Such factors include: weathering or erosional debris cover on slopes, which is usually liable to mass movement; the character and structure of rocks, such as resistant permeable beds prone to sliding because of underlying impermeable rocks; the removal of the vegetation cover, which increases the slope’s susceptibility …

Creep is the imperceptibly slow, steady, downward movement of slope-forming soil or rock. Movement is caused by shear stress sufficient to produce permanent deformation, but too small to produce shear failure. Progressive, where slopes are reaching the point of failure as other types of mass movements.

Mass movements are an important part of the erosional process, as it moves material from higher elevations to lower elevations where transporting agents like streams and glaciers can then pick up the material and move it to even lower elevations.

Mass wasting is the movement of mass amounts of rock, soil and debris downward due to gravity. Learn about major triggers of mass wasting, such as increased water, increased slope steepness, the removal of vegetation and earthquakes.

Mass wasting is the transfer or movement of rock or soil down slope primarily by gravity. Water erodes rocks and the landscapes by transporting weathered materials from their source to another location where they are deposited.

Erosion is the physical removal and transportation of weathered material by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Mass wasting is the transfer or movement of rock or soil down slope primarily by gravity.

Gravity is probably the ultimate driving force of mass wasting. The force of gravity pulls all things on the planet toward the center of the Earth. Without gravity, mass wasting would not occur. But unlike many of the other factors, humans have no influence or control on gravity.

A landslide happens when a large amount of rock and soil moves suddenly and rapidly downhill. Landslides can carry away or bury plants and animals and destroy their habitats. Several factors can make landslides more likely.

Gravity is the physical force of attraction between any two objects in the universe. When material is on a slope and conditions are right, however, gravity will cause it to fall, slide, flow, slump, or creep downward. That downhill movement of soil, rocks, mud, and other debris can be either slow or fast.

Mass wasting – is movement in which bed rock, rock debris, or soil moves downslope in bulk, or as a mass, because of the pull of gravity. Landslides is a general term for the slow-to-very rapid descent of rock or soil. Flow – The debris is moving downslope as a viscous fluid.