Consider the following features about a geographical phenomenon : 1.

Consider the following features about a geographical phenomenon :

  • 1. Torrents of snow and ice roaring down a steep mountain side
  • 2. It is hazardous to skiers and mountaineers
  • 3. It involves a mix of falling, rolling, sliding and flowing of materials

Which of the following phenomena can be identified with the above features?

Slump and earthflow
Avalanche
Landslide
Rockslide
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
The description of “Torrents of snow and ice roaring down a steep mountain side” is characteristic of an avalanche. Avalanches are rapid mass movements composed mainly of snow and ice. They are a significant hazard in mountainous regions, particularly for skiers and mountaineers. The movement in an avalanche often involves a mix of falling, rolling, sliding, and flowing snow/ice and debris.
An avalanche is a specific type of rapid mass wasting involving snow and ice on a slope.
While landslides can involve rock, debris, or earth, the mention of “snow and ice” specifically points towards an avalanche. Rockslides involve primarily rock material. Slumps and earthflows are types of mass movements involving soil and unconsolidated material, usually less rapid and not primarily composed of snow and ice.