Geomorphic agents and landforms



Published on 31 Jan 2025

Any exogenic element of nature,  capable of aquiring and transporting earths materials are called geomorphic agents.

Geomorphic Agent 

Depositional Landforms

Erosional Landforms 

Running Water

  • Overland flow causes sheet erosion which then subsequently changes to rills, gullies and valley

  • Course of river – erosion dominating upper course, transportation dominating mature stage and deposition dominating old stage 

  • Alluvial fans 

  • Deltas

    • Example: Krishna river delta

  • Flood plains 

  • Meanders

    • Example: Burhi Gandak

  • Braided channels

    • Example: Gandak and Son

  • Valleys – canyon, gorge 

    • Example: Colorado river canyon , Indus Gorge 

  • Potholes and plunge pools

  • Entrenched meanders 

  • River terraces 

Ground Water 

  • Through the process of solution and deposition, make karst topography in limestone and dolomite containing regions 

  • Stalactite   

  • Stalagmite 

  • Calcite pillars  

  • Pools, sinkholes, lapis and limestone pavements 

  • Caves, foiba

  • Dolines, uvulas, cenote

Glaciers 

  • Slow process caused by the movement of glaciers due to gravity. Causes high erosion due to the friction and pressure of the glacier 

  • Glacial tills and outwash deposits 

  • Moraines , drumlines 

  • Eskers 

  • Outwash plains

  • Cirque

    • Example: peaks of Alps, Himalayas etc. 

  • Horns, serrated ridges 

  • Glacial valleys, Fjords

Waves And Currents 

  • Makes changes along coasts. These are most dynamic and most destructive 

  • 2 types of coastal landforms 

    • Submerged or retreating cost with domination of erosional features

    • Emerging or advancing coast with domination of depositional feature   

  • Beaches and dunes 

  • Bars, spits and lagoons 

  • Cliffs 

  • Terraces 

  • Caves 

  • Stacks 

Winds

  • Major geomorphic agent in hot deserts 

  • Landforms created due to wind are called Aeolian landforms 

  • Sand dunes – barchans, seif , transverse dunes 

  • Pedi plains and pediments

  • Deflation hollows 

  • Mushroom tables

  • Playas

Tags:
Geography

Keywords:
Geomorphic agents landforms running water glacier ground water wave current wind Depositional Landforms Erosional Landforms canyon gorge Potholes plunge pools Entrenched meanders River terraces alluvial fans meanders Braided channels

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Physical Geography

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