Mass Movement

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When weathering breaks up rocks the loose material is called regolith.

Regolith moving down a slope is known as mass movement

Types of mass movement

Soil creep

The slowest type of mass movement (as little as 1 mm per year)

Only noticeable on objects such as walls

Results of soil creep

Builds up behind walls

Bends tree trunks

Accumulates in small ridges called terracettes

Bogbursts/ mudflows

They are much faster than soil creep, as they

occur on steeper slopes.

The only difference between the two is that a bogburst occurs only on a bog

Usually happens after heavy rainfall

Landslides

Very rapid, on a very steep slope.

Occur when something undercuts the rock.

How water can cause a landslide on a cliff

The waves erode a notch at the cliff base

The rock above the notch collapses as a landslide

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