scarp retreat The recession of the relatively steep hillslope that terminates a butte, mesa, cuesta, or any elevated, plateau-like surface. Several geomorphological processes may be involved, including undercutting by an adjacent stream, spring sapping, mass movement, rainwash, and weathering. Under semi-arid conditions it may give rise to a hillslope that retreats parallel to itself.

scarp retreat The recession of the relatively steep hill-slope that terminates a butte, mesa, cuesta, or any elevated, plateau-like surface. Several geomorphological processes may be involved, and under semi-arid conditions these may give rise to a hill-slope that retreats parallel to itself.