In Chapters 7 and 8, you learned how rock is gradually broken down through weathering. In this chapter, we will examine how these pieces of broken and weathered rock are moved down slopes by gravity. These movements can be slow or fast depending on a number of factors. The movement of these masses of soil and rock is known as mass movement or mass wasting. Mass movement can occur due to natural or human processes.
KEY WORDS
l Regolith l Slope l Water content l Slope material l Vegetation l Human activity
l Tectonic activity l Soil creep l Earthflow l Slumping l Rockfall l Landslide
LEARNING OUTCOMES
What you MUST know l A slow process of mass movement in detail l A fast process of mass movement in detail l The factors affecting mass movement l How human processes affect mass movement
What you SHOULD know l How to draw diagrams of processes of mass movement
l Examples of disasters caused by mass movement
What is USEFUL to know l Additional processes of mass movement
Introduction
Mass movement is the process by which loose, weathered material such as rock, soil and mud is moved downslope under the influence of gravity. The loose material is collectively known as regolith. Regolith is held together poorly, making it easy to move.
