7 factors influencing mass wasting
Mass wasting is down slope movement of rock materials due to influence of gravity. When such movement occurs after the materials have been lubricated by rain water from melting snow it is refers to as MASS MOVEMENT. The force involved in this process is gravity but it is only able to exert its influence when the materials overcome their initial resistance to movement. This initials resistance is caused by the friction between the materials and underlying rock mass. Water plays an important role in helping the materials to overcome this resistance. Most of the movements are slow amounting to few centimeters per year but sometimes they can be sudden and rapid. The nature and speed of movement in mass wasting are influenced by the following 7 factors; The nature and weight of materials. if the layer of the weathered rock is very deep or thinly bedded, it will result in rapid mass wasting. Thin beds increase the tendency of movement as there are more bedding planes over which movement can ...