Mass wasting encompasses all processes by which soil, sand, regolith, and rock move downslope under the force of gravity. While mass wasting can occur as sudden events, like landslides or rockfalls, many forms of mass wasting, such as creep and solifluction, proceed slowly.
- Landslides and rockfalls are rapid and often dangerous forms of mass wasting.
- Creep and solifluction represent slow-moving types that gradually alter the landscape.
Water is a critical factor in mass wasting; it adds weight to the soil, reduces friction between particles, and, in the case of solifluction, creates a lubricating layer that precipitates movement. Mass wasting continuously shapes the terrain by moving vast amounts of earthen material, contributing to the ongoing evolution of our planet's topography.