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Questions and Answers
What is the primary cause of mass movement?
What is the primary cause of mass movement?
Which factor does NOT influence mass movements?
Which factor does NOT influence mass movements?
What effect does water have on mass movements?
What effect does water have on mass movements?
Which type of mass movement is characterized by a slow, steady movement of soil?
Which type of mass movement is characterized by a slow, steady movement of soil?
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What common event can trigger a mudflow?
What common event can trigger a mudflow?
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Where are lahars primarily found?
Where are lahars primarily found?
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What distinguishes a rockslide from a landslide?
What distinguishes a rockslide from a landslide?
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Which type of mass movement occurs quickly and is primarily made up of mud and water?
Which type of mass movement occurs quickly and is primarily made up of mud and water?
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Study Notes
Mass Movement Overview
- Mass movement is the downslope movement of soil and weathered rock due to gravity.
- Climate greatly influences weathering, determining the size and scale of mass movements.
- Almost all Earth's surface experiences some degree of mass movement.
Factors Influencing Mass Movements
- Material's weight: The weight of the material pulls it downslope.
- Material's resistance: This depends on friction, cohesiveness, and whether the material is anchored to bedrock.
- Triggers: Events like earthquakes shake materials loose, initiating movement.
- Water: Water increases the weight of materials and reduces friction between particles, facilitating movement.
Types of Mass Movements
Creep
- A slow, gradual downslope movement of loose, weathered soil.
- Effects are noticeable over long periods.
- Identifying features like tilted fence posts and trees can indicate creep.
Earthflows
- Moderately slow movement of soils.
- Mudflows are swiftly moving mixtures of mud and water.
- Often triggered by earthquakes or intense, short-lived rainstorms.
- Common in sloped, semi-arid regions and are especially destructive in urban areas near mountains.
- Lahars are mudflows in volcanic areas where melted snow carries volcanic sediment.
Landslides
- A rapid downslope movement of Earth materials.
- Landslides occur when a block of soil, rock, and debris separates from underlying bedrock, especially on steep slopes, often saturated with water.
- Slides: A sheet of rock moves downhill on a sliding surface. Often triggered by earthquakes.
- Slumps: Material moves along a curved surface. Common after heavy rain, acting like a lubricant between soil layers.
Avalanches
- Landslides involving snow, typically triggered when snow on an icy crust becomes heavy, slips off, and slides down a slope.
Rockfalls
- Rocks loosened by weathering (including plant growth) break and fall directly downward.
- Common in high elevations, steep road cuts, and rocky shorelines.
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Description
Explore the intriguing world of mass movements in our quiz. Learn about the factors influencing these phenomena, including climate, materials, and triggers. Test your knowledge on various types of mass movements, such as creep and earthflows.
