The crust of the earth is raised or depressed with respect to the geoid by endogene phenomena associated with epeirogeny and orogeny. These large-scale crustal movements come within the province of tectonics and are not considered here. The surface layers of the crust are subject in addition to the action of exogene processes, largely controlled by climate, of which weathering, mass movement and mass transport are the chief. These interact with the endogene processes to produce surface form.
Weathering results in most cases in a weakening of a surface zone of the crust, rendering it more susceptible to downward movement under the influence of gravity. Mass movement comprises all such gravity-induced movements except those in which the material is carried directly by transporting media such as ice, snow, water or air, when the process is termed mass transport. In nature, the two processes merge into each other and in intermediate cases the distinction becomes arbitrary.
Mass movements...
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Cross-references
Denudation; Exogenic Dynamics; Frost Action; Landslide; Mudflow; Rock Stream, etc.; Slopes; Soil Creep; Solifluction; Talus Fan or Cone; Terracettes, etc.; Weathering.
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Hutchinson, J.N. (1968). Mass movement . In: Geomorphology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31060-6_238
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