Denudation : its meaning, agents, factors affecting it and processes involved.
Denudation is the process of lowering and leveling of the earth surface by gradual breaking and wearing away of such earth’s features.
For instance when a heavy wind blows across a huge mass of sand, it takes away some amount of sand to a new area, thus we say that denudation has occurred. William Morris Davis was the man who introduced the concept of denudation.
The agents which promote these breaking and lowering of the earth’s surface are called the agents of denudation. Examples of agents of denudation are wind, running water, ice and waves.
Factors Affecting Denudation
The rate of denudation depends on the following factors:
- Nature of relief The higher the relief of a particular region, the higher the rate of denudation and the lower the relief of that region, the lower the rate of denudation.
- The structure of the earth The softer the structure of the earth, the greater the rate of denudation and vice versa.
- Local climate of an area Wet climates tends of increase the rate of denudation more than dry climate.
- Influence of man The higher the rate of man’s activities on earth surface, the greater the rate of denudation and vice versa.
Processes of Denudation
Denudation involves four stages which include:
- Weathering This is the gradual disintegration of rocks by physical, biological and chemical processes.
- Erosion This is the active wearing away of the earth’s surface by agents of denudation such as running water, wind, ice and waves.
- Transportation This is the active removal of eroded materials to a new position.
- Deposition This is the dumping of the debris or eroded elements in certain parts of the earth where it accumulates to form soils.
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