EARTHFLOW

  
  Flows in Alabama are of three types, ranging in movement patterns from extremely rapid (debris avalanche) to very rapid (debris flow) to rapid to very slow (earthflows). An earthflow is the movement of saturated fine-grained material on moderate slopes such that a bowl or depression forms at the head of the flow. The central part of the flow is generally narrow and the lower part is wider where it spreads out on the valley floor. The earthflow is characterized by an hourglass shape.