Gravitational erosion

Gravitational erosion

Gravitational erosion is caused by gravity in contrast to the physical movement of wind and water required for other types of soil erosion. Gravitational erosion involves both large scale mass wasting and smaller scale erosion. Forms of gravitational erosion include avalanche, landslide, debris flow, mudflow, and sinkhole formation. [cite book | title = Manual on Sediment Management and Measurement | url = http://www.whycos.org/IMG/pdf/948_E.pdf | publisher = World Meteorological Organization | date = 2003 | id = ISBN 92-63-10948-6 | accessdate = 2006-06-22] Two types of mass movements are slump and creep.

lump

*Material slips down along a curved surface
*When the slope becomes too steep, the base material cannot support the rock and sediment above.
*Water can cause slump by weakening the slipping mass.
*Where a stronger layer rests on top of a weaker layer, it collapses.
*A curved scar is left where the slumped materials originally rested.

Creep

*Materials slowly shift downhill
*Creep is caused by gravity alone
*This process is extremely slow and would be difficult to see without a LOT of time and measurements Gravitational erosion can leave major scars and land.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • erosion — n. [L. erosus; eaten away] 1. Wearing away of soil because of wind, water, or gravitational action. 2. (MOLLUSCA: Gastropoda) The disintergration of the apex of the shell …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • Downhill creep — Downhill creep, or commonly just creep, is the slow downward progression of rock and soil down a low grade slope; it can also refer to slow deformation of such materials as a result of prolonged pressure and stress. Creep may appear to an… …   Wikipedia

  • earth — /errth/, n. 1. (often cap.) the planet third in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 7926 mi. (12,755 km) and a polar diameter of 7900 mi. (12,714 km), a mean distance from the sun of 92.9 million mi. (149.6 million km), and a… …   Universalium

  • lake — lake1 /layk/, n. 1. a body of fresh or salt water of considerable size, surrounded by land. 2. any similar body or pool of other liquid, as oil. 3. (go) jump in the lake, (used as an exclamation of dismissal or impatience.) [bef. 1000; ME lak(e) …   Universalium

  • Lake — /layk/, n. Simon, 1866 1945, U.S. engineer and naval architect. * * * I Relatively large body of slow moving or standing water that occupies an inland basin. Lakes are most abundant in high northern latitudes and in mountain regions, particularly …   Universalium

  • cosmos — /koz meuhs, mohs/, n., pl. cosmos, cosmoses for 2, 4. 1. the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system. 2. a complete, orderly, harmonious system. 3. order; harmony. 4. any composite plant of the genus Cosmos, of tropical… …   Universalium

  • atmosphere, evolution of — Introduction  the development of Earth s (Earth) atmosphere across geologic time. The process by which the current atmosphere arose from earlier conditions is complex; however, evidence related to the evolution of Earth s atmosphere, though… …   Universalium

  • Earth Sciences — ▪ 2009 Introduction Geology and Geochemistry       The theme of the 33rd International Geological Congress, which was held in Norway in August 2008, was “Earth System Science: Foundation for Sustainable Development.” It was attended by nearly… …   Universalium

  • Earth — This article is about the planet. For other uses, see Earth (disambiguation). Earth   …   Wikipedia

  • Formation and evolution of the Solar System — Artist s conception of a protoplanetary disk The formation and evolution of the Solar System is estimated to have begun 4.568 billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”