Question

Mass wasting is also commonly triggered by the vibrational waves associated with earthquakes. Explain how earthquakes can disrupt the frictional and gravitational forces within a slope, causing mass wasting. g

Answer 1

Answer:

The vibrations will put the particles into suspension reducing the frictional forces between them.

Explanation:

The downslope movement of surface material under the direct influence of gravity is called "Mass Wasting." Mass wasting plays a vital role in transferring the products of weathering from their original sites to lower-lying places where the agents of erosion can pick them up for transporting a longer distance.

There are 2 main types of mass wasting;

1. rapid mass movements

2. slow mass movements.

Shearing of soil grains from S-waves rounds jagged corners reducing frictional resistance. Also, Shaking from the seismic waves increases the water content of the material.

Mass movements are part of a continuum of erosional processes between weathering and stream transport. Mass movement causes regolith and rock to move down-slope where sooner or later the loose particles will be picked up by another transporting agent and eventually moved to a site of deposition such as an ocean basin or lake bed.

Mass movement processes are occurring continuously on all slopes; some act very slowly, others occur very suddenly, often with disastrous.

How earthquake cause mass movement

1. Earthquake causes vibrations and this will put the particles into suspension reducing the frictional forces between them.

2. It also cause the shaking from the seismic waves increases the water content of the material.