Answer:
1.
- Rockfalls: the abrupt movement and free fall of loosened blocks of solid rock
- Landslides: the downslope movements of bedrock and other debris caused by the separation of a slope section along a plane of least resistance or slip surface
- Mudflows: the rapidly moving earthflows possessing a higher water content
- Debris flows or avalanches: the fast-moving earthflows in a mountainous region
2.
One way that deposition by gravity slowly changes Earth’s surface is by creating talus slopes. Talus slopes are piles of rock fragments that accumulate at the base of cliffs when rocks break away from the cliff face and fall, bounce or roll downslope. Talus slopes are common in areas that experience freeze-thaw weathering, which causes chunks of rock to lose contact with the cliff face and fall. Talus slopes can affect the shape and stability of the landforms they cover, as well as the vegetation and wildlife that live on them.
3.
Wind both builds up and wears down Earth’s surface in a desert by:
- Eroding small particles of silt and clay by suspension and sand-sized particles by saltation and creep
- Abrading rock surfaces by impacting sand grains, creating ventifacts and desert varnish
- Deflating the ground surface by removing fine particles, leaving behind desert pavement
- Depositing sand grains into mounds called sand dunes, which vary in shape and size depending on wind direction and speed
- Depositing silt and clay particles into layers called loess, which are fertile soils that can support agriculture
4.
A scientist may organize evidence of landslides in a certain area by drawing a scale map for several reasons. Some possible reasons are:
- A scale map can help the scientist visualize the spatial distribution and patterns of landslides in the area, such as their frequency, size, shape, orientation, and location.
- A scale map can help the scientist compare and contrast different types of landslides in the area, such as rockfalls, slumps, mudflows, or debris flows, and identify their causes and effects.
- A scale map can help the scientist communicate and share their findings and interpretations with other scientists, stakeholders, or the public, using a common and standardized format.
- A scale map can help the scientist analyze and evaluate the potential hazards and risks of landslides in the area, such as their impact on human lives, property, infrastructure, or environment.
- A scale map can help the scientist plan and implement strategies to prevent or mitigate landslides in the area, such as monitoring, warning, engineering, or land use management.
5.
Town Y is more likely to experience mass movement in the near future than Town X. This is because:
- Mass movement is any one of several processes by which gravity moves sediment downhill.
- The main factors that increase the likelihood of mass movement are slope steepness, water content, and vegetation cover .
- Town Y has a higher water content than Town X due to the heavy rain, which increases the weight and reduces the cohesion of the sediment on the slopes .
- Town Y also has less vegetation cover than Town X, since it is located in a dry region. Vegetation can help stabilize slopes by binding the soil with roots and reducing runoff .
- Therefore, Town Y has more unstable slopes than Town X, and is more prone to mass movement such as landslides, mudflows, or slumps.