Summary:
- Gravity is responsible for erosion by flowing water and glaciers.
- But gravity also causes erosion directly.
- Gravity can pull soil, mud, and rocks down cliffs and hillsides.
- This type of erosion and deposition is called mass wasting.
- Landslides are the most dramatic, sudden, and dangerous types of mass wasting and cause $1 billion to $2 billion damage in the United States each year.
- To be safe, be aware of landslides: Notice changes in the natural world.
- Be aware of cracks in hillsides or patios, leaning poles or fences when rainfall is heavy.