Mass Movement
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 3.2.3
Mass Movement
Mass movement describes the large movement of soil and rock down the slope of a hill or cliff.
What causes mass movements?
- Mass movements are caused by weathering, erosion, and gravity.
- Small changes over time can mean that the centre of gravity of a cliff can hang over the sea, instead of over land making the cliff unstable and prone to mass movement.
Rockfalls
- Rockfalls are when the cliff (materials) break and crumble down the cliff.
Slides
- Slides are when material moves down a slope in a straight line.
Slumps
- Slumps are when material moves down a slope at a curve.
Test yourself on Mass Movement
What are the 3 types of mass movement?
Which of the following is not a type of mass movement?
What type of mass movement is being shown in this diagram?