Gravitational erosion is caused by gravity in contrast to the physical movement of wind and water required for other types of soil erosion. Gravitational erosion involves both large scale mass wasting

Mass wasting

Mass wasting, also known as slope movement or mass movement, is the geomorphic process by which soil, regolith, and rock move downslope under the force of gravity. Types of mass wasting include creep, slides, flows, topples, and falls, each with its own characteristic features, and taking place...

 and smaller scale erosion. Forms of gravitational erosion include avalanche

Avalanche

An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...

, landslide

Landslide

A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...

, debris flow

Debris flow

A debris flow is a fast moving, liquefied landslide of unconsolidated, saturated debris that looks like flowing concrete. It is differentiated from a mudflow in terms of the viscosity and textural properties of the flow. Flows can carry material ranging in size from clay to boulders, and may...

, mudflow

Mudflow

A mudslide is the most rapid and fluid type of downhill mass wasting. It is a rapid movement of a large mass of mud formed from loose soil and water. Similar terms are mudflow, mud stream, debris flow A mudslide is the most rapid (up to 80 km/h, or 50 mph) and fluid type of downhill mass...

, and sinkhole

Sinkhole

A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...

 formation. Two types of mass movements are slump and creep

Downhill creep

Downhill creep, or commonly just creep, is the slow downward progression of rock and soil down a low grade slope; it can also refer to slow deformation of such materials as a result of prolonged pressure and stress. Creep may appear to an observer to be continuous, but it really is the sum of...

.

Slump

• Material slips down along a curved surface
• When the slope becomes too steep, the base material cannot support the rock and sediment above.
• Water can cause slump by slipping weakening the slipping mass.
• Where a stronger layer rests on top of a weaker layer, it collapses.
• A curved scar is left where the slumped materials originally rested.

Creep

• Materials slowly shift downhill
• Creep is caused by gravity alone
• This process is extremely slow and would be difficult to see without a LOT of time and measurements

Gravitational erosion can leave major scars and land.