Terms Used for Mass Movement Geography
In geography, various terms are used to describe different types of mass movement, which refer to the downhill movement of Earth materials under the influence of gravity. Some common terms used for mass movement in geography include:
- Landslide: The rapid movement of a large mass of rock, soil, or debris down a slope.
- Rockfall: The sudden and rapid descent of individual rock fragments or blocks from a cliff or steep slope.
- Mudslide or Mudflow: The movement of water-saturated soil or loose debris down a slope, often resembling flowing mud.
- Debris Flow: A type of fast-moving landslide consisting of a mixture of soil, rock, and water that flows downslope like a fluid.
- Creep: The slow, gradual movement of soil or rock downhill due to freeze-thaw cycles, expansion and contraction, or the growth of vegetation.
- Slump: A type of mass movement characterized by the downward movement of a mass of rock or soil along a curved surface.
- Solifluction: The slow, viscous flow of water-saturated soil over impermeable materials, commonly occurring in periglacial environments.
- Avalanche: The rapid downhill movement of snow, ice, and debris on mountain slopes, often triggered by factors such as snowfall, temperature changes, or human activity.
Mass Movement
Mass Movement Class 11 Notes: When you’re on a hill and you see rocks, dirt, or even whole chunks of land sliding or tumbling down, that’s what we call mass movement. It’s like a slow, unstoppable dance of soil and rock, shaped by gravity, happening all around us. In Class 11 geography, understanding mass movement is like uncovering the secrets of how our Earth changes its face over time.
This article is like a treasure map, guiding you through the basics of mass movement in simple terms. We’ll explore how it happens, why it matters, and what we can do about it. So, let’s take a journey into the world of mass movement, where every slide, slump, and tumble tells a story of our planet’s constant evolution.