Earth Science

Lesson 1: Exogenic/Endogenic processes/Geologic

Exogenic processes

ARE PROCESSESS THAT TAKES PLACE AT OR NEAR THE EARTH’S SURFACE THAT MAKES THE SURFACE
WEARAWAY.

VERY DESTRUCTIVE, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEGRADATION AND SCULPTING THE EARTHS SURFACE.

They are genetically related to the atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and therefore
to processes of weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition, denudation etc.

TYPES OF EXOGENIC PROCESSES

1. WEATHERING- THE PROCESS THAT BREAKS DOWN ROCK INTO SMALLER PIECES

- the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on Earth’s surface.

- Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and minerals
away. Water, acids, salt, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering and
erosion

• TYPES OF WEATHERING

1. Physical weathering- happens when rock is physically broken into smaller pieces.
2. Chemical weathering- the process of breaking down rock through chemical change.
2. EROSION- Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil,
rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another
location (not to be confused with weathering which involves no movement).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WEATERING AND EROSION

• REGOLITH- WHEN WEATHERED ROCK REMAINS IN PLACE AND REMAINS IN ITS PURE STATE

• SEDIMENT- WHEN WEATHERED MATERIAL IS REMOVED FROM THE SIT OF WEATHERING

• MOVING WATER- IT IS THE MAIN AGENT OF EROSION.

• PEOPLE- ONE OF THE CAUSE OF EROSION

• WEATHERING AND EROSION- WEATHERED ROCK MATERIAL WILL REMOVED FROM ITS
ORIGINAL SITE AND TRANSPORTED AWAY BY A NATURAL AGENT.
3. SEDIMENTATION- IT IS A NATURAL PROCESS IN WHICH A MATERIAL IS CARRIED TO THE BOTTOM
OF BODIES OF WATER AND FORMS TO SOLID.

• OCEANS BASINS ARE THOSE AREAS FOUND UNDER THE SEA. THEY CAN BE RELATIVELY IN ACTIVE
AREAS WHERE DEPOSITS OF SEDIMENT SLOWLY COLLECT OR ACTIVE AREAS WHERE TECTONIC
PLATES MEET.
4. MASS WASTING- IS THE MOVEMENT OF ROCK, SOIL AND REGOLITH DOWNWARD DUE TO THE
ACTION OF GRAVITY.

• TYPES OF MATERIAL

• DEBRIS, MUD OR EARTH- IF SOIL AND REGOLITH DOMINATE

• ROCK- WHEN A MASS OF BEDROCK BREAK.

• TYPES OF MOTION

• FALL- THE FREE FALL DETACHED INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF ANY SIZE

• SLIDE- A DISTINCT ZONE OF WEAKNESS SEPARATING THE SLIDE MATERIAL

FROM THE MORE STABLE UNDERLYING MATERIAL

• FLOW- OCCURS WHEN MATERIAL MOVES DOWN SLOPE AS A VISCOUS FLUID