Final answer:
Soil creep is minimal in arid regions due to the absence of water, which acts as a lubricant - facilitating soil movement and contributing to phenomena like landslides in wetter climates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soil creep is considered unimportant in arid regions since lack of water removes the primary lubricant. Water in the soil acts as a facilitator for various processes, such as weathering, erosion, and the movement of soil particles. In arid regions, where water scarcity is a challenge, the absence of moisture results in reduced soil creep activity. This is because soil needs water to become plastic and to flow slowly downhill under the force of gravity, which is the defining characteristic of soil creep. Landslides, which are often triggered by the saturation of hillsides after heavy rainfall, are less common in arid areas due to the lack of water acting as a lubricant and reducing cohesiveness within the soil structure.