The main types of mass movement are shown here in figure 1. The movements occur at different speeds depending on the steepness of the slopes on which they occur.
Soil Creep
Gentle slope; very slow movement
Mass Movement Mudflow
Gentle to steep slope; rapid movement
Soil Creep
Soil creep is the slowest type of mass movement and occurs on gentle slopes. Movement can be as slow as 1 cm per year; so, it can take a long time for its impact to be noticeable. Soil creep becomes visible on the landscape through its impact on walls, roads, trees and houses.
House with sagging foundations
and cracked walls Curving tree trunk 2. The impact of soil creep
Cracks appearing on the road parallel to the slope
telephone poles
Soil creep zone Intact bedrock
Soil builds up behind wall and puts pressure on it, causing collapse
Working with others:
Study the photographs shown here. Then discuss with the person next to you what
evidence you can see that soil creep is happening in these
areas. Share your thoughts with the class.
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With the aid of a diagram, explain the process of soil creep as shown in figure 2 and the impact it has on the landscape.
