Name a few geomorphic processes which can be seen and few which can't ...
Visible Geomorphic Processes:
1. Erosion:
- Erosion is a visible geomorphic process that involves the removal and transportation of soil, rock, and other materials from one location to another.
- It is primarily caused by the action of natural forces such as water, wind, and ice.
- Water erosion occurs through processes like splash erosion, sheet erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion, which are all visible in the form of washed-out channels, gullies, and exposed bedrocks.
- Wind erosion is visible through the formation of sand dunes, deflation hollows, and wind-sculpted landforms.
2. Deposition:
- Deposition is another visible geomorphic process that occurs when eroded materials are deposited in a new location.
- Sediment deposition can be observed in the form of river deltas, alluvial fans, beach sands, and floodplains.
- Glacial deposition leads to the formation of moraines, drumlins, and eskers, which are visible landforms created by the deposition of glacial sediments.
3. Mass Wasting:
- Mass wasting, also known as mass movement, refers to the downslope movement of soil, rock, and debris under the influence of gravity.
- Landslides, rockfalls, and slumps are visible manifestations of mass wasting.
- These processes are often triggered by factors such as slope instability, weathering, and seismic activity.
4. Weathering:
- Weathering is the breakdown and alteration of rocks and minerals at or near the Earth's surface.
- Physical weathering processes, such as freeze-thaw cycles and abrasion, can be seen in the form of cracked rocks, exfoliated surfaces, and boulder fields.
- Chemical weathering, including processes like dissolution and oxidation, may not be directly visible but can be inferred through the alteration of rock color, texture, and composition over time.
Invisible Geomorphic Processes:
1. Tectonic Uplift:
- Tectonic uplift refers to the vertical movement of the Earth's crust due to tectonic forces.
- This process is not directly visible but can be inferred through the emergence of new landforms, such as mountains and plateaus, over geologic timescales.
2. Subsurface Weathering:
- Subsurface weathering occurs below the Earth's surface and involves the chemical and physical breakdown of rocks and minerals.
- While the effects of subsurface weathering are not immediately visible, they can be observed indirectly through changes in groundwater chemistry and the formation of caves and underground drainage systems.
3. Submarine Erosion and Deposition:
- Submarine erosion and deposition occur beneath the water surface in oceans, seas, and lakes.
- These processes are hidden from direct observation but can be inferred through the study of underwater landforms, such as submarine canyons, abyssal plains, and sediment layers.
4. Diastrophism:
- Diastrophism refers to the deformation of the Earth's crust due to tectonic forces.
- While the effects of diastrophism, such as the folding and faulting of rocks, may be visible at the surface, the underlying processes themselves are not directly observable.
In conclusion, visible geomorphic processes include erosion, deposition, mass wasting, and weathering, which