Chapter 16, Problem 1RQ

To determine

The factors used by geologists to distinguish various types of mass movements.

Answer to Problem 1RQ

The factors used to distinguish mass movements include the material type, rate of movement, physical character of moving mass, and the environment.

Explanation of Solution

A mass movement of rock or regolith that occurs as downslope is termed as landslide. The different types of mass movements are distinguished based on four features. They are the material type, rate of movement, physical character of moving mass, and the environment.

The type of material that involved in the movement indicates whether the materials is rock or regolith. The velocity of movement indicates whether the movement is slow, intermediate or fast movement. The physical characteristics of the movement which denotes that whether the movement is a coherent or chaotic and wet or dry. The last factor used to distinguish the movement is the environment at which movement takes place which points whether it is subaerial or submarine.