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What are the factors influencing mass wasting?

List the factors influencing mass wasting.

Answers

Maurice
(i) Increase in moisture lubricates the soil.

(ii) The nature of the underlying rock.

(iii) Earthquake shocks lead to the movement of materials down slope.

(iv) Deeply weathered thick or thinly bedded rock materials are likely to move down slope.

(v) Lack of vegetation reduces the ability of the soil to hold together.

(vi) Undercutting of the slope by excavation or mining.

(vii) Rearrangement of soil particles by living organisms in the soil.

(viii) The angle of slope determines the movement of the material.

Slope

The angle of slope determines the speed and nature of movement. There is faster movement of materials on steep slopes compared to gentle low lying slopes.

Nature of material

When the massive rocks overlie week rocks, the movement of the massive overlying rocks is easily realised. Weak rocks, deeply weathered rocks, thinly bedded rocks or steeply dipping rocks will experience easy movement. When the material contains a lot of water, it is moves easily.

climate

High rainfall and alternate freeze and thaw periods encourage movement. Areas with high rainfall have wet materials which are easily moved under the influence of gravity. Water acts as a lubricant for movement.
maurice.mutuku answered the question on June 6, 2017 at 13:35

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