Denudation

Weathering is the process of disintegration of rock particles from the surface of rocks is known as weathering, while erosion is the process by which the weathered particles are separated and transported from the parent rock to the low-lying areas. The combined process of weathering and erosion is known as Denudation. The weathering mass movement and erosion, which over time strip a slope of its soil cover unless the local rate of soil formation is greater. According to F.J. Monkhouse; ”Denudation is a wide term covering all the processes of Earth sculpture including weathering”. Thus according to the above definition, the total process of land surface reduction is termed as denudation. It affects all continental rock masses that become elevated by orogenic or epeirogenic movement of the solid crust of the earth. All the agents of denudation first wear away the landmass to convert it into a plain and then slowly consume it till it is covered by sea waters. According to geologists, all landforms are the result of the agents of change, which are still acting today. Major examples of denudation are as under:

1. Erosion of rocks results in the formation of valleys.
2. Ridges, hills, and mountains are the unconsumed parts of landmasses.
3. Rock and soil fragments are removed and get deposited elsewhere to make different landforms.
4. Ravine canyon, peak, spur, and bluffs are examples of erosional landforms.
5. The flood plain built of material transported by the stream is a depositional landform.

Thus denudation goes on continuously through the forces of gradation. These forces include wind, running and stand water, frost, rain, animals, and temperature.