Mass Wasting: Fluvial processes of geography
...individual particles. The less friction there is between particles, the easier it is for gravity to do it’s work. When water is added to a substance it brings with it added buoyancy and weight. Increased buoyancy and weight make for a lower angle of repose. An object or substance’s angle of repose is the steepest angle at which it can sit without falling. The heavier that an object is, the less of an angle that it can sit at without falling. Water also affects mass wasting because it is so easily absorbed into clay soil. Clay soil absorbs water like a sponge and holds it. As clay absorbs more and more water, it becomes more slippery, making it easier for any solid substances sitting on top of it to fall, or mass waste. Some super moist clay formations are known as quick clays, because any object resting on them can be set in to motion very easily by a large or even just a little disturbance. This disturbance can be an earthquake, rainfall, wind, or even just an animal’s feet. Another way that water can affect mass wa...