Geomorphic Processes | Class 11 Geography Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
Geomorphic Processes – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Geomorphic Processes from Class 11 Geography, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Glaciers
Glaciers are large masses of ice that move slowly over land, either as vast sheets (continental or piedmont glaciers) or as linear flows down mountain valleys (mountain and valley glaciers). Their movement is driven by gravity and can range from a few centimeters to several meters per day.
In India, glaciers are found in the Himalayas, particularly in higher reaches of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. For example, the Gangotri glacier feeds the Bhagirathi river, and the Alkapuri glacier feeds the Alaknanda river, both of which join to form the Ganga.
Glacial erosion is powerful due to the immense weight and friction of ice. Glaciers pluck and abrade rocks, carrying large angular fragments that erode valley floors and sides. This erosion can reduce high mountains to low hills and plains over time.
Glacial erosional landforms include cirques, horns, serrated ridges (arêtes), and U-shaped valleys. Cirques are deep, steep-walled basins at the heads of glacial valleys, often containing tarn lakes. Horns are sharp, pointed peaks formed by the headward erosion of cirques. Arêtes are narrow, saw-toothed ridges between cirques.
Glacial valleys are U-shaped with broad floors and steep sides, often containing moraines and lakes. Hanging valleys, truncated spurs, and fjords (deep glacial troughs filled with seawater) are other glacial features.
Depositional landforms include moraines (terminal, lateral, medial, and ground moraines), eskers (sinuous ridges formed by subglacial streams), outwash plains (broad alluvial fans formed by meltwater), and drumlins (smooth, oval hills aligned with ice movement).
📊 Diagram: Figure 6.10: A glacier in its valley; Figure 6.11 : Some glacial erosional and depositional forms (adapted and modified from Spencer, 1962); Figure 6.12: A panoramic diagram of glacial landscape with various depositional landforms (adapted and modified from Spencer, 1962)
🔗 Connection: This section leads to coastal processes driven by waves and currents.
Frequently asked questions
Which one of the following options is correct in regards to ‘Enrichment’.
4. Physical or chemical leaching of rocks by ground water some materials from the rocks are removed and concentration valuable minerals increases.
Which one of the following options (a, b, c and d) is correct in regards to Biological weathering. i. It cause removal of minerals and ions from the weathering environment and a physical changes due to growth and movement of organism. ii Human activities are also helpful to develop contact between air, water and minerals in the earth materials. iii. Biological weathering takes place through carbonation, hydration and oxidation. iv Plant roots are also responsible for breaking up of rocks.
4. i. ii and iv are correct.
Which one of the following processes get their force from energy emanating from within the earth that is generated by radioactivity, rotational and tidal friction and primordial heat from the origin of the earth.
4. Endogenic processes.
Which one of the following options is caused due to flaking off of more or less curved sheets of shells from over rocks or bedrock results in smooth and rounded surfaces?
3. Exfoliation
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