Chapter 11 A Review of Mass Movement Processes and Risk in the Critical Zone of Earth
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The Critical Zone of the near-surface terrestrial environment consists of a thin veneer of the surface of Earth that extends from the top of the vegetation cover to the base of the groundwater aquifer. The zone is characterized by rock, soil, water, ice, air, and living organisms; and the interactions to evolve the environment and to control the availability of life-sustaining resources. Mass movement is a major concern because it damages the Critical Zone environment and can result in loss of human lives and property. Understanding the causes, mechanics, spatial and temporal scales, and identification of the hazardous areas associated with various processes of mass movement is an important geomorphologic component of disaster management and an important basis for promoting safe human occupation, infrastructure development, and environmental protection in regions with slopes prone to mass movement. This chapter presents in-depth summary of important research findings pertaining to mass movement in the Critical Zone. 2015 Elsevier B.V.