Formation of Landforms

 

Landforms

Continental Drift

Our Earth has not always looked the same. Earlier, all the continents were joined together as a supercontinent known as Pangaea, which was set in a huge ocean called Panthalassa. The gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through time initially resulted the formation of two massive continents- Laurasia and Gondwanaland. They eventually fragmented further to form today's continents. This movement of the continental plates is known as Continental drift.

Layers of Earth

The earth is made up of 3 layers- the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core.

Lithospheric Plates: The outer crust is made up of many large irregular pieces called lithospheric plates. These plates form the base for continents and the ocean floor. The movement of these lithospheric plates causes changes on the surface of the earth which is seen over hundreds, thousands or even millions of years. This movement of the earth can be divided into Endogenic and Exogenic processes.

Endo means inside and Genic means origin. Exo means Outside or External  and Genic means origin. So:

Endogenic processes means internal processes.

Exogenic processes means external processes.

Causes of Landform development

Plate Tectonics: The lithosphere plates push, collide or slide past each other resulting disturbances in the sedimentary rock deposits lying between two or more plates. The sedimentary rocks are compressed resulting folding due to the slow horizontal movement. 

 

Uplift and Submergence: Another set of forces acting inside the earth, results in large scale uplift and submergence (sinking) of land. This vertical movement develops faults or cracks in the earth’s surface. 

 

Sudden forces: These set of forces cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  

 

Exogenic forces: These forces cause widespread destruction on the surface of the earth through weathering and erosion, then forming new landforms. 

Picture credits: Google