Correct Option
The correct option is (c) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Geomorphic processes are broadly classified into endogenic (internal) and exogenic (external) forces. Exogenic processes, driven by solar energy and gravity, include weathering, mass wasting, erosion, and deposition. These processes act together to modify the Earth's relief through denudation (wearing away) and aggradation (building up).
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Weathering is defined as the mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks through the actions of various elements of weather and climate. It is fundamentally an in-situ (on-site) process, meaning it breaks down rocks at their original location with little to no movement of the material.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Erosion is the acquisition and transportation of rock debris by geomorphic agents like running water, wind, or glaciers. It is a degradational process that wears down the landscape. The process of building up the landscape is called deposition or aggradation, not erosion.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The rock debris removed and transported by erosion is eventually deposited in lower regions or basins. This accumulation of material (deposition) results in aggradation, creating new depositional landforms such as floodplains, deltas, and sand dunes.
Key Takeaway: Weathering is the static breakdown of rock (in-situ), whereas erosion is the dynamic removal and transport of material. Erosion lowers the land surface (degradation), while deposition builds it up (aggradation).