Mass Movement

• Mass Movement

  • Is the movement of loose material down a slope under the influence of gravity.
  • the loose material is made up of soil, rocks and mud, and is known as regolith
• Factors that influence Mass Movement

  1. slope or gradient-> the steeper the gradient, the faster the loose material can move down the slope.
• Factors that influences mass movement

  2. vegetation-> roots of plants and trees keep soil together and make it more stable. this can help to prevent mass movement
• Factors that influences mass movement 


  3. water-> water makes the regolith heavier, causing it to move faster down the slope.
• Factors that influence mass movement

  4. Human activity -> humans can speed up mass movement by making upland areas unstable if they cut into hillsides to build roads or if they quarry in the area.
• Types of mass movement

  1. soil creep- very slow movement
• Types of mass movement

  2. mudflow - rapid movement
• types of mass movement

  3. landslide - rapid movement
• types of mass movement

  4. bog burst - may be rapid movement
• soil creep


  the slowest type of mass movement and occurs on gentle slopes. soil creep becomes visible on the landscape through its impact on walls, roads, trees and houses
• Mudflow


  occur when the soil and regolith become saturated with water, usually after heavy rainfall. they mix to form mud which then moves rapidly downslope. Mudflows are the fastest type of mass movement, with speed of 100km p/h
• Bog Burst


  take place in areas of thick layers of peat or turf after long periods of heavy rainfall.
• Landslide


  the very rapid movement of regolith down a very steep slope. it occurs when the slope becomes unstable, which can be caused by road building, quarrying, earthquakes or sea erosion