Mass Movements Flashcards
(18 cards)
The hard layer of rock beneath looser rocks and soil
Bedrock
Natural void within the earth’s surface, typically a large cave or a chamber
Cavern
A process where rocks and minerals breakdown due to chemical reactions, often involving water and atmospheric gases, changing their composition structure
Chemical weathering
A slow, downslope movement of soil or rock often occurring imperceptibly over long periods
Creep
The rapid, vertical or near vertical descent of rock or soil
Fall
The downslope movement of materials where the materials behaves like viscous fluid, often with higher water content
Flow
The dance slope movement of rock, soil, and debris under the influence of gravity
Mass movement
Percentage of void space within the soil or rock material that makes up a slope
Porosity
A depression or hole in the ground surface formed by the collapse of a surface layer into a subsurface hollow
Sinkhole
A type of downslope movement, where a mass of earth or rock moves along a relatively flat surface of weakness
Slide
A type of downslope movement where a coherent mass of material slide along a curved slip surface
Slump
The unconsolidated, loose material that moves down slope due to gravity
Soil
The sinking or settling of the Earth surface, often due to underground material movement
Subsidence
How are mass movements triggered?
Gravity is the main force responsible for mass movement
How are different mass movements defined?
Based on the type of material, speed of movement, and type of movement (falling, sliding, or flowing)
Describe gravity and how it affects loose surface material.
Gravity is the fundamental force side attracts objects with mass towards each other. Gravity drives loose surface materials downward movement.
What is a slope?
The steepness or inclination of a surface that allows gravity to pull materials downslope
How do slopes fail (externally and internally)?
Increase the stresses on the slope or decrease its resistance to sliding
