Geomorphic Processes and Earth Movements

It is time to know in detail about the surface of the earth on which we live. We know that the
surface of the earth is not a plain platform. It is distributed unevenly with a variety of
landforms like mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, ravines, cliffs etc. Why is the surface of the
earth uneven? What make changes in the earth’s surface? What process makes mountains
and hills? The answer for all the questions above – Geomorphic Processes.

Geomorphic Process

The formation and deformation of landforms on the surface of the earth are a continuous
process which is due to the continuous influence of external and internal forces. The
internal and external forces causing stresses and chemical action on earth materials and
bringing about changes in the configuration of the surface of the earth are known as
geomorphic processes.

Mind Map to Study Geomorphic Processes/Earth Movements

The below mind map will help to study geomorphic processes and their sub-classification in
a matter of minutes. Also read our post – Geography Notes You Shouldn’t Miss!

Endogenic Forces
  Endogenic forces are those internal forces which derive their strength from the
earth’s interior and play a crucial role in shaping the earth crust.
 Examples – mountain building forces, continent building forces, earthquakes,
volcanism etc.
 The endogenic forces are mainly land building forces.
The energy emanating from within the earth is the main force behind endogenic geomorphic
processes. This energy is mostly generated by radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction and
primordial heat from the origin of the earth.

Exogenic Forces

 Exogenic forces are those forces which derive their strength from the earth’s exterior
or are originated within the earth’s atmosphere.
 Examples of forces – wind, waves, water etc.

 Examples of exogenic processes – weathering, mass movement, erosion,

deposition.
 Exogenic forces are mainly land wearing forces.

Also read: Erosion and Deposition: Action of Running Water and Groundwater

Exogenic forces can take the form of weathering, erosion and deposition. Weathering is the
breaking of rocks on the earth’s surface by different agents like rivers, wind, sea waves and
glaciers. Erosion is the carrying of broken rocks from one place to another by natural agents
like wind, water and glaciers.

The actions of exogenic forces result in wearing down (degradation) of relief/elevations and
filling up (aggradation) of basins/ depressions, on the earth’s surface. The phenomenon of
wearing down of relief variations of the surface of the earth through erosion is known
as gradation.

Geomorphic Agents

Running water, groundwater, glaciers, wind, waves and currents, etc., can be called
geomorphic agents.
Geomorphic Processes vs Geomorphic Agents

A process is a force applied on earth materials affecting the same. An agent is a mobile
medium (like running water, moving ice masses, wind, waves and currents etc.) which
removes, transports and deposits earth materials.

Earth Movements

 They are the movements in the earth’s crust caused by the endogenic or exogenic
forces. These movements are also termed as Tectonic movements.
 The term ‘Tectonic’ derived from the Greek word ‘Tekton’ which means builders.

 As the word means, these movements are mainly builders and have been
responsible for building up of different types of landforms.

How magma is formed?

Featured snippet from the web

Hot, molten rock is called magma. Magma is a mixture of liquid rock, minerals, and dissolved
gases. It is formed by the melting of Earth's mantle. Magma is found deep below the surface of
the Earth.

The flow of heat from Earth's interior to the surface is estimated at terawatts (TW)
and comes from two main sources in roughly equal amounts: the radiogenic heatproduced by
the radioactive decay of isotopes in the mantle and crust, and the primordial heat left over from
the formation of the Earth.
Explain how rocks and soil move downslope due to the direct action of gravity. Mass
movements Downslope movement ofrock or soil by the force of gravity is one of the most
common ways by which the surface of the Earth is shaped over time. These mass movements
may be very rapid or imperceptibly slow.
In general, metamorphic rocks do not undergo significantchanges in
chemical composition during metamorphism. The changes in mineral assemblages are due
to changes in the temperature and pressure conditions ofmetamorphism. ... This pressure
and temperatureenvironment is referred to as Metamorphic Facies.Sep 25, 2017
This differentiation between magma and lava is important when we consider the two
classifications of igneous rock. This is because plutonic rocks are rocks formed when
magma cools and solidifies below the earth's surface, and volcanic rocks are rocks formed
when lava cools and solidifies on the earth's surface.
In general, metamorphic rocks do not undergo significantchanges in
chemical composition during metamorphism. The changes in mineral assemblages are due
to changes in the temperature and pressure conditions ofmetamorphism. ... This pressure
and temperatureenvironment is referred to as Metamorphic Facies.
Stress caused these rocks to fracture.Rocks that are being pulled apart are under tension
(also called extension). Tension causes rocks to lengthen or break apart. ... When
forces act parallel to each other but in opposite directions, the stress is called shear (Figure
7.2).

Rocks are classified into three major classifications: igneous,

metamorphic, and sedimentary. Igneous rocks are formed by the cooling
of liquid lava or magma. A major subdivision of igneous rocks is how and
where the rock forms. They can be classified as intrusive or extrusive.
Intrusive rocks form within the Earth's crust. As a result, the magma
cools relatively slowly and the grain of the rock is more coarse. Granite
is an example of an intrusive igneous rock, formed deep within
mountains. Extrusive rocks form on the exterior of the Earth's crust. As a
result, the lava cools more quickly and the grain of the rock is more fine.
Basalt lava flows are an example of an extrusive igneous rock.