8.2 Solifluction on Earth. The term solifluction is used to describe the actions of several slow mass-wasting processes within the active layer, i.e., the upper part of the soil that undergoes cyclic freezing and thawing (French, 2007).

What is the process of mass wasting?

Mass wasting is the movement of rock and soil down slope under the influence of gravity. Rock falls, slumps, and debris flows are all examples of mass wasting. Often lubricated by rainfall or agitated by seismic activity, these events may occur very rapidly and move as a flow.

What is a solifluction in geology?

solifluction, flowage of water-saturated soil down a steep slope. Because permafrost is impermeable to water, soil overlying it may become oversaturated and slide downslope under the pull of gravity. Soil that has been opened and weakened by frost action is most susceptible.

How are solifluction lobes formed?

Solifluction lobes are created when the saturated active layer of soil is thawed, usually during the summer months. The gradient of the ground is important too as these lobes will only form on slopes.

What does solifluction mean?

: the slow creeping of saturated fragmental material (such as soil) down a slope that usually occurs in regions of perennial frost.

What is solifluction geology?

Is solifluction fast or slow?

The speed of the mass wasting event that is solifluction is slow. In the periglacial or alpine areas, solifluction refers to the gradual downward slide of soil. It is measured in millimetres and centimeters every year and happens slowly.

Is solifluction a mass movement?

Solifluction. …a major type of mass movement in cold polar regions and some high mountains. Solifluction is a special type of creep that occurs in areas of permafrost. Permafrost refers to the layer of groundwater that fills in the pore spaces of soil and rock that is permanently frozen.

What is landsliding explain?

A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of “mass wasting,” which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. These landslides are called submarine landslides.

What are the 4 processes of mass movement?

The types of mass movements caused by the above factors include: the abrupt movement and free fall of loosened blocks of solid rock, known as rockfalls; several types of almost imperceptible downslope movement of surficial soil particles and rock debris, collectively called creep; the subsurface creep of rock material.

How can we mitigate mass wasting?

In order to address the issue of mass wasting, mitigation measures that need to be taken include the development of drainage systems, landslide potential maps, planting more vegetation, soil strengthening, rock anchor bolts, and avalanche support bridges. What Is Solifluction?

What is soil solifluction?

The term solifluction is used to describe the actions of several slow mass-wasting processes within the active layer, i.e., the upper part of the soil that undergoes cyclic freezing and thawing ( French, 2007 ). These processes include gelifluction, frost creep, pluglike flow, needle-ice creep, and retrograde movement ( Matsuoka, 2001 ).

What are the different types of mass wasting events?

Types of Mass Wasting. Debris flows. Debris flows are defined as mass‐wasting events in which turbulence occurs throughout the mass. Varieties of these are called earthflows, mudflows, and debris avalanches. When earth material moves down a hillside as a fluidlike mass, it is called an earthflow.

How does solsolifluction occur?

Solifluction happens during the summer thaw when the water in the soil is trapped there by frozen permafrost beneath it. This waterlogged sludge moves downslope by gravity, helped along by freeze-and-thaw cycles that push the top of the soil outward from the slope (the mechanism of frost heave).