Mass Movement and Slope Failures

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to mass movement, erosion, and slope stability, each with definitions to aid study and retention.

Erosion

The process by which material is worn away and transported from one location to another by natural forces such as gravity, wind, water, or ice.

Mass Movement

The movement of material downslope due to the force of gravity.

Angle of Repose

The steepest angle at which a slope of a given material is stable.

Rockslide

A rapid mass movement involving the sliding of rock down a slope.

Creep

A slow, gradual movement of soil or debris down a slope.

Mudflow

A type of mass movement that involves a rapid flow of water-saturated soil and debris.

Shear Force

The component of gravity that acts parallel to a slope, promoting movement downhill.

Submarine Landslide

A landslide that occurs on the ocean floor.

Triggers of Slope Failure

Events or conditions that cause a slope to fail, including precipitation, land use changes, and earthquakes.

Talus Slope

A slope covered with a mass of broken rock fragments that have fallen or been washed down from above.