Pintaprosessien

Pintaprosessien, literally "surface processes" in Finnish, describe the exogenic processes that shape the near-surface environment of Earth and other planetary bodies. They include mechanical weathering, chemical weathering, erosion, transport, deposition, and mass wasting, as well as soil formation, all operating at or near the surface and influenced by climate, gravity, water, wind, ice, and biological activity. The study of pintaprosessien falls within geomorphology, hydrology, soil science, and geography, and provides insight into landscape evolution, sediment budgets, and ecosystem function.

Weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks in place, through physical mechanisms such as freeze–thaw or exfoliation, and chemical reactions like hydrolysis or oxidation, often enhanced by organisms. Erosion and transport remove loosened material and move it via streams, rivers, wind, glaciers, and gravity. Deposition occurs when energy conditions fall and sediments settle, forming alluvial fans, deltas, dunes, or sedimentary layers. Mass wasting covers rapid and gradual downslope movement driven by gravity, including landslides and creep. Pedogenesis, the development of soils, results from interactions among parent material, climate, organisms, relief, and time.

Pintaprosessien operate under varying climates and terrains and are modulated by human activity, climate change, vegetation, and land use. They are essential for predicting hazards such as floods and landslides and for understanding water resources, nutrient cycling, and habitat formation.

Related topics include geomorphology, weathering, erosion, sediment transport, and pedology.