Exam 9: Mass Wasting

Most solifluction takes place __.

_____ commonly trigger mass wasting events.

Shear strength __.

List the following flow terms in the order of decreasing velocity (fastest first): mudflow, debris avalanche, creep, and earthflow.

Mudflows are ___ likely to occur in areas not protected by vegetation.

Within the United States, fewer people have died as a result of landslides than other geologic hazards, such as earthquakes and tornadoes.

Permafrost is __.

A rock avalanche begins its downslope journey __.

The type of material involved doesn't matter in how a mass wasting event is classified.

A _____ involves movement along a curved surface.

Creep is very slow downslope movement of soil.

Mudflows are ___ likely to occur in arid regions than in wet climates.

A debris flow is a very rapidly moving turbulent mass of broken up bedrock.

When a stream, wave action, or excavation by humans undercuts the base of a slope, slope failure may occur because __.

Landslides are natural phenomena that humans can either cause or prevent.

The term "debris," implies that coarse-grained fragment predominates in the soil.

The 1928 failure of the St. Francis Dam near Los Angeles was due to _____.

Surface tension created by a small amount of water in soil decreases its shear strength.

_____ is the flow of water-saturated soil over impermeable material.

Resistance to movement or deformation of soil is called __.