1. Mass Movements

2. Introduction Explain why slopes fail under force of gravity
Explain factors influencing slope failure
Describe types of mass movements and why they usually occur
Discuss importance of mass movement processes in shaping landscapes and associated hazards

3. Introduction Rock, soils, and other materials move downhill
Sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly
Pose threats to people
Modify the landscape

4. Slope Stability and Mass Movement
Gravity is main force driving materials downslope
Slopes have threshold of steepness
Angle of repose is steepest angle at which a given material will remain stable
`sand degrees, boulders as steep as 45
Frictional strength of material resist movement
Rough surfaces greater frictional strength
Increased weight of material increases resistance

5. Force of Gravity Two components
Shear stress –pushes block parallel to slope
Other component pushes block into slope
Stress is perpendicular to slope surface
The greater the weight of block the more resistance to movement

6. Cohesion Besides shear stress, cohesion also resists motion
Is tendency of materials to stick together to resist movement
Cements and roots can increase cohesion

7. Water Pressure Increases chance of failure
Pressure of pores filled with water reduces frictional resistance

8. Forms of Mass Movement
Mass movement – movement of earth materials by gravity
Mass wasting is term also used

9. Creep and Solifuction Slow almost imperceptible mass movement
Revealed by tilted trees, fence posts
Soil particles rise with freeze or wetting, settle lower on slope when warmed or dry
Flow of soil occurring mostly cold high latitudes

10. Slides Blocks of rocks moving on distinct plane
Landslide is general term
Slump is movement on a curved plane
Rockslides – large blocks break loose, move rapidly downslope
Important factors in slides
Groundwater pressure
Oversteepening slopes

11. Flows Fluid movement of loose earth materials
Earth flows are slow moving flows of mostly fine grained or clay-rich soil/sediment
Debris flows – fast-moving mixture of sediment and water
Mudflows are debris flows of mostly muddy sediment
Debris flows involve water

12. Flows

13. Rockslides Mass of bedrock moving rapidly downslope
One of most dangerous mass movement types

14. Fall Rocks break off and fall to base of slope/cliff
Talus accumulates at base

15. U.S. Map of Landslide Risk