Endogenic and Exogenic Geomorphic Processes

Endogenic Processes

• The energy that originated from the earth is the primary source of the endogenic geomorphic process
• This energy is produced by radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction. And also by primordial heat produced from the origin of the earth
• The change in geothermal gradients and the inner circulation of heat affects endogenic forces
• Endogenic forces are also affected by crustal thickness and strength. These changes make the endogenic forces not static

Diastrophism

All the processes that move, upraise, or develop a portion of the earth’s crust come under diastrophism. They include

1. Orogenic processes in which mountains are built by numerous folds. It affects the long and narrow belts of the earth’s crust
2. Epeirogeny – In this process, a large part of the earth crust is wrapped up or elevated up
3. Earthquakes involve minor movements in the local area
4. Plate Tectonics involves horizontal movements in crustal plates

•  Orogeny is the process of mountain building
•  On the contrary, epeirogeny is the process of continental building
• The crust might get fault and fracture due to processes such as orogeny and epeirogeny. It is also caused by earthquakes and plate tectonics
•  All the processes mentioned above might cause a change in pressure, volume, and temperature, which induce the metamorphism of rocks

Volcanism

• Volcanism, also known as Volcanism or volcanicity, is the eruption of molten rock (magma) onto the surface of the Earth or a solid-surface planet or moon, where lava, pyroclastics, and volcanic gases erupt from a crack in the surface known as a vent
• It involves the movement of molten rock(magma) onto the earth’s surface. Or sometimes towards the earth’s surface. It also led to the formation of intrusive and extrusive volcanic forms

Exogenic Processes

• Exogenic processes take their energy from the atmosphere, which is regulated by the sun’s ultimate energy as well as gradients caused by tectonic forces
• The earth materials having slope surfaces tend to react in the exogenic process and tend to move matter in the downslope direction
•  During the chemical process, loosened bonds are placed in the middle of grains. It dissolves the soluble minerals or cementing materials. It is one of the reasons for weathering. And also for mass movements and erosion. The progression of stress in the earth materials is high during the chemical process
•  The two climatic elements that control the process are temperature & precipitation.
•  All the exogenic geomorphic processes are commonly known by a general term called denudation. The word denude  is denoted as strip off or to uncover.
•  Weathering and mass movements are the two important activities in denudation. It also involves erosion and transport.
•  To explain weathering, it is the mechanical disintegration and chemical degradation of rocks caused by the activities of numerous weather and climatic variables. 
• Whereas , mass movements are characterised as processes of material erosion, transport, and accumulation that occur on both moderate and steep slopes, due mostly to gravitational forces.
• In climatic regions, the local variation affects different climatic elements due to altitudinal differences, aspects variations, and the variation in the amount of insolation received by north and south-facing slopes as compared to east and west-facing slopes.
• Other than the above factors, the difference in wind velocity, direction, kind of precipitation, intensity, and evaporation relationship can cause changes in the geomorphic processes.
•  The geomorphic change can also be caused by the change in

1. Difference in range of temperature
2. Freezing
3. Thawing frequency
4. Depth of frost penetration

• Based on the type and structure of rocks the intensity of action of the exogenic geomorphic process varies.
• Elements of rocks such as folds and faults, hard and soft minerals, and orientation are all incorporated in the rocks’ structure..
•  The structure also includes the inclination of the bed, permeability, impermeability, bed planes, present and absence of joints, chemical susceptibility of the mineral constitutes.
• The rocks have different resisting power to a different process that occurs on the earth.
•  Some rocks may be resistant to one process. And some are non-resistance to others.
•  In different climate regions, the degree of resistance is also varied. Hence they give rise to change in topography.
• Not only small but the effect of the exogenic geomorphic process is also slow. It may be imperceptible in a short period.

Conclusion:

We have looked into the meanings of endogenic and exogenic processes while also mentioning certain examples in detail. We can thus conclude that geomorphic processes include the endogenic and exogenic forces that cause physical stresses and chemical reactions on earth materials and cause changes in the configuration of the earth’s surface. We also looked into certain exogenic geomorphic processes such as weathering, mass wasting, erosion, and deposition. Lastly , These processes are influenced by natural environmental factors such as geology, temperature, vegetation, and so on.