Mass wasting is the downward movement of material on a slope under the influence of gravity. This material is usually lubricated by water from rainfall or snowmelt. Moisture can influence the speed of mass movements. The more water that is involved, usually, the faster the movement. Minimal water moving through a soil profile overtime may cause soil creep, where movement can be a few centimetres a year. A short period of heavy rainfall impacting the same region might lead to a landslide, which is significantly faster than soil creep. An extensive preiod of torrential rain can lead to mudflow which is many times faster than a landslide.