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    2 - Approaches To Geomorphology

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    Lukman Maulana
    There are 6 basic principles of process geomorphology: 1. Landforms and the processes that form them form part of a system, so changing one part can have ripple effects on other parts. 2. Some form of balance or equilibrium exists between landforms and the processes that create them, though geomorphologists are particularly interested in when this balance reaches a threshold and disequilibrium occurs. 3. The balance between landforms and processes is created through an interaction of resisting forces like material strength and driving forces like energy and climate. 4. If changes in driving forces or resisting forces stress the system beyond a threshold, major responses may occur to bring it back into equilibrium. 5. Changes in

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    2 - Approaches To Geomorphology

    Uploaded by

    Lukman Maulana
    4K views51 pages
    There are 6 basic principles of process geomorphology: 1. Landforms and the processes that form them form part of a system, so changing one part can have ripple effects on other parts. 2. Some form of balance or equilibrium exists between landforms and the processes that create them, though geomorphologists are particularly interested in when this balance reaches a threshold and disequilibrium occurs. 3. The balance between landforms and processes is created through an interaction of resisting forces like material strength and driving forces like energy and climate. 4. If changes in driving forces or resisting forces stress the system beyond a threshold, major responses may occur to bring it back into equilibrium. 5. Changes in

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    2 - Approaches to Geomorphology

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    There are 6 basic principles of process geomorphology: 1. Landforms and the processes that form them form part of a system, so changing one part can have ripple effects on other parts. 2. Some form of balance or equilibrium exists between landforms and the processes that create them, though geomorphologists are particularly interested in when this balance reaches a threshold and disequilibrium occurs. 3. The balance between landforms and processes is created through an interaction of resisting forces like material strength and driving forces like energy and climate. 4. If changes in driving forces or resisting forces stress the system beyond a threshold, major responses may occur to bring it back into equilibrium. 5. Changes in

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    4K views51 pages

    2 - Approaches To Geomorphology

    Uploaded by

    Lukman Maulana
    There are 6 basic principles of process geomorphology: 1. Landforms and the processes that form them form part of a system, so changing one part can have ripple effects on other parts. 2. Some form of balance or equilibrium exists between landforms and the processes that create them, though geomorphologists are particularly interested in when this balance reaches a threshold and disequilibrium occurs. 3. The balance between landforms and processes is created through an interaction of resisting forces like material strength and driving forces like energy and climate. 4. If changes in driving forces or resisting forces stress the system beyond a threshold, major responses may occur to bring it back into equilibrium. 5. Changes in

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    At a glance
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    The passage outlines the evolution of approaches in geomorphology from the fundamental to historical to climatic geomorphology. It also discusses different time scales and rates at which geomorphic processes can operate.

    The fundamental approach examines relationships between present form and process to maintain equilibrium, while the historical approach examines the evolution of landscapes over time in a descriptive, qualitative way.

    Between 1960-1970, there was a major quantitative study of geomorphic processes and general principles with a focus on understanding processes like erosion on small scales.

    Approaches to

    Geomorphology
    And Fundamental Principles
    Fundamental Approach

    A.k.a. Equilibrium or systematic approach


    Fundamental Approach

    Examines the relationships between present


    form and process

    Recognizes that constant adjustments occur to


    maintain equilibrium

    Who took this approach?


    … Gilbert
    Historical Approach
    Examines the evolution of a landscape

    Descriptive – qualitative approach


     Couldn’t measure very large areas

    Forward: predict sequential development of


    landscape
    Backwards: trace the history of a landscape

    Who took this approach?


    … Davis
    Pair ‘o dimes? No, paradigm!
    PARADIGM: a philosophical and theoretical
    framework of a scientific school or discipline
    within which theories, laws, and
    generalizations and the experiments
    performed in support of them are formulated;
    a pattern of thought.
    Merriam-Webster On-Line Dictionary

    Historical approach = paradigm for 50 years


     Davis was such a strong champion of the cause
    Evolution of Ideas

    Geomorphology outgrew Davis’ ideas


     Oversimplified and inadequate
     There never exists the stability in climate
    and uplift required by the cycle of
    erosion
    1930 - 1965
    A move away from qualitative
    (descriptive) studies towards a
    quantitative study of landforms

    In other words …
    … process and form
    1960 - 1970
    Major thrust = quantitative study of
    geomorphic processes

    General geomorphic principles


    E.g. how does a raindrop cause erosion?

    A new approach developed …


    Climatic Geomorphology
    The European connection

    Basic premise: geomorphic mechanics vary in


    type and rate according to the particular
    climatic zone in which they function

    In other words …
    … climatic forces outweigh all other forces
    Climatic Geomorphology
    Over a period of time, climate generates
    distinctive associations of landforms of
    regional extent

    Doesn’t it make sense that …

    If we change the process (climate – more/less rain,


    wind, ice, etc.) …
    … then the form should change
    BUT…

    Applies best when:


     broad comparisons
     extreme climatic contrasts

    Many argued against the validity


     Subtle changes in climate over space?
     Changes in climate over time?
    1980’s

    Geomorphic modeling

    Predictive models of short-term landform


    change
    The Present

    Applied geomorphology
     How humans are affected by the landscape
     How the landscape is affected by humans
    What the Future Holds
    Back to large scale
    studies!
     We have the
    technology!
     Understanding how
    extensive areas of
    landscapes change
    over long periods of
    time
     Davis revisited!
    What the Future Holds

    Tapping into ocean


    sediments
     Detailed info on the
    climatic and
    erosional history of
    Earth
    What the Future Holds

    Interplanetary studies
    But in your immediate future…

    An investigation into process


    geomorphology
     How various forces change the landscape
     Characteristics of the resultant landform
    6 Basic Principles of Process
    Geomorphology
    Landforms and the processes that form
    them form part of a system

    SYSTEM: A set of objects or characteristics


    which are related to one another and which
    operate together as a complex entity.
    Landforms and the processes that form
    them form part of a system

    Change something = ripple effect

    E.g. Drainage basin – amount of water –


    amount of erosion – cuts valley sides – size of
    floodplain – amount of channel area
    Landforms and the processes that form
    them form part of a system
    Hierarchical properties of systems

    A system may:
     be composed of numerous smaller systems;
    and/or
     form part of a larger system

    Ripple effect remains significant


    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    EQUILIBRIUM: Defining equilibrium … hmm


    … that’s a tough one!

    A balance between process and form


    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    form process

    d e d
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    process

    form

    d
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    form

    process

    d
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    Equilibrium is as
    exciting as watching
    grass grow
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    Give me some
    disequilibrium!
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    Geomorphologists are especially interested in


    the limits of equilibrium
     When equilibrium turns into disequilibrium =
    threshold
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    3 types of threshold
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them
    Extrinsic : system responds to variations in
    external factors

    Intrinsic : instability occurs in the system even


    though external variables remain relatively
    constant

    Geomorphic : external and internal variables


    remain the same; it’s the shape/form of the
    landform that changes
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them
    But in reality … complex response

    Remember, systems are hierarchical and


    affected by the ripple effect so:
     Different parts of a system will reach threshold
    levels at different times
     Threshold response occurs as a series of
    responses
    Some form of balance or equilibrium exists
    between land forms and the processes that
    create them

    Why do you think that geomorphologists are


    interested in thresholds?
    The perceived balance between process and
    form is created by the interaction of energy,
    force, and resistance

    A landform reflects a balance between:


     Resistance of the material being worked on
     Resisting forces

     The application of forces acting on the material


     Driving forces
    The perceived balance between process and
    form is created by the interaction of energy,
    force, and resistance

    A vast number of combinations of resisting


    force and driving force account for the
    incredible variety of landforms on earth
    The perceived balance between process and
    form is created by the interaction of energy,
    force, and resistance
    Resisting forces:
     Ultimately geologically-based

     The strength of a material to withstand destructive


    pressures of driving forces acting on it

     Depends on:
     Lithology
     Structure
    The perceived balance between process and
    form is created by the interaction of energy,
    force, and resistance

    Driving force represents the application of


    energy on the resisting framework

    2 types of driving force


     Exogenic – from the outside
     Endogenic – from the inside
    The perceived balance between process and
    form is created by the interaction of energy,
    force, and resistance

    If there were no
    endogenic forces …
    … the Earth would
    look like the Moon
    If changes in the driving force/resistance stress
    the system beyond the threshold, the system is
    in disequilibrium and a major response may
    occur

    NEGATIVE FEEDBACK: original condition is


    maintained after a change in the system

    POSITIVE FEEDBACK: change in the system is


    accentuated; snowball effect

    Remember, it’s not a matter of one being good or bad,


    they just ‘are’
    Changes that occur in one process or landform
    during an adjustment period often initiate
    subsequent responses in totally different
    processes and/or landforms

    It’s that whole systems thing again!


    Changes that occur in one process or landform
    during an adjustment period often initiate
    subsequent responses in totally different
    processes and/or landforms

    Mount St. Helens


    May 18, 1980
    Changes that occur in one process or landform
    during an adjustment period often initiate
    subsequent responses in totally different
    processes and/or landforms
     Lava dome
     Earthquakes
     Massive debris avalanche
     Volcanic eruption
     Debris changed gradient
    of stream channels
     Elevated channel floor
     Decreased cross-
    sectional area
     More flooding
     Less vegetation
     More overland flow
     More erosion
     More sediment in
    stream
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals
    In process studies the time framework utilized
    has a direct bearing on what conclusions can
    be made regarding the relationship between
    process and form

    Field trip
     Gilbert (Dad) – maintaining form = equilibrium
     Davis – changing form = equilibrium
     Bajewsky = depends on the time scale
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    3 time scales in geomorphology


    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    Steady time
     No change in form
     Short term period

    Static equilibrium
     Static = no change
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals
    Graded time
     An average condition
    maintained
     Periodic fluctuations
    about the mean
     Medium term period

    Steady state equilibrium


     Some ups, some downs,
    but steady as she goes
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    Cyclic time
     Gradual overall change
     Long term period

    Dynamic equilibrium
     Some ups, some downs,
    but steady as she goes
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    And speaking of time…

    There are great variations in the rates at which


    geomorphic process operate:
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    Comparing different processes:


     Glacial processes
     Mass movement
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    Comparing within the same process:


     Mass movement
     Rockfalls
     Creep
    Geomorphic analysis can be made over a
    variety of time intervals

    Frequency: The number of times an event of


    a given magnitude occurs in a given time
    period.

    Recurrence interval: The amount of time


    between events of the same magnitude.
    A Question to Ponder …
    Process and form changes over time and
    space. Explain and give examples of
    each:

    Process – time
    Process – space
    Form – time
    Form - space

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