Mass wasting
In geology, mass wasting is the process by which rock and regolith move downslope.
This process is greatly accelerated on Earth in the presence of water, both as liquid and from the action of water as it freeze fractures rock. Mass wasting may also occur underwater in the form of underwater landslides, debris flows, slumps, and so forth.
As an erosional process, mass wasting reduces the size of rocks while they are in transit while reducing their potential energy by bringing them closer to the center of the planet.
Mass wasting may occur at a very slow rate, particularly in areas that are very dry or those areas that receive sufficient rainfall such that vegetation has stabilized the surface. It may also occur at a very high rate of speed, such as in rockslides or landslides, with disastrous consequences.
There are several types of mass wasting, including:
- Rock and debris falls
- Rock and debris slides
- Slumps
- Slurry flows
- Granular flows
- Rock glaciers
- Frost heave
- Gelifluction