Mass Movement - the movement of regolith down a slope due to gravity.
Regolith - loose material such as soil, rocks and mud. (Produced when rocks have been weathered and eroded).
Factors affecting Mass Movement
1. Gradient (slope)
- the steepness of the slope.
- the steeper the slope, the faster the movement of regolith.
2. Water (rain)
- water makes regolith heavier causing it to move downwards faster
- water acts as a lubricant causing it to move downwards easier.
3. Human activity
- building roads, quarrying, construction can all make the land unstable and cause mass movement.
4. Vegetation (plants/trees)
- the roots of plants and trees keep soil together and make it more stable.
- this helps prevent Mass Movement.
Types of Mass Movement
Slow Mass Movement
-soil creep
Fast Mass Movement
-mudflows
-bog burst.
-landslide