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What is soil creep and how does it occur?
Creep, in geology, slow downslope movement of particles that occurs on every slope covered with loose, weathered material. Even soil covered with close-knit sod creeps downslope, as indicated by slow but persistent tilting of trees, poles, gravestones, and other objects set into the ground on hillsides.
How does soil creep occur for kids?
Creep is a very slow mass movement that goes on for years or even centuries. You can’t see creep happening but leaning fences and poles and broken retaining walls show where it has taken place. Terracettes are built by soil creep. The process is sped up by animals walking along the tops of the terracettes.
What is soil creep effect?
Downhill creep, also known as soil creep or commonly just creep, is the slow, downward progression of rock and soil down a low grade slope; it can also refer to slow deformation of such materials as a result of prolonged pressure and stress.
What does soil creep do to trees?
The top of the soil layer moves faster than the soil beneath, causing the young trees to bend downslope. As the roots stabilize the soil, creep is greatly diminished and the trees can then grow straight.
What are signs of soil creep?
Progressive, where slopes are reaching the point of failure as other types of mass movements. Creep is indicated by curved tree trunks, bent fences or retaining walls, tilted poles or fences, and small soil ripples or ridges.
How do you fix soil creep?
Cover exposed soil with a variety of plants — trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals — to create a barrier that stops soil movement from both wind and water. The plants’ roots will hold the soil in place, as well. Lay mulch or stone between plants to provide additional coverage of exposed dirt.
What causes soil creep?
Soil creep defines the slow mass wasting process of soil on a slope, under the influence of gravity (Source: Glossary of Soil Science terms, Soil Science Society of America). They defined soil creep caused by burrowing agents (e.g., worms, ants, and moles) and tree throw as the main factor for creeping soil.
What happens during a creep?
In materials science, creep (sometimes called cold flow) is the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform permanently under the influence of persistent mechanical stresses. It can occur as a result of long-term exposure to high levels of stress that are still below the yield strength of the material.
What does soil creep mean in soil science?
Soil creep defines the slow mass wasting process of soil on a slope, under the influence of gravity (Source: Glossary of Soil Science terms, Soil Science Society of America). Saunders and Young (1983) listed various rates of soil creep in mm yr −1, referring to the downslope movement of soil particles near the soil surface.
What are the processes involved in creep creep?
Other processes involved are the wedging action of root growth and the wetting and drying of soil layers. creep Creep is evident on a hillside with bent trees, Bellingham, Washington. G310stu This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager.
How is convexity of slope related to soil creep?
Convexity of slope is the rule for shoulder positions. Surface runoff is maximized in this element resulting in a highly erosional and relatively unstable surface. Depending on the degree of slope, lateral movement of surface material (soil creep) may become an important process on this part of the landscape.
What’s the best way to prevent soil creep?
To answer PEinc, it is common practice to drill adjacent to a footing, not under it, and dowel into the footing. Also, the bedrock is sheared and weak. It can be drilled fairly easily and can’t be doweled into. It’s still good enough to remain stable, however.