What is the term for the process of removing and depositing rock and weathered debris from upper to lower elevations?

The term that describes the process of removing and depositing rock and weathered debris from higher to lower elevations is mass wasting. This process primarily involves the gravitational movement of materials, which can occur in various forms such as landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows. It emphasizes the role of gravity in causing significant shifts in the landscape, resulting in the transfer of material downhill.

Mass wasting differs from erosion, which is more broadly defined as the process of wearing away the surface features of the Earth due to factors such as water, wind, and ice, as well as the transport of these materials away from their original location. While erosion can involve movement over long distances, mass wasting specifically refers to the downward movement directly influenced by gravity.

Weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks at the source, either physically or chemically, leading to the generation of sediments but does not involve the movement of these materials. Transport implies the movement of sediments by agents like water, wind, or ice, but again, this is separate from the slope-driven dynamics of mass wasting.

Overall, mass wasting is crucial to understanding the dynamics of landscape evolution, sediment transfer, and geological processes occurring in mountainous or hilly terrains.