Mass movement

mass movement

the downhill movement of material under the influence of gravity

What can trigger mass movement?

• waves eroding the base of the cliff

• heavy, prolonged rainfall

• the weight of buildings

• erosion from people walking

What are the five main types of mass movement?

• sliding

• slumping

• rockfall

• mudflow

• runoff

sliding

a block of rock moving rapidly downhill along a flat slide plane

slumping

weak rock slipping rapidly downhill along a curved slide plane/surface

rockfall

the sudden breaking away of individual rocks at a cliff face, associated with steep cliffs and heavily jointed, resistant rock

mudflow

the downhill flowing of earth and mud, often after heavy rainfall

runoff

the flow of water over the land surface in coastal areas, typically resulting from heavy rainfall