What processes and landforms are associated with the action of gravity?

Gravity is very important for the development of organic life on earth and has a huge impact on human activities. Under its influence, significant areas of the earth’s crust rise, fall and collide with each other, rocks are destroyed, glaciers move, rivers flow, underwater currents are formed, layers of sedimentary rocks are formed, etc.

Thanks to the force of gravity, we observe precipitation in the form of rain, snow, hail. All gravitational processes are associated with the action of the force of gravity, such as:

Landslides – occur along the banks of water bodies, on the slopes of hills and mountains after prolonged or heavy rains, melting snow. Due to saturation with water, the upper loose layer of rocks becomes heavier and rolls down the underlying waterproof layer;
mudflows – mud-stone streams in the mountains, caused by heavy rains or abrupt melting of glaciers;
avalanches – the volume of snow mass sliding or falling from mountain peaks;
rock falls, slow sliding and flow of soil, etc.

In fact, gravitational processes play a decisive role in the formation of the earth’s relief. This means that it is the force of gravity that affects the change in the appearance of the Earth. Moreover, gravitational processes can influence the formation of deposits of sedimentary, ore and nonmetallic minerals.