When Does Cliff Slumping Occur?

Slumping occurs on a concave cliff face and contributes to this shape as successive slumps accumulate. Material at the slump foot (toe) has to be removed by wave action before more slumping can replace it. Mudflows occur on very steep slopes along the coastline.

How does cliff slumping occur?

Chemical Weathering: the decomposition (or rotting) of rock caused by a chemical change within that rock; sea water causes chemical weathering of cliffs. Clay Cliffs: clay is a soft, impermeable rock which soaks up water to become saturated. When this happens the clay becomes unstable and begins to slump.

Where do earth slumps occur?

Slump is common where clay-rich materials are exposed along a steep slope. Such oversteepend slopes naturally occur on the outside of meanders along the Red River. Slump is typically identified as the downward movement of a block of earth material along some curved surface of failure.