roCRS a n a u i

The slopes are very steep.

WORDS THAT MATTER

4eomphi PATeSes
1. Landslides: These are relatively rapid and perceptible movements. Thematerials involved
on the nature of
are relatively dry. The size and shape of the detached mass depends
discontinuities in the rock, the degree of weathering and the steepness of the slope.
of the earth
2. Gradation: The phenomenon of wearing down of relief variations of the surface
through erosion is known as gradation.
stresses and
3. Geomorphic processes: The endogenic and exogenic forces causing physical
of the
chemical actions on earth materials and bringing about changes in the configuration
surface of the earth are known as geomorphic processes.
forces. T'hese forces derive
4. Exogenic forces: The external forces are known as exogenic
ultimate energy from the sun and also
their energy from atmosphere determined by the
the gradients created by tectonic factors.
are known as endogenic forces.
5. Endogenic forces: The internal forces moving ice masses,
An agent is a mobile medium (like running water,
6. Geomorphic agents: and deposits earth materials.
currents etc.) which removes, transports
wind, waves and waves and currents, etc.,
can be called
glaciers, wind,
Running water, groundwater,
geomorphic agents. the earth's crust
that elevate or build up portions of
move,
7. Diastrophism: All processes
come under diastrophism.
Orogeny: It is a mountain building
process
8.
Epeirogeny: It is continental building
process.
9. onto or toward
includes the movement of molten rock called magma
10. Volcanism: Volcanism intrusive and extrusive volcanic
forms.
formation of many
the earth's surface and also
65
 NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS SOLVED
1. Multiple choice questions. steeper, even the bedrock especially
i) Which one of the of soft sedimentary rocks like shale or
a gradational process?
following processes is
deeply weathered igneous rock may slide
(a) Deposition (6) Diastrophism downslope.
(c) Volcanism (d) Erosion. (iii) What are the various mobile and mighty
(ii) Which one of the
following materials is exogenic geomorphic agents and what is
affected by hydration process? the prime job they perform?
(a) Granite (b) Clay Ans. The exogenic processes derive their
(c) Quartz (d) Salts.
(iii) Debris energy from atmosphere determined by
avalanche be included in the
can the ultimate energy from the sun and
category of: also the gradients created by tectonic
(a) Landslides factors. All the exogenic geomorphic
(b) Slow flow mass movements processes are covered under a general
(c) Rapid
flow mass movements term, denudation. The word 'denude'
(d) Subsidence.
means to strip off or to uncover. As there
Ans. (i) (d) Erosion (ii) (d) Salts are different climatic regions on the
(iii) (c) Rapid flow earth's surface, the exogenic geomorphic
mass movements.
2. Answer the processes vary from region to region.
following questions in Temperature and precipitation are the
about 30 words.
(i) It is weathering that is responsible for two important climatic elements that
bio-diversity on the earth. How? control various processes.
Ans. Weathering processes lead to Their prime job includes weathering,
breaking mass
wasting/movements, erosion and
down the rocks into smaller fragments
and preparing the way for formation transportation.
(iv) Is weathering essential as a
of not only regolith and soils, but also
in the formation of soils? Why? pre-requisite
erosion and mass movements. Bio-
Ans. Yes, weathering is an essential
diversity is basically a result of forests pre-
and vegetation. Forests and vegetation requisite in the formation of soils.
depend upon the depth of weathering Weathering is action of elements
mantles. Erosion cannot be significant if of weather and climate overearthh
the rockS are not weathered. It implies
| materials. There are a number of
that weathering aids mass processes within weathering which act
wasting,
erosion and reduction of relief and either individually or together to aftect
the earth materials in order to reduce
changes in landforms are a consequence them to fragmental state.
of erosion. Weathering is
(ii) What are mass movements that are real mechanical disintegration and chemical
rapid and perceptible? List decomposition of rocks through the
Ans. These movements transfer the mass of actions of various elements of weather
rock debris down the slopes under the and climate.
direct influence of gravity. That
means,| Weathering is an
important
process
air, water or icedo not çarry debris with in the formation of soils. When
rocks
them from place toplace but on the other undergo weathering, rocks start to break
hand the debris may carry with it air, up and take form of soil
| 3. Answer the gradually.
water or ice. following
Mass movements be about 150 words. questions in
can sBow or rapid.
Rapid moveménts mostly prevalent
are (i) "Our earth is a playfield for two
in humid climatic
regions and occur over groups of
opposing
gentle
geomorphic processes.
to steep slopes. When
slopes are || Discuss.
 to say that o u r
earth foliation.ofSalt crystallisation
tion is t
Ans. It is absolutely right effective all
is playfield for two
opposing groups of
a r e exogenic
and In areas with salt-weathering
alternat proces
forces. These forces
endogenic. The
external forces are
known drying conditions salt crystal
favoured and the
wetting
exogenic forces and
the internal
are pushed aside.
grow
neighbouring
as

forces are known as endogenic

forces.
internal forces
Sodium chlor z
gypsum crystals in desert area
The differences in the which up overlying layers of
operating from within the earth
responsible with the result polygonal materi.
cracks d
built up the crust have been
surface of all over the heaved surface.
for the variations in the outer
crystal growth, chalk breake With
the crust. The earth's surface is being
continuously subjected to
external forces most readily, followed by
limes dov
induced basically by energy (sunlight). sandstone, shale, gneiss and granit
still (iii) Are physical and chemical weath
Of course, the internal forces
are

active though with different intensities.

then
processes independent of each other
That means, the earth's surface is being not, why? Explain with examples
continuously subjected to by external| Ans. No, physical and chemical weath
forces originating within the earth's are not independent of each other n.
atmosphere and by internal forces are different but still
interdepende
from within the earth. The actions Physical mechanical weatherit
or
of exogenic forces result in wearing processes depend on some appli
down (degradation) of relief/elevations forces. The applied forces could be
and filling up (aggradation) of basins/ gravitational forces such as overburie
depressions, on the earth's surface. The pressure, load and shearing stres;
endogenic forces continuously elevate or expansion forçes due to temperatr
build up parts of the earth's surface and changes, crystal growth or anim:
hence the exogenic processes fail to even activity; (c) water pressures control
out the relief variations of the surface of| by wetting and drying cycles. Chemic
the earth. So, variations remain as long weathering depends on a group
as the opposing actions of exogenic and weathering processes viz;, solutie
endogenic forces continue. In general carbonation, hydration, oxidationa
terms, the endogenic forces are mainly reduction act on the rocks to decomps
land building forces and the exogenic dissolve or reduce them to a fine clat
processes are mainly land wearing state through chemical reactions
forces. Oxygen, surface and/or soil water 8
ii) Exogenic geomorphic processes derive other acids. Water and air (Oxygena
their ultimate energy from the sun's carbon dioxide) along with heat mu
heat. Explain. be present to speed up all chem
ns. The exogenie processes derive their reactions. Over and above the carbe
energy from atmosphere determined dioxide present in the air, decompos
by the ultimate energy from the of plants and animals increases
quantity of carbon dioxide undergrou
sun and also the
gradients created
by tectonic factors. Various minerals These chemical reactions on var
in rocks possess their own limits similar to
of minerals are very much
expansion and contraction. With rise chemical reactions in a laborator
in temperature,
every mineral
And pushes against its
expands These forces interdependent
are

neighbour and example availability of waterwhi

as
temperature falls, a corresponding| factors
heat depends on physicalon
contraction takes place. availian
diurnal changes is the cause
Because of chemical reactions depend
of splitting
of individual grains within rocks,
of water and heat.
eventually fall off which| (iv) How do you
distinguidsoil-
This process of falling formation and soil-10
off of individual grains may result process of soil
in i role ofclim
tactors? What is theas two importa
granular disintegration or
granular ological activity
 control factors in the formation of soils? in freezing conditions. That is why,
Ans. Process refers to step by step tropical soils with higher temperatures
procedure
or methodical ways in which soil comes show deeper profiles and in the frozen
into existence while factors causing this tundra regions soils contain largely
formation are called soil forming factors. mechanically broken materials.
Soil formation process: Soil formation Biological Activity: The vegetative
is called pedogenesis. It cover and organisms that occupy the
depends
on
weathering the most. It is this parent materials from the beginning
weathering mantle which is the hbasic and also at later stages help in adding
input for soil to form. The weathered organic matter, moisture retention,
material or transported deposits are nitrogen, etc. Dead plants provide
colonised by bacteria and other inferior humus. Some organic acids which form
plant bodies like mosses and lichens. during humification aid in decompOsing
Several minor organisms may take the minerals of the soil parent materials.
shelter within the mantle and Intensity of bacterial activity shows up
The dead remains of deposits. differences between soils of cold and
plants help in humus organisms
and
accumulation. warm climates. Humus accumulates in
Minor grasses and ferns cold climates as bacterial growth is slow.
may grow;
later, bushes and trees will start growing With undecomposed organic matter
through seeds brought in by birds and because of low bacterial activity, layers
wind. Plant roots of peat develop in sub-arctic and tundra
penetrate down,
burrowing animals bring up particles,
mass of material becomes
climates. Rhizobium, a type of bacteria,
lives in the root nodules of leguminous
porous and
sponge- like with a capacity to retain plants and fixes nitrogen beneficial to
water and to permit the passage of air the host plant. The influence of
large
and finally a mature
soil, a animals like ants, termites, earthworms,
mixture of mineral and organic complex rodents etc., is mechanical, but, it is
forms. products nevertheless important in soil formation
Soil-forming factors: Five basic factors as they rework the soil
up and down. In
control the formation of soils: case of earthworms, as
they feed on soil,
(a) Parent material the texture and chemistry of the soil that
(6) Topography comes out of their
body changes.
(c) Climate PROJECT WORK
(d) Biological activity 1.
(e) Time. Depending upon the topography and
materials around you, observe and record
In fact, soil forming factors
act in union
and affect the action of one another.
climate, possible weathering process and
soil contents and
Climate: Climate is an important| Ans. Attempt yourself. characteristics.
active factor in soil formation. The
climatic elements involved in soil MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED
development are : (i) moisture and
(ii) temperature. Precipitation gives MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
soil its moisture content which makes () Which of the following is a of mass type
the chemical and biological activities movement?
possible. Excess of water helps in (a) Slow movements
the downward transportation of soil (6) Rapid movements
components through the soil (eluviation) (c) Landslides (d) All of the above.
and deposits the same down below (ii) Which of the following is not a cause of
soil erosion?
(illuviation). Temperature acts
two in
(a) Rock Material (6) Landform
ways-increasing or reducing chemical (c) Climate
andbiological activity. Chemical activity (d) Deposition.
is increased in (iii) Which of the following is a form of
higher temperatures,|
reduced in cooler temperatures (with weathering?
an exception of carbonation) and stops (a) Physical (b) Chemical
(c) Biological d) All of the above.
 (iv) What term is used for the reaction (c) Where there is moisture in air.
of carbonate and bicarbonate with (d) In mountainous regions.
minerals? i) (d) All of the above
Ans.
(a) Carbonate (b) Carbonation (ii) (d) Deposition
(c) Carbolic (d) All of the above. (iii) (d) All of the above
(v) Weathering is important for: iv) (b) Carbonation
(a) Air (v) (b) National economy
(6) National economy (vi) (a) Frost weathering
(c) Climate (vii) (b) Volcanism
(d) Earth. (viii) (d) Balance
(vi) Which type of weathering occurs due to | (ix) (d) Balanced erosion
growth of ice within pores and cracks of (ax) (d) All of the above
rocks during repeated cycles of freezing
(ai) (c) Carbonation
and melting?
(axii) (a) Soil erosion
(a) Frost weathering
(xriii) (b) Soil
6) Landslides (riv) (a) where there is ready access to
(c) Water weathering
(d) Crystallisation. the atmosphere and oxygenated
waters.
(vii) Which of the following is an example of
endogenic forces? VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
(a) Erosion b) Volcanism
Q1. What kind of changes are brought by
(c) Weathering (d) Balance. internal forces?
(wiii) Which of the following is not associated Ans. Internal forces give birth to new
with diastrophism? landforms on the earth.
(a) Orogenic processes Q2. What is done by external forces?
(6) Epeirogenic processes Ans. External forces bring changes in existing
(c) Plate tectonics landforms on the earth. Through erosion
(d) Balance.
(ix) Which of the following is a systematic and deposition they keep bringing
changes in topography of the earth.
process?
(a) Weathering (b) Diastrophism Q3. What are geomorphic processes?
Ans. The endogenic and exogenic forces
(c) Volcanism (d) Balanced erosion.
Cr) What are geomorphic causes of erosion? causing physical stresses and chemical
actions on earth
materials and bringing
(a) Flowing water
about changes in the configuration of
6) Underground water
the surface of the earth are known as
(c) Air
(d) All of the above. geomorphic processes.
Q4. What is weathering?
(xi) associated
Which of the
withfollowing
physical weathering?
process is not Ans. Weathering is defined as mechanical

(a) Frost wedging (6) Expansion disintegration and chemical

decomposition through of rocks the
(c) Carbonation (d) Thawing. actions of various elements of weather
(acii) All earth materials having a sloping and climate.
surface and tend to produce movement
.Q5. What is denudation?
of matter in down slope direction. It 18| Ans. The term 'denude' means to strip or or
called: to uncover. Weathering, mass wasting
(a) Soil erosion (6) Landslides movements, erosion and transportation
(c) Volcanism (d) Slump. are included in denudation.
(xiii) Which of the following is affected by| Q6. How do weathering activities work?
hydration? Ans. A group of weathering processes viz;
(a) Granite (6) Soil Solution, carbonation, hydration,
(c) Quartz d) Rocks. Oxidation and reduction act the rocks
on
(ariv) Where does oxidation take place? to decompose, dissolve or reduce them
(a) Where there is ready access to the to a fine clastic state through chemica
reactions by oxygen, surface and/or sol
atmosphere and oxygenated waters.
(6) Where there are plants. water and other acids.
 materials having a eloping aurface and
wenthering
dillorent types of tend to produce movement of malter in
What are
Q7. of down lope direction Force npplied per
activities? roups
three major unit area is called atre
Ans.
There are
( ) chemical;
(iu) i
processe8 : Q16. Why in weathering of rocks important for
weathering
mechanical;
(uni) biologicnl
or economy?
physical
weathering processes,
movement?
Ans. Wenthering uf rock» and deponits is
mas«
you cluss1fy important for the economy hecaue it helps
Q8. How can
are of three types:
Mass
movenents
and in the enrichmernt and concentrationa of
Ans. (u'rapidmovement
certain valuable ores of iron, manganese,
()slowmovement
(ii) landslides.
aluminium, copjr etc., which are of Kreat
types of
movement?
different
What are frost importance for the national economy
Q9. of soils due to
Heave theaving up flow and slide Q17. What are tors?
Ans. and other causes),
growth Ans. In rocka like granites, smonth surfaced
three important types of movements.
are
reduction? and rounded small to big boulders form
m e a n by
What do you due to such exfolation. It is called tors
10. minerals are placed in
When oxidised
ns. absent, | Q18. When does trost weathering
takes place?
anenvironment where oxYgen18 Ans. Frost weathering oecurs due t growth
reduction takes place.
depends on s o m e of ice within pores and cracks of rocks
11. Physical weathering a r e these?
during repeated cycles of freezing and
applied forces. What
mechanical weathering melting.
ns. Physical o r o n s o m e applied | Q19. What is enrichment?
processes depend
forces. The applied forces could be: (i)Ans. weathering, somne
When rocks undergo
overburden materials are removed through chemical
gravitational forces such as
stress; (ii) or physical leaching by groundwater and
pressure, load and shearing
thereby the concentration of vaiuable
expansion forces due to temperature
animal materials inereases. It makes the
changes, crystal growth or

activity; (iii) water pressures controlled concentration of the same valuable

and drying cyeles.
by wetting material sufficient and economically
Where does oxidation occur? Which viable to be exploited, processed and
12.
minerals get affected by oxidation? refined. This is called enrichment
Ans. Oxidation occurs where there is ready Q20. What factors are helpful in mass
access to the atmosphere and oxygenated movement?
waters. The minerals most commonly Ans. Weak unconsolidated materials, thinly
involved in thi8 process are iron, bedded rocks, faults, steeply dipping
manganese, sulphur, etc. beds, vertical cliffs or steep slopes,
}13. What are the climatic factors involved in abundant precipitation and torrential
the formation of soil? rains and scarcity of vegetation etc.
Ans. The elimatic elements involved in soil favour mass movements.
development are : (i) moisture in termsQ21. What do you mean by mudflow?
of its intensity, frequency and duration of Ans. In the absence of vegetation cover and
precipitation -evaporation and humidity; with heavy rainfall, thick layers of
u) temperature in terms of seasonal and weathered materials get saturated with
diurnal variations. water and either slowly or rapidly flow
Q14. What are geomorphic agents? down along definite channels. It looks
ns. An agent is a mobile medium (like
running water, moving ice masses, wind, Q22. What is soil erosion? ike a stream of mud within a valley
waves and currents, etc.) which removes, | Ans. Erosion involves acquisition and
transports and deposits earth materials. transportation of rock debris The erosion
Running water, groundwater,
wind, waves and currents, etc.,glaciers, can be defined as "application of the
can be kinetic energy associated with the agent
called geomorphic agents. to the surface of the land along which t
Q15. What do you mean by stress? moves. Kinetic energy is computed as
Ans. Gravitational force acts upon all earth KE= 1/2 mv? where 'm' is the mass and
 surface of the earth uneven
q2. Why is the
vis the velocity. If erosion takes place Ans. The difference in the internal forces
with soil, it is called soil erosion. operation from within the earth which
Q23. Define Gradation? built up the crust have been responsible
of wearing down of| outer surface of
Ans. The phenomenon for the variations in the
of the surface of the carth
relief variation the crust. Due to variations in geothermal
through erosion is known a s gradation. gradients and strength, the actions of
Q24. What is meant by geomorphic process? endogenic forces are not uniform and
forces
Ans. The endogenic and exogenic hence the tectonically controlled original
and chemical
causing physical stresses
crystal surface is
uneven.
actions on earth material and bringing the process of mass
about changes in the configuration of Q3. What factors activate
movement?
the surface of the earth is known
as
the
geomorphic process. Ans. Following factors activate process of
mass movement.
Q25. What are geomorphic agents? Give from beow to
examples? () Removal of support
Ans. Any exogenic elements of nature (like materials above through n¡tural or
artificial means;
water, ice, wind, etc.) capable of acquiring
and transporting earth materials can be (ii) Increase ingradient and height of slopes:
called geomorphic agents. An agent (iii) Overloading through addition of
is a mobile medium (like running materials naturally or by artificial
water, moving ice, etc.) which removes, filling;
transports and deposits earth
materials.
(iv) Overloading due to heavy rainfall,
Examples: Running water, glacier, wind saturation and lubrication of slope
waves and currents, etc. can be called| materials;
geomorphic agents. (o) Removal of material or load from over
Q26. What is meant by diastrophism? the original slope surfaces;
Ans. All processes that move elevate or built | (vi) Occurrence of earthquaks, explosions
come under|
up portion of the earth's crust or machinery;
diastrophism. (vii) Excessive natural seepage;
Q27. What dothe word volcanism and volcano (vii) Heavy dráwdown of water from lakes,
indicate? to slow
Ans. Volcanism includes the movenent of reservoirs and rivers leading
outflow of water from under the slopes
molten rock onto or towards the earth's
or river banks;
surface and also form formation of many (ix) Indiscriminate removal of natural
intrusive and extrusive forms.
vegetation.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS Q4. How does biological weathering take
Q1. What factors have caused diastrophism? place?
Ans. All processes that move, elevate or build | Ans. Biological weathering takes place by:
() Animals: Animals like rabbits, rats
up portions of the earth's crust come
under diastrophism. They include: termides, etc. make burrows and holesin
) Orogenic processes: It involves mountain the rocks.They consumes large quantity
of soils and rocks for making their habitat
building through severe folding and and destruction of food. This loosens the
affecting long and narrow belts of the rock strata and disintegration occurs.
earth's crust;
( ) Epeirogenic processes: It involves uplift (ii) Vegetation: Long and teanatious roots
or warping of large parts of the earth's of plants work down into cracks of rocks.
The roots of shrubs and trees reach deep
crust;
(ii) Earthquakes: It involves local relatively into them and this lodge large blocks.
(iii) Human Activities: Mining,
minor movements; deforestation, indiscriminate cultivation
(iv) Plate tectonics: It involves horizontal|
movements of crustal plates. All these of land and construction activities
volume and contribute to weathering.
processes cause pressure, erosion.
is the result of
temperature (PVT) changes which in Q5. Déposition
turn induce metamorphism of rocks. Explain.
 Ans. Deposition is a consequence of erosion.
Q8. Mention the factors wh
The erosional agents loose their velocity
movement. ch resultsiin mass
and hence energy on gentler slopes and Ans. (i) The
the materials carried by them start movements
from slow to
of mass
may range
to settle themselves. In other words, rapid, affecting
deep columns of materials and shallow to
deposition is not actually the work of| creep, flow, slide and fall. include
any agent. The coarser materials get its force
on all Gravitý exerts
deposited first and finer ones later. and the pròducts matter, both bedrock
of
By deposition depressions get filled weathering is not a weathering. So,
up. The same erosional agents viz., mass movement pre- requisite for
running water, glaciers, wind, waves movement. thóugh it aids mass
(ii) Weak
thinly unconsolidated
and groundwater act as aggradational materials dipping
or depositional agents also. bedded rocks, faults, steeply, beds,
vertical cliffs or steep
Q6. Without gravity and gradient will there slopes, abundant
be no erosion? precipitation and torrential rains
and
Ans. Gravity besides being a directional scarcity of
vegetation ete. favour mass
force activates down slope movement of movements.
Q9. ExpBain the mass movements which
matters and also causes stresses on earth slow. aree

materia Ans. (i) Soil creep: It is one type under this

(i) Without gravity and gradients there category which can occur on moderately
would be no mobility and hence no steep, soil covered slope. We may find
erosion, no transportation and nno some of evidence of
extremely, slow down
deposits as gravitation stresses are slope movement of soil.
as important as the other geomorphic (ii) Rock creep: The
disintegrated
material creeps down
rock
the slope under
process.
the influence of gravity.
(ii) Gravityis force that is keeping us in
(iii)
contact with the surface and it is the Solifuction:It
where there is
takes place in cold areas
force that switches on the movement of | heavy snowfall in winter.
It involves slow
all surface material on earth. downslope flowing
soil mass or fine grained rock debris
(iii) All the movement either within the earth
saturated or lubricated with water.
or on the surface of the earth occurs due
| Q10. Why are parent material and time
to gradients from higher levels to lower considered as passive control factors in
levels and from high pressure to low soil formation?
pressure areas. Ans. (i) Parent Material: It is a passive
Q7. What is the importance of weathering? factor in soil formation. Parent materials
Ans. Importance of weathering: can be any insitu or on-site weathered
(2) Weathering rock debris or transported deposits. Soil
processes are responsible
for breaking the formation depends upon the texture,
down rocks into smaller structure as well as mineral and chemical
fragments and preparing the way for
composition of the rock debris/ deposits.
formation of not only regolith and soils (ii) Time: It is the passive controlling
but also erosion and mass movement. factor in soil formation. The length of
Biomesand bio-diversity is basically a time the soil forming processes operate
result offorests depend upon the depth| determine maturation of soils and
of weathering mantles. profile development. A soil becomes
(I) mature when all soil becomes mature
Weathering aids mass
and deposits helps
in the enrichment and concentrations when all soil processes act for
forming
a
of certain valuables ores of iron, a sufficiently long time developing
anganese, aluminium, etc. which are profile.
ofgreat importance for the national| Q11. Write the difference between:
) Exogenic and endogenic forces
economy. epeirogenic
( ) Orogenic movements and
Weathering is an important process in
movements
the formation of soils. 73
OMORPHIG PROCESSES
 (ii) Physical weathering and chemical weathering.
Ans. S. Exogenic Forces
no.
Endogenic Forces
1. The external forces are known as The internal forces are known as
Exogenic forces. Endogenic forces.
2 Solar energy is the sole driving force Gravity is the sole
driving force behind all
behind all the Exogenic processes. E.g. | the Endogenic process. E.g. Earthquake,
Erosion, Flood, Mining, etc. Volcanic Eruption, etc.

(ii) S. Orogenic Movements Epeirogenic Movements

no.

1. In the process of Orogenic the crust is Due to Epeirogenie they may be single
severely deformed into folds. deformation.
2. It is mountain building process. It is continental building process.
3. It affects long and n a r r o w belt of| It involves uplift or wrapping of large
earth's crust. parts of earth's crust.
 any agent. The coarser materials
get process of falling off of
deposited first and finer ones later. may result in granular
ndividual
graine
By deposition depressions get filled diaintegration
up. The same erosional granular foliation. Sult r

agents viz
running water, glaciers, wind, waves
is most eflective of all crystallisation
and groundwater act as aggradational or processes. salt-weatheriny
(i) In areas with
depositional agents also. What happens alternating
wetting and
to the surface
of the earth due to erosion drying conditions salt crystal
and deposition is elaborated in the favoured and the neighlbouring grgwth
next
chapter on landforms and their evolution. arepushed aside. Sodium chioridegrains
There is a shift of materials in mass gypsum crystals in desert areas and
movements well up overlying layers of heave
as as in erosion from materials and
one place to the other. with the result polygonal
cracks develo
HOTS QUESTIONS all over the heaved surface.
With sait
Q1. Is it essential to distinguish between crystal growth, chalk breaks down
geomorphic agents and geomorphir
most readily, followed by
limestone
sandstone. shale, gneiss and granite
processes? If yes, explain the difference. Q3. Do you think that etc
Ans. Yes, it is essential to distinguish between slopes or
created by tectonic forces? gradients are
geomorphic agents and geomorphic| Ans. Yes, I Why?
processes because former is the cause think
are created
that slopes or
gradient
and latter is the by tectonic forces. Those
stepwise process. areas where there is
)
Geomorphic agent: An agent is a excessive magma
mobile medium (like formation, have higher slopes and
running water, they have emerged
moving ice masses, wind, waves and as
nountains The
currents, etc.) which removes, transports strength of gradicents also determine
the
and deposits earth materials. type of landforms.
water. groundwater,
Running Q4. All corners of the earth do not have
glaciers, wind,| slope". Why? same
waves and currents, etc., can be
called | Ans. The difference
geomorphic agents. in the internal
(i GeomorphicProcesses: operation from within the earth forces
and Exogenic forces
The Endogenic built up the crust have been which
causing responsible
stresses and chemical actions physical
on earth
for the variations in the
outer surface of
the crust. Due to variations
material and bringing about changes in in
the configuration of the gradients and strength, thegeothermal
actions of
surface of the
earth is known as
Geomorphic Process. Endogenic forces are not uniform and
2. hence the tectonically controlled
What is the sole
driving force behind all oniginal
the exogenic processes? Explain how? crystal surface is uneven.
Ans. The solar Q5. Time and parent material play a
energy is the sole driving role
passive
force behind all in soil formation. Do you
exogenic processes. agree"
Exogenic processes derive their Justify.
from energy Ans. Yes, I agree.
atmosphere determined by the () Time: It is the
ultimate energy from the sun and passive controlling
the gradients created also factor in soil formation. The length of
() Various minerals in
by tectonic factors. time the soil
rocks possess their forming processes operate
own limits of expansion and determine maturation of soils and profile
(ii) With rise in contraction. development.
temperature,
mineral expands and
every (u) Parent Material: lt is a passive tacter
its pushes against in soil formation. Parent material can
neighbour and as temperature falls,
a
corresponding contraction takes place. | be moved or transported debris. Sol
formation depends upon
Because of diurnal changes in the cause the texture
strueture as well as mineral and chemical
splittingg of individual grains within composition of the rock debris/ deposits
rocks, which eventually fall off. This
GEQGRAPHY-XI