Academic content writing- Solved answers 3

Question: How do freezing, thawing, wetting and drying contribute to soil creep?

a. The soil expands and contracts, lifting particles and dropping them a slight distance downslope.

EXPLANATION:

Soil creep is most often caused by a process called ‘heaving’. It consists of gradual contraction and expansion of rock fragments underneath the earth’s surface.

It results in a repetitive net downslope movement of soil. This phenomenon is not visible to the naked eye. However, it can be identified through various indicators such as  fallen trees, walls with cracks, deformed fences etc.,

Often, soil regions that are in constant drying/wetting cycle or in the thawing/freezing process are prone to undergo creeping. As a result of this process, high financial losses are incurred every year.

SOURCE: 

https://www.encyclopedia.com/earth-and-environment/geology-and-oceanography/geology-and-oceanography/creep