mudflows
Wet earth avalanches
Mudflows are rapid movements of water-saturated earth down a slope, often triggered by heavy rain, volcanic activity, or snowmelt.
They carry rocks, debris, and vegetation with destructive force: The mudflows buried several homes.
Volcanic mudflows, called lahars, can travel miles from their source.
The singular mudflow describes a single event.
Volcanic debris flow
- debris flowWater-saturated sediment surge
- landslideMass of earth falling
- volcanic activityGeological heat release
- soil liquefactionEarthquake-triggered ground failure
avalanche · geohazard · tsunami · flooding · torrent · deluge · inundation · subsidence
Particles settling in liquid
- siltWaterborne earth particles
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- alluviumWater-deposited loose sediment
gravel · sand · soil · loam · boulders · rocks · slurry · viscosity
Gradual wearing away
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- terrainLand's physical features
undercutting · gully · rill · scour · degradation · deforestation · overgrazing · hillslope
Earth's fiery vent
- mountainTall natural landmass
- hillsideSloping terrain face
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- valleyLow ground between heights
channel · streambed · floodplain · watershed · drainage basin · ravine · escarpment · slope
Unbroken forward movement
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- currentDirected flow of charge
- velocityDirected rate of motion
momentum · runout · deposition · channelization · damming · obstruction · path · trajectory
lahar
Volcanic debris flow
- debris flowWater-saturated sediment surge
- landslideMass of earth falling
- volcanic activityGeological heat release
soil liquefaction · avalanche · geohazard · tsunami · flooding · torrent · deluge · inundation · subsidence · pyroclastic
sediment
Particles settling in liquid
alluvium · gravel · sand · soil · loam · boulders · rocks · slurry · viscosity · water content
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
terrain · undercutting · gully · rill · scour · degradation · deforestation · overgrazing · hillslope · gradient
volcano
Earth's fiery vent
valley · channel · streambed · floodplain · watershed · drainage basin · ravine · escarpment · slope · riverbank
flow
Unbroken forward movement
velocity · momentum · runout · deposition · channelization · damming · obstruction · path · trajectory · downslope
- Mount St. Helenseruption, crater, volcanic crater, lava dome, pyroclastic flow
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- landformsmountain, cliff, valley, volcano, mountain ridge
- erosionerosion, wearing, wearing down, beach erosion, river erosion
- tectonicsplate tectonics, tectonic plates, tectonic plate, subduction, plate boundaries