LANDFORMSOF

THEEARTH

Prepared by: Savita Kukreti Pawar Public SchoolKandivali

What are landforms?

A landform is a natural feature of the earth’s surface.

How are they formed?Series of concentric rock layersBad conductorsInternal heat – rock meltsThis leads to several conditions

which cause landform development on the surface of the earth.

Causes of landforms development on the surface of the earth

1) Plate tectonics

2) Uplift and submergence

3) Sudden forces

4) Exogenic forces

Plate tectonics

Plates float on semi molten Asthenosphere.Push, collide or slide.Sedimentary rock deposits- disturbance/

compressed. Results foldingfold mountain – orogenic movements.

Uplift and submergenceForces from earth’s center to the surfaceVertical movementsLarge scale uplift or subsidenceContinent building – epeirogenic

movementsBlock mountainsRift valleys

Sudden forcesEarthquakes and volcanoesConstructive forcesThey create relief featuresVolcanoes – mountains, plateaus and

plainsEarthquakes – faults and lakes

Exogenic Forces

Forces operating on the surfaceExternal forcesDestructive forces – weathering and

erosionBoth erosion and deposition

FORCES CAUSING LANDFORMS

ENDOGENIC

DIASTROPHIC

EPIOROGENI

CUPLIFT &

SUBMERG

ENCE

(CONTINEN

T BUILDING

FORCES

)

OROGENI

C

(MOUNTAIN MAKIN

G FORCES

)

SUDDEN CONSTRUC

TIVE FORCES

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

EARTHQUAKES

EXOGENIC

ALLUVIAL AND EROSIONAL PLAINS

LANDFORMS AND THEIR TYPES

MOUNTAINS

PLATEAUS

PLAINS

TYPES OF MOUNTAINS

TYPES OF MOUNTAI

NS

FOLD MOUNTAINS

BLOCK MOUNTAINSVOLCANIC

MOUNTAINS

FOLD MOUNTAINS How are fold mountains formed?

FEATURES OF FOLD MOUNTAINS

1. Irregular folds in fold mountains due

to unequal pressure

What does this image show

Which type of rocks have this feature? How are these rocks formed?

FEATURES OF FOLD MOUNTAINS

Feature 2: most of these mountains are constituted of sedimentary rocks formed due to deposition and

consolidation of sediments in shallow oceans

FEATURES OF FOLD MOUNTAINS

3. FOLD MOUNTAINS

HAVE GREATER LENGTH BUT

COMPARATIVELY SMALL WIDTH

FEATURES OF FOLD MOUNTAINS

Feature iv: most fold mountains are found on the margins of continents

Feature v : fold mountains are associated with volcanic activity and has many active volcanoes

VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS

BLOCK MOUNTAINS How are block mountains formed

BLOCK MOUNTAINS

Plateaus Plateau is defines as an area of high ground, 500 feet above the ground level

The uplands have steep slope on one side

The upper part is generally flat and is called tableland.

Types Of Plateaus1. INTERMONTANE PLATEAU

2.PIEDMONT PLATEAU

3.VOLCANIC PLATEAUS

4.UPLIFTED PLATEAU

Intermontane Plateau Highest and most

extensive Surrounded by hills

and mountains on all sides

Formed along with fold mountains.

Example : the Tibetan plateau and Columbian plateau

INTERMONTANE PLATEAU

TIBET PLATEAU

LOCATION OF TIBET PLATEAU

Piedmont PlateausMountain ranges on

one side and plains on one side.

The side facing the plains has steep slopes.

Residual plateaus – derived from ancient fold system.

Example : Patagonian plateau

Piedmont Plateau

PEIDMONT PLATEAU

Volcanic Plateau•Derived from lava flows from volcanic eruptions.•Example : The Plateau of Peninsular India.•Columbian plateau.

COLUMBIAN PLATEAU

LOCATION OF COLOMBIAN PLATEAU

Uplifted Plateau

During volcanic activity the endogenic forces may uplift the middle portion of the landmass.

The sides get rounded forming a dome shaped tableland.

Example : Chota Nagpur plateau.

CHOTA NAGPUR PLATEAU

Plains

What are Plains

An extensive area of low land with a level or gently undulating surface.Most intriguing landform processThere are endless variations – hence it is an imprint of past and present landform.

PLAINS

Types Of PlainsStructura

l ErosionalDepositio

nal

Structural PlainsFormed due to uplift

or subsidence of land.

Diastrophic forces may cause uplift of a portion of land beneath the ocean water or may cause submergence of coastal land under ocean water.

Location of the great plains of USA

Example of structural plains

The Great Plains are formed due to uplift of land submerged under water

The Coromandel plains in India are the result of mild subsidence followed by sedimentation.

ERROSIONAL PLAINS These plains are formed by agents of

erosion like River Wind Chemical weathering

TYPES OF EROSIONAL PLAINS

EROSIONAL PLAINS

Peneplains Glacial erosion Wind eroded

Karst plain

Peneplains

Landscapes in which almost all hills have been worn down as a result of erosion.

Peneplains literally means almost a plain.

Peneplains – some resistant peaks remaining

LORRAINE PLAIN IN FRANCE

LOCATION OF LORRAINE PLAIN

GLACIAL EROSION

These plains have rounded peaks and worn down ice scoured shield lands

Due to the action of the glacier the area gets worn down and the height is reduced.

GLACIAL EROSION

PLAINS OF GLACIAL EROSION

Wind eroded plainsStrong winds pick up weathered materials and deposit them else whereThese formations are called pediplains.They are also called reg, serir and hamada in sahara desert.

KARST PLAINS

Karst plainsDue to chemical weathering the

area gets eroded and produces undulating topography.

This type of features are mostly found in limestone landscapes where chemical weathering takes place.

DEPOSITIONAL PLAINS These plains are caused due the

deposition of various agents such as River Wind Sea

RIVER DEPOSITION

RIVER DEPOSITIONAL PLAINS

GANGA ALUVIAL PLAIN

WIND DEPOSITION PLAIN

MARINE DEPOSITION PLAIN