Exogenic processes are natural processes that occur at or near the Earth's surface, driven primarily by external forces such as the Sun's energy and atmospheric conditions. These processes cause the wearing down and reshaping of the Earth's surface through mechanisms like weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition of materials
. Key aspects of exogenic processes include:
- Weathering: The breakdown of rocks into smaller particles by physical, chemical, or biological means without movement of the particles.
- Erosion: The removal and transportation of rock or soil particles by agents such as wind, water, ice, or gravity.
- Transportation: The movement of eroded materials from one location to another by geomorphic agents like rivers, wind, or glaciers.
- Deposition: The process where transported sediments are laid down or added to the Earth's surface, forming new landforms.
These processes are collectively known as denudation, meaning the stripping or uncovering of the Earth's surface. The energy driving exogenic processes comes mainly from the Sun, which influences atmospheric conditions, and from gravity acting on slopes created by tectonic activities
. In summary, exogenic processes are external, surface-level forces that gradually wear down and reshape the Earth's landscape through weathering, erosion, transportation, and deposition, powered by solar energy and atmospheric dynamics.