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Contents of 15.4 When do mass movements occur?

15.4 When do mass movements occur?

• Trigger events
• Rainfall and snowmelt: water causes particles to lose contact and thus decreases both friction and cohesion.
• Earthquakes: ground shaking triggers mass movement by dislodging particles and making them lose contact, again decreasing resisting forces.
• Volcanic eruption: the combination of decreased vegetation, unconsolidated ash, rapid melting of ice and snow, and ground shaking can make volcanic areas extremely hazardous zones for mass movement.