Rates of surficial rock creep on hillslopes in western Colorado

S. A. Schumm

doi:10.1126/science.155.3762.560

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Rates of surficial rock creep on hillslopes in western Colorado

S. A. Schumm

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Abstract

The average rate of downslope movement of rock fragments on shale hillslopes is directly proportional to the sine of the slope angle or that component of the gravitational force which acts parallel to the hillslope. The rates of surficial rock creep range from a few millimeters per year on a 3degree slope to almost 70 millimeters per year on a 40-degree slope, but these rates vary with natural variations in soil characteristics and microclimate, as well as with accidental disturbances.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 36.980825462861205° to 41.056599157607536° latitude; -109.05697409848554° to -104.63892225984358° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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S. A. Schumm. 1967. Rates of surficial rock creep on hillslopes in western Colorado. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.155.3762.560

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