Gravity is the main force responsible for mass movements. Gravity is a force that acts everywhere on the Earth’s surface, pulling everything in a direction toward the center of the Earth. On a flat surface, parallel to the Earth’s surface, the force of gravity acts downward.

The velocity of a river is determined by many factors, including the shape of its channel, the gradient of the slope that the river moves along, the volume of water that the river carries and the amount of friction caused by rough edges within the riverbed.

Water flowing over Earth’s surface or underground causes erosion and deposition. Water flowing over a steeper slope moves faster and causes more erosion. When water slows down, it starts depositing sediment. This process starts with the largest particles first.

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.

Mass wasting is a rapid form of erosion that works primarily under the influence of gravity in combination with other erosional agents. Can result in small or large scale changes to the landscape depending on the type of event.

Both weathering and erosion are processes that wear away rocks. These two processes collaborate to break down rocks by removing or forcing out particles and sediment. Water is a force that helps both processes to occur.

The slowest and least noticeable, but most widespread of the slow mass wasting categories is creep. Creep involves the entire hillside, and is characterized by very slow movement of soil or rock material over a period of several years.

There are many methods that could be used to help prevent or stop erosion on steep slopes, some of which are listed below.

1. Plant Grass and Shrubs. Grass and shrubs are very effective at stopping soil erosion.
2. Use Erosion Control Blankets to Add Vegetation to Slopes.
3. Build Terraces.
4. Create Diversions to Help Drainage.