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Geomorphic Processes: Endogenic and Exogenic Forces

The endogenic and exogenic forces causing physical and chemical changes on the earth‘s surface are known as geomorphic processes.

Geomorphic = relating to the form of the landscape and other natural features of the earth’s surface.

Geomorphic agents: mobile medium (like running water, moving ice masses or glaciers, wind, waves, currents, etc.) which removes, transports and deposits earth materials.

Geomorphic movements: large scale physical and chemical changes that take place on the earth’s surface due to geomorphic processes.

Types of Geomorphic Process | Geography for UPSC CSE

Endogenic Forces

Endogenic forces are the internal forces that are responsible for the formation of new undulations on the surface of the earth. Since they create new landforms they are also known as the Forces of Construction.

They are the result of the convectional currents formed in the mantle. The source of this heat is the primordial heat of the interior and the radioactive decay of elements.

They can be broadly classified into slow forces and sudden forces.

Slow forces are of two types – Epierogenic and Orographic.

Epeirogenic Forces:

These forces act vertically and leads to up warping and down warping of the continents i.e. a large continental mass is pushed upwards and downwards. They are extremely slow forces. The landforms created by them are called Primary reliefs.

Orogenic Forces:

These forces are mountain building forces. They act horizontally (Compression and tension) and causes folding faulting and Vulcanism. The landforms created by these forces are called secondary reliefs. There are three types of mountains found on earth on the basis of formations, Fold Mountains, Block Mountains, and Volcanic Mountains. Where these features are found and how have they formed can be explained with the help of plate tectonic theory which has already been discussed. The individual processes of folding, faulting, and volcanism are discussed in the next section of this module.

Exogenic Forces

These are the external forces that degrade the existing landforms. As the role of endogenetic forces is to create new undulations, the role of exogenic forces is to remove them and make the surface planar. Three factors act simultaneously – pressure, temperature, and humidity to break the uplifted areas and fill the low lying areas. The landforms created by them are called tertiary reliefs. Endogenetic and Exogenetic forces keep working together to maintain the equilibrium.

Exogenic forces are responsible for three types of processes:

  • Weathering
  • Mass wasting
  • Erosion and decomposition
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FAQs on Types of Geomorphic Process - Geography for UPSC CSE

1. What are endogenic forces in geomorphic processes?
Ans. Endogenic forces in geomorphic processes refer to the internal forces that shape the Earth's surface. These forces are generated from within the Earth's interior, such as tectonic plate movements, volcanic activities, and seismic events. They contribute to the formation of mountains, valleys, and other landforms by uplifting or subsiding the Earth's crust.
2. What are exogenic forces in geomorphic processes?
Ans. Exogenic forces in geomorphic processes are external forces that shape the Earth's surface. These forces are mainly driven by weathering, erosion, and deposition processes caused by external agents like wind, water, ice, and gravity. Exogenic forces gradually wear down the landforms created by endogenic forces, resulting in the formation of new features over time.
3. How do endogenic forces contribute to the formation of landforms?
Ans. Endogenic forces play a crucial role in the formation of landforms by uplifting or subsiding the Earth's crust. Tectonic plate movements can create fold mountains, such as the Himalayas, through the collision of two continental plates. Volcanic activities form volcanic mountains and volcanic landforms like lava flows, ash cones, and calderas. Seismic events like earthquakes can trigger the uplift or subsidence of land, leading to the formation of fault-block mountains or rift valleys.
4. What are the main agents of exogenic forces in geomorphic processes?
Ans. The main agents of exogenic forces in geomorphic processes are wind, water, ice, and gravity. Wind erosion and deposition shape sand dunes and desert landscapes. Water erosion creates river valleys, canyons, and deltas, while deposition forms alluvial plains and river terraces. Glacial erosion carves out u-shaped valleys, fjords, and moraines. Gravity causes mass movements like landslides, rockfalls, and soil creep, contributing to the modification of landforms.
5. How do exogenic forces shape the Earth's surface over time?
Ans. Exogenic forces shape the Earth's surface over time through a combination of weathering, erosion, and deposition processes. Weathering breaks down rocks and minerals into smaller particles, which are then transported and deposited by agents like wind, water, ice, and gravity. The continuous action of these forces gradually wears down mountains, creates new landforms, and reshapes the Earth's surface. The rate and intensity of exogenic processes depend on various factors such as climate, topography, and the type of rock and soil present in an area.
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