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Difference between Exogenic and Endogenic Forces- UPSC Notes
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Difference between Exogenic and Endogenic Forces- UPSC Notes
Geomorphic processes refer to the mechanisms responsible for shaping the Earth's surface. These processes can be classified into two categories: Exogenic processes and Endogenic processes. Exogenic forces, also known as external forces, are generated from the Earth's exterior or within its atmosphere. On the other hand, endogenic forces, referred to as internal forces, arise from pressure originating within the Earth itself.
This topic forms an important part of the UPSC IAS exam under the syllabus of the General Studies- 1 (GS - 1) paper of the mains exam.
This article on Testbook will discuss in a detailed way the details about Difference Between Exogenic and Endogenic Forces, their impact, types, significance, and other basics that will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation. The UPSC aspirants can also take the help of Testbook’s UPSC Online Coaching to boost their UPSC Exam preparation!
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Difference Between Exogenic and Endogenic Forces
The causes of the earth’s numerous landforms, including hills, mountains, volcanoes, etc., make both exogenic and endogenic forces significant. These two geomorphic forces shape the earth’s surface through formation and deformation. The following table gives out the difference between endogenic and exogenic forces.
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Endogenic Forces |
Exogenic Forces |
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Endogenic forces are those internal forces that draw strength from the inside of the earth and are thus essential in forming the earth’s crust. |
Exogenic forces are those forces that originate in or draw power from the earth’s external atmosphere. |
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The fact that endogenic forces produce relief features on the Earth’s surface gives them the alternative name constructive forces. |
Since the exogenic forces can cause the existing landforms to be destroyed by processes like weathering and erosion, these forces are often called destructive forces. |
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The heat generated by the interior of the earth is the main energy resource for forces that propel endogenic processes. |
The prime exogenic processes include erosion, deposition, wasting, and weathering. |
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Differences in pressure and temperature among various layers of the earth give rise to density differences, and these density differences further give rise to the conventional currents. |
All the exogenic movements either within the earth or on the surface of the earth occur due to gradients from higher levels to lower levels, from high pressure to low pressure, etc. |
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Endogenic forces further include mountain-building forces, volcanism, continent-building forces, and earthquakes, among others. |
Exogenic forces are the waves, wind, and water. |
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Endogenic movements are caused by the movement of the lithospheric plates, which include the crust and the upper mantle, and are driven by the convection currents in the mantle. |
The exogenic forces derive the energy from the atmosphere, which is determined by the energy received from the sun and also the gradient created by the tectonic factors. |
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Endogenic forces produce the after-effects that are visible only after they cause sudden damage. |
Exogenic forces create changes that are visible only after a period of thousands or millions of years. |
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What are Exogenic Forces?
Exogenic forces are those that work on the surface of the Earth. They are also known as external forces. Exogenic forces are responsible for the weathering, erosion, and deposition of rocks and sediments. They also create landforms such as mountains, valleys, and beaches.
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Types of Exogenic Forces
Weathering, mass wasting, and erosion are the main exogenic processes. All the exogenic processes are covered under the general term denudation, meaning strip off or uncovers. The elements of nature capable of doing these exogenic processes are termed geomorphic agents.
Weathering
Weathering is breaking rocks on the earth's surface by various forces, such as wind, sea waves, rivers, and glaciers. It is the breakdown and decay of rocks in situ and can be a very long, slow procedure, sometimes even taking hundreds of years.
Weathering can be further classified as physical, chemical, and biological.
- Physical Weathering
- Chemical Weathering
- Biological Weathering
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Erosion
Erosion is gradually wearing away, breaking down, or reducing objects or substances. Typically, erosion occurs on the surface of soil, rocks, or dissolved materials, where they are transported by wind or water flow to different locations on the Earth's crust. While weathering can contribute to erosion, it is not always a necessary condition for erosion to occur.
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Mass Movements
Mass movement refers to the motion of large masses of bedrock, soil, mud, and rock fragments triggered by the force of gravity along steep hillsides and mountains. This movement can occur at different speeds, affecting materials in shallow or deep layers, resulting in various forms such as flows, slides, creep, and falls.
Features of Exogenic Forces
- Exogenic forces are external, acting on the Earth's surface and modifying it over time.
- They primarily cause weathering (breaking down rocks) and erosion (transporting sediments).
- Exogenic forces work gradually over extended periods. They shape landscapes by wearing down rocks and forming valleys.
- They create landforms such as mountains, valleys, river deltas, and sand dunes.
- These forces are responsible for shaping Earth's surface features that we can see and interact with.
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What are Endogenic Forces?
Endogenic forces are those that work from within the Earth. They are also known as internal forces. Endogenic forces are responsible for the formation of mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
Types of Endogenic Forces
The endogenic forces are further classified into the following 4 types:
Slow Movements
Slow Movements are also known as diastrophism. It encompasses all geological processes responsible for the Earth's crust's displacement, uplift, or deformation through tectonic movements. Diastrophism involves activities such as faulting, folding, warping, and fracturing. These transformations occur gradually and may persist for extended periods, spanning thousands of years. Orogenic and epeirogenic processes serve as instances of slow movements within diastrophism. These processes play a vital role in creating continents, ocean basins, mountain ranges, plateaus, and rift valleys.
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Orogenic Processes
Orogenic processes refer to the formation of mountains caused by horizontal movements from internal forces. Orogenic processes can be categorized into two types: tensional and compressional forces. Tensional forces create fissures, while compressional forces lead to folding. The compression exerted on rock layers causes them to bend, giving rise to Fold Mountains.
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Epeirogenic Processes
Epeirogenic movements pertain to the tilting or vertical displacement of the Earth's crust that impacts extensive areas of a continent. These movements involve uplifting or warping significant portions of the crust, contributing to the construction of continents. They are known as radial movements as they occur along the radius of the Earth. Epeirogenic movements give rise to land uplifts or depressions, long-wavelength undulations, and minimal folding. These movements are further categorized into two types: downward movements and upward movements.
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Sudden Movements
Sudden geomorphic movements primarily occur along the boundaries of lithospheric plates, which are highly unstable regions due to the pressure exerted by the movement of magma in the mantle. These movements result in significant deformation occurring over a short period of time, often leading to phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
Features of Endogenic Forces
- Endogenic forces originate from within the Earth's crust, leading to geological changes.
- They cause crustal movements like plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
- Endogenic forces can result in sudden and dramatic changes in the Earth's surface. This may lead to seismic activity and volcanic events.
- They form landforms such as mountains, volcanoes, and fault lines.
- Endogenic forces are responsible for shaping the Earth's internal geological features. They impact the planet's overall structure and composition.
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Similarities between Exogenic and Endogenic Forces
There are various similarities between the exogenic and the endogenic forces owing to the similar nature of the applied forces and the effects on the landforms.
- One similarity between exogenic and endogenic forces is that both natural processes do not require human intervention.
- Both include weather processes and soil erosion removal.
- Both processes lead to changes in the earth’s landforms and relief structures.
- Exogenic and endogenic forces lead to another set of processes in furtherance of the earth’s landform building.
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Concluding Remarks
Exogenic and endogenic forces are important in maintaining and constructing the relief features of the planet and help build opportunities for livelihood and lifestyles. Several forces act towards maintaining the earth’s numerous landforms, including hills, mountains, etc. Overall, it plays a decent role in life-building processes and ensures the sustenance of life.
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We hope all your doubts related to the difference between exogenic and endogenic forces are addressed after going through this article. Testbook also provides comprehensive notes for Civil services and various other competitive examinations. like content pages, live tests, GK and current affairs mocks, and so on. Ace your UPSC preparation with Testbook. Download the Testbook App now!
Endogenic Forces FAQs
What are the similarities between endogenic and exogenic forces?
The similarity between exogenic and endogenic forces is that both are natural processes that do not require any kind of human intervention. Also, both processes lead to changes in the earth’s landforms and relief structures.
What distinguishes endogenic forces from exogenic forces?
Endogenic forces are different from exogenic forces in that they come from within Earth, and their impacts are immediately observable since they inflict harm upon the people and livelihoods however, the exogenic forces affect the surface of the Earth as well, but their impacts can be seen after millions of years.
What are the effects of endogenic forces on the earth?
Internal forces or commonly the endogenic forces are the pressure within the earth. Such internal forces are the reasons for both vertical and horizontal motions and cause phenomena like earthquakes, volcanism, faulting, and land uplift, among other things.
Which forces are exogenic?
Exogenic forces, also known as external forces, are those forces that have their sources in the atmosphere of the earth or get their energy from the Earth’s exterior atmosphere. Exogenic forces are commonly also referred to as land-wearing forces because their actions cause the ground surface to erode.
What is an illustration of endogenic forces?
Earthquakes and the formation of mountains are 2 examples of endogenic forces. Exogenic forces include the erosion and tidal force of the moon.
What causes an endogenic process?
The energy that emerges from the earth's interior leads to endogenic forces. An earthquake results in tremors, landslides, soil liquefaction, building collapse, subsidence, and relief changes.
What are the different types of Volcanoes?
The Volcanoes have been classified based on the form developed and the nature of eruption at the surface. The different volcanic types are Shield Volcanoes, Caldera, Flood Basalt Provinces, Composite Volcanoes, and Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanoes.
What are exogenic and endogenic forces?
Exogenic and endogenic forces are two primary geomorphic pressures that help drive Earth to move and shape the planet’s crust. The earth’s surface is shaped as a result of the ongoing developments and deformation of landforms brought upon by these internal and external stresses.