Theory of Erosion on Soil-Covered Slopes

Slope erosion is subject to a minimal law; that factor, whether the rate of transport or the rate of weathering, which is relatively the least efficient, controls the general course of denudation. On soil-covered slopes the rate of transport is the dominant denudational control, soil creep being the responsible agency. A previously proposed statistical theory of soil creep is outlined so that certain imperfections and errors may be noted. Methods of testing the theory are suggested and discussed briefly. Finally, some general aspects of the development of soil-covered slopes are reviewed from the standpoint of the statistical theory.