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Coastal processes - EdexcelTypes of mass movements

Processes called erosion, mass movement and weathering break down and remove material from the coast. The material is moved along the coastline by the sea and deposited when there is energy loss.

Part of GeographyChanging UK landscapes

Types of mass movements

Another way material can be moved on the coastline is through . Mass movement is the downhill movement of sediment that moves because of gravity. There are four different types of mass movement.

Rockfall

Rocks fall off the cliff face forming scree at the bottom.

Bits of rock fall off the cliff face, usually due to freeze-thaw weathering.

Mudflow

Saturated soil slides down the bedrock forming a lobe at the bottom with a stream running through.

Saturated soil (soil filled with water) flows down a slope.

Landslide

Rocks detach off the slide plane and slide down to the bottom.

Large blocks of rock slide downhill.

Rotational slip

Soil slides down a curved slip plane. The top is called the head, the bottom the foot. The soil collects at the toe. The wall of the curved slip plane is the scarp.

Saturated soil slump down a curved surface.

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