Aster Public School, Greater Noida West

9th
Social Science
2. Shaping of the Earth’s Surface
Mindmap

Interior of the Earth

Crust Core
Mantle

It lies beneath the crust.

The outermost layer.  It is the innermost layer , beneath the mantle.
It is thicker than crust.
Thinnest layer as  It is hottest and densest due to increase in temperature
Made of molten and semi
compared to crust and and pressure.
molten material called
mantle.
magma.  Made up of heavy metals like nickel and iron (NIFE).
Continental crust is  It has outer core (liquid) and inner core (solid).
With depth pressure and
thicker then oceanic
heat increase, due to this  The heat from core influence movements within mantle,
crust. which contribute to tectonic plate movement,
material moves slowly and
It is made up of rocks and earthquakes and volcanic activity.
causes gradual change over
minerals.
earth’s surface.
 Theory of Plate Tectonic

Plate tectonic theory states that earth’s outer shell the lithosphere is divided into several large, rigid plates that
glide slowly over the mantle and they are driven by mantle convections.

Convergent boundary Transform boundary

Divergent boundary
In divergent movement, In convergent movement In transform movement
tectonic plates move away plate moves towards each plates slide past each other
from each other, which other and collide, which in opposite direction, which
leads to formation of new leads to the formation of mainly result in a strong
crust and result in volcanic mountains like Himalayas. earthquake, as seen along
activity and rift valley such San Andreas Fault in USA.
as Mid-Atlantic rift.
 Weathering and Erosion

Weathering Erosion

Weathering is a process by which rocks are broken down Erosion is the process by which weathered rock
into smaller pieces in the same place where they are materials are carried away from one place and
formed. transported to another by natural agents like wind.

Physical or mechanical weathering Chemical weathering Biological weathering

Breaking of rock into smaller pieces The breaking down of rocks due to The weathering of rocks caused by
without any change in their chemical chemical reaction that change their the action of plant, animal and
composition. composition. microorganism.
Weathering Erosion
The breakdown of rocks The movement of weathered
at or near the Earth rock by wind, water or
surface. gravity

Importance of Erosion
Importance of Weathering  It helps in formation of land forms like valleys and beaches.
 Help in soil formation.  It contributes to soil formation by breaking down rocks and
 Make erosion easier. transporting sediments.
 Help in realizing minerals into the soil.  It helps in shaping river cores and floodplains.
 It create landforms like caves and arches  It enriches soils by transporting minerals .and nutrients.
 It helps in natural recycling of material on the
Earth.
 Gradation

Gradation is the process by which earth surface is gradually leveled down through the combined action of
weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition. The natural forces that carry out these processes are called
agent of gradation.

Agents of Gradation

Wind Rivers Waves and Ocean Glaciers Underground Water

 Important agent in dry  While river flow, it currents  They are large masses  As the rainwater that
and desert region performs three  Waves and ocean of ice found mainly in seeps through tiny cracks
where vegetation is functions- current play important extremely cold regions flow underground, It
sparsh and ground is Erosion, transportation role in shaping coastal like High Mountain dissolves soluble rocks
largely exposed . and deposition. regions. areas. like limestone and slowly
 It lift loose sand and  In upper course energy  Waves erode coastal  They moved slowly but enlarges cracks and
fine dust particles from and speed is high which land formed by hitting are powerful agent of passages.
ground and carries enable rivers to erode the shore with force, gradation because of  This action of
them over short or long land. loosening rock material their enormous weight underground water,
distances. .  As river reaches flatter and carrying away and grinding action. weaken rocks beneath
 This process of wind area in middle and lower broken fragments. This  As glacier move this the surface and create
erosion, also known as course, its speed creates features such as scrap and grind the land hollow spaces or cave.
abrasion. In which decreases, and it began cliff, caves, arcs. beneath them, through Example Stalactites and
moving sand particles to deposit material, it has  Ocean currents, which the process known as Stalagmites.
strike and wear down been carrying. are continuously abrasion and pickup
rocks.  This led to the formation moving off ocean rock fragment through
 Wind erosion forms of landforms like V - water, help in process of plucking.
landforms like shaped valleys, waterfall, transporting the eroded  Over time, Glacier
Mashroom Rocks, and floodplain and river material along the creates distinctive
deflation hollows/ plains. coastline. landforms such as U
basins. shaped valleys.
 Forces that led to formation of landforms

Internal forces External forces

The forces that act from within the Earth. Example, The forces that act from outside the Earth. Example
tectonic movement Major Landforms Weathering erosion deposition. .

Mountains Plains Valleys Plateau Desert Coastal

LandformsLandf

Major Landforms and their formation

1. Mountains [Link] [Link]

Mountains are highland form they are formed Valleys are low lying areas of land found between hills or
Plains are large flat or gently sloping and low lying
mainly by powerful internal forces inside the Earth. mountains. They are mostly elongated and have river
areas of land. Most of world’s population lives on
 Fold Mountains: formed when two tectonic flowing through them. They are formed due to erosion.
plains.
plates move towards each other and collide
 Coastal Plains : They are formed along the coasts
at convergent boundary.
by action of rivers and waves . Example-Eastern
These rocks bend and get folded instead  V-shaped Valleys(River Valleys): In upper course of
Coastal Plains of India.
of breaking.
 Glacial Plains: They are formed when glaciers river when water have high energy , it cuts deep
Example: Himalayas, and Alps. into bedrock and forms V-shaped valley.
melt and leave behind large amount of debris.
 Volcanic Mountains: They are found when
They form gently rolling or flat plains which are
molten materials call magma rise from
less fertile. Example-plains in northern Europe
inside the Earth. Overtime repeated volcanic  U-shaped Valley(Glacial Valleys): Formed when
and North America.
eruption build layer of lava and ash forming a
 River Plain- Rivers carry huge amount of eroded a glacier moves slowly down a pre existing river
cone-shaped mountain (or crater at top). valley . In this process it convert a V- shaped valley
material like sand, silt and clay. When river
Example: Mount Fuji, Kilimanjaro. into a broad U-shaped valley.
reaches flatter areas it deposit these materials
and this led to formation of broad and flat plains.
 Major Landforms and their formation

[Link] [Link] [Link] Landforms

Plateaus are high flat topped landforms that rise They are dry region with rainfall less than They are formed along shoreline by the combined action of
sharply above the surrounding area and usually have 25cm/year. They have dry air, less vegetation and waves and ocean current. They are formed :
steep sides. They are also called tablelands. extreme temperature. Example-Sahara desert and
 When waves strike and erode rocks along shoreline.
They are formed by two ways: Thar desert. Formation of desert takes place due to
 Low Rainfall- Regions which receive less rainfall
 When ocean current erode material along the coast
 By tectonic uplift (movement of Earth crust):
When tectonic plates move, they push large area due to their distance from the sea or when they  When energy of waves decreases , this material get
of land upward without folding them. The land lie to the leeward side of a mountain. deposited and forms new landforms.
lifted as a broad flat surface creating a plateau.  Extreme Temperature- Extreme temperature in Major Coastal landforms are –
 Volcanic Mountains: They are found when deserts increases the rate of evaporation which 1. Cliffs: They are steep, almost vertical rock faces along
molten materials call magma rise from inside the in turn reduces moisture in soil and air. the coast. They are formed when waves erode the base
Earth.  Role of Wind- Wind removes loose sand and of coastal rock.
Overtime repeated volcanic eruption build layer dust through erosion and deposit it elsewhere
of lava and ash forming a cone-shaped mountain , continuously reshaping landforms. 2. Beaches: They are formed by deposition of sand,
(or crater at top). pebbles and sediments brought by the waves. Found
Example: Mount Fuji, Mount Kilimanjaro. along the sloping coastlines.
3. Sea Caves: They are hollow spaces formed when waves
erode weak or soft rocks. Formed by pounding action of
waves and abrasion.
4. Sea Arches: Formed when sea cave is eroded from
both sides and break through the headland. Continuous
erosion may cause the arch to collapse.
5. Spits: A spit is a long, narrow stretch of land that
extends into the sea from the coast. Formed by
deposition of sediments due to long shore drift(
movement of sand along the coast)
6. Lagoons : A lagoon is a shallow water body formed
behind a spit or sandbar. It is separated from open
sea but may connect at some points.
 Landforms and Natural Disasters: Natural disasters are sudden and often violent events that can cause widespread damage to life and
property. They are usually triggered by movements inside the earth such as tectonic movement or by rapid change on the earth surface
caused by weather, climate or human activities.

Earthquakes Glacial Lake Outburst Dust Storms Avalanches Landslide

 An earthquake is a sudden Floods  Dust Storms are strong winds  An avalanche is the rapid and  A landslide is a sudden
shaking or trembling of Earth’  Glacial Lakes are formed that lift and carry large sudden movement of a large downward movement of
surface due to release of when glaciers melt and the amount of loose soil and sand mass of snow, ice and large masses of rocks, soil,
energy from within the Earth. melted water accumulates in into the air. They occur in dry sometimes rock debris down a mud, along a slope under the
 This energy is released when depressions or behind natural and barren region where mountain slope. They occur in influence of gravity. Ex- in
rocks inside earth break or barriers made of ice, rocks or vegetation is sparse. high mountain. hills and mounatins
shift along fault lines , this loose debris (moraines).  They reduce visibility , cause  Several factors can trigger  Several natural and human
energy travel in form of  When these natural barriers soil erosion and when people avalanches like fresh snowfall, forces can led to landslides, Ex-
seismic waves. become weak and collapses, a inhale dust particles it also changes in temperature, Natural ( loose soil or steep
 Mostly they occur at plate huge amount of water rushes causes health problems for vibration from earthquakes, slope), man made ( testing
boundaries. Therefore out rapidly , resulting in GOLF. humans ad animals. strong winds or human bombs on mountain).
regions located near plate  GOLFs are extremely  These storms clearly shows activities like blasting.  Earthquakes can also lead to
boundaries like Pacific ring of dangerous as they can cause how wind act as a powerful  They usually occur when snow landslides
fire , are more prone to sudden and devastating agent of gradation. layer become unstable, it  Landslides can significantly
earthquakes. flooding in downstream areas.  They are common in arid and break loose and slide alter landforms by removing
 Earthquakes can significantly  They lead to severe erosion of semi-arid regions. downward with great force material from one place and
alter landforms as they can riverbank and valleys , destroy and speed. depositing to other place.
trigger landslides, avalanches bridges and often leads to loss  Although avalanches are They also causes serious
and tsunamis. of life and property. made up snow but they act damage to life and property.
like landslides and can cause
severe destruction.

Disaster Mitigation: Disaster mitigation refers to the measures and actions taken to reduce the harmful effects of disasters before they occur. It
involves planning, preparedness, and preventive steps to lessen damage of life and property .

Understanding land form and earth processes helps in disaster mitigation in the following ways :-
 Identifying disaster-prone areas : Knowledge of tectonic plates and fault lines helps scientists and planners identify areas that are more likely to experience
earthquake or floods etc.
 Reduce risk through planning: Based on this information government can plan safe settlement , make earthquake proof buildings and create early warning
systems.
 Protect human life and property: proper disaster preparedness can save live and reduce economic losses .
 Promote Sustainable development: Mitigation helps in making development more environmentally safe by avoiding construction in high risk zones.