Mass Wasting Research Paper

Types of mass wasting depends upon different factors like gravity, water flow, and steepness. Below a classification of different types of mass wasting with each type having sub types.

3.1.1 FALLS

When freefall movement of detached individual material particles of any size is termed as fall. Fall is a common form of movement on slopes that are so steep that loose material cannot remain on the surface. Rocks may fall directly over the base of the slope or move or move in the series of leaps and bounds over other rocks along the way.

When large masses of rock start moving from great heights the hit the ground with enormous force and often trigger additional mass wasting events.

A different effect triggered by a rock fall occur on Yosemite

Slides are one important type of mass wasting in which movement of material flows movement of coherent mass. A slide is similar to slumps but a rockslide doesn’t move along a curve surface like a slump. If the material involved is largely unconsolidated, the term debris slides is used instead, such events are among the fastest and most destructive mass movements. Usually rockslides take place in a geologic setting where the rock strata are inclined, or where joints and fractures exist parallel to the slope. When such a rock unit is undercut at the base of the slope, it loses support and the rock give way. Sometimes Slides are triggered due to rain and melting snow. Slides tends to be more common during the spring, when heavy rains and melting snow are

Debris flow are most characteristic of semiarid mountainous region and also common on the slopes of some volcanoes. In this process a cloudburst and a rapidly melting mountains snows create a flood in a semiarid region, large quantity of soil and regolith are washed into nearby streams because there is little vegetation to anchor surface material of soil. Flowing tongue is final product that is the mixture of mixed mud rocks, soil and water. Its consistency ranges from wet concrete to soupy mixture that is not much thicker than muddy water. Debris flow pose a significant hazard to life and property in populated