EXOGENOUS

PROCESSES
EXOGENOUS • Exogenous processes occur on
PROCESSES or near the surface of the
Earth.
• These leave significant
changes on the landscape and
even in the ecosystem of an
area.
• Exogenous process can wipe
out majority of the organisms
inhabiting that region.
1. WEATHERING EXOGENOUS
PROCESSES
This is the disintegration of rocks, soils and
minerals together with other materials through contact
with Earth’s subsystems. It can happen without any
movement (opposed to erosion that involves
movement). The breaking down of soils and rocks
happens on the spot Two important types of
weathering exist: PHYSICAL WEATHERING & CHEMICAL
WEATHERING.
• Physical Weathering is the
breakdown of rocks by
mechanical forces
concentrated along rock
fractures.
• It occur due to changes,
whether sudden or not, in
temperature, pressure, frost,
etc. Example is the breakage of
this concrete wall due to the
water pressure.
An example of physical
weathering is a rock
split in half by a
growing juniper tree.
• Chemical weathering Is the
process by which rocks break
down due to the chemical
reactions.
• Sometimes, new substances
develop and replace the
original properties of minerals
in the original rock or soil from
this process.
• Oxidation and Hydrolysis are
the reactions that contribute
to these changes.
• For instance, the presence of water and oxygen in the
biological decomposition of microbial action in rocks
may cause them to disintegrate.
• Examples: corrosion of the details
of a statue due to the acid rain;
sinkholes; caverns and karsts.

• Cave lime formations

(stalactites and stalagmites)
2. erosion EXOGENOUS
PROCESSES

It is a process by which Earth’s surface is worn

away by wind, water, or ice. It moves rock debris or soil
from one place to another. Rainfall, surface runoff,
flowing river, seawater intrusion, flooding, freezing
and thawing, hurricane, wind etc. are the forces of
nature that exfoliate and scrape the surface and
exposes the layers underneath.
Etched patterns due to the water flow and wind erosion.. • A natural arch formed by weathered rock.
3. MASS WASTING EXOGENOUS
PROCESSES

It is the movement of material on a downslope

terrain due to gravity. It usually happens in slopes and is
usually dangerous that it can trigger mass movement. It
can cause derbis avalanches and mud floods.
There are different forms of mass wasting and
these are classified according to speed of movement,
type of materials that move and the manner by which
the materials move: debris flow, mud flow and slump.
• Debris flow happens when a
large amount of sediments ,
usually rocks of various sizes,
fall downslope.
• Unlike landslides, debris flow
does not need water to flow.
DEBRIS FLOW
• It happens when combined
soil and water flow
downslope. Mud flows happen
usually near the rivers or
streams where soils or sands
are always moist or have been
soaked in water for a long
time.
MUD FLOW FROM THE GLACIERS TO THE DELTA
• It is a slow downslope
movement of loosely
consolidated materials or rock
and soil layers. In time, the
area would like curve because
of the depression formed by
the downslope movement of
the land.
A SLUMP AT SOUTH DAKOTA, USA
4. SEDIMENTATION EXOGENOUS
PROCESSES

It is the accumulation of materials such as soil,

rock fragments, and soil particles settling at the
bottom. This usually occurs in sea erosion and streams.
Over time, the sediment load becomes thick and forms
a new layer of ground. In some inland waters, the
sediment will eventually dry up the water and become
part of the soil.