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Mass Movement

Mass Movement. Mass Movement. The force of gravity is constantly pulling on all particles in all directions. The strongest force belongs to the earth and it pulls us towards the center of the earth.

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Mass Movement

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  1. Mass Movement

  2. Mass Movement • The force of gravity is constantly pulling on all particles in all directions. The strongest force belongs to the earth and it pulls us towards the center of the earth. • This pulling force pulls loose sediment and weathered rock down slopes and this downslope movement is called mass movement.

  3. Four Movement Variables • There are four variables that influence mass movement, they are: • Weight • Resistance • Trigger • Earthquake, volcanic activity, heavy rainfall etc. • Water

  4. Water • Water is the biggest influence on mass movement. • Think about a sand castle • An absence of water will prevent sediment from sticking together • Dry sand won’t stick together • While too much water can act as a lubricant and reduce friction, while also increasing weight. • Pour water on a sand castle and it will crumble

  5. Types of Mass Movement • Mass movements are classified as: • Creep • Flows • Slides • Slumps • Avalanches • Rock falls

  6. Creep • Creep is the slow and steady downhill flow of Earth materials. • Creep causes the slow tilting of once vertical objects that are on the slopes

  7. Flows • When Earth materials act as if they were a liquid we call it a flow. • Flows can move very slowly(cm/year) or very quickly(km/hr). • These are usually caused by a sudden abundance of water.

  8. Slides • A landslide is a rapid downslope movement of a block of loose soil and dirt. • The material will move together down hill • A rockslide is the sliding of a sheet of rock down a slope.

  9. Slumps • A slump occurs when the mass of material rotates and slides down a curved surface

  10. Avalanche • Avalanches are landslides that occur in snowy mountainous areas. • These usually require a slope of about 35º. • In the western United States alone there are 10,000 avalanches each year. • Avalanches form from snow accumulating on a layer of ice and then sliding off.

  11. Rock Fall • Rock falls are when rocks at high elevations fall off cliffs hitting other rocks on the way down and causing them to fall too.

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