Earth Sciences 1022A/B Study Guide - Final Guide: Glacier Terminus, Moraine, Bed Load

• School: Western University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: Earth Sciences 1022A/B
• Professor: Stephen R Hicock

Document Summary

Gravity is most important but water is also critical; when water completely fills pores it reduces cohesion and allows grains to slide over each other; adds weight to soil. Oversteepened slopes due to undercutting by waves, streams, and human excavation, resulting in loss of support for materials higher up the slope. Vegetation anchors soil and regolith with plant roots; removing plants makes the slope unstable and susceptible to failure. Earthquakes can dislodge rock and unconsolidated material, resulting in landslides. Classification: based on types of materials, types of motion (freefall, sliding and flowing), and how fast they move. Rock or unconsolidated material that moves as blocks along curved surfaces commonly lubricated by water; gravity. Slump pulls the block in a rotational motion away from a scarp with the block"s surface tilting back - happens when the slope is undercut by a stream, by waves, or by human excavation.