steeper the gradient (another word for slope), the faster the loose material can move down the slope. A gentler slope will have a slower movement of regolith.
Gentle slope 1. How slope is shown on an OS map Vegetation
Roots of plants and trees keep soil together and make it more stable. This can help to prevent mass movement. When deforestation (the removal of trees) occurs, the soil on a hillside can move more freely down the slope.
Water
Water makes the regolith heavier, causing it to move faster down the slope.
Human Activity
Humans can speed up mass movement by making upland areas unstable if they cut into hillsides to build roads. Cutting into the base of a slope can cause the hill above it to collapse.
Soil saturated by water is heavier and flows down the hillside
9.2 Types of Mass Movement
The main types of mass movement are shown here in figure 2. The movements occur at different speeds depending on the steepness of the slopes on which they occur.