Topic: Concept of Geomorphology

Prepared by Santu Guchhait

Dept. of Geography
Panskura Banamali College (Autonomous)

1. Geomorphology: Nature and Scope

[Before come to the specific field of Geomorphology, we need to know the
basic concept of Geography. So, a brief introduction of the geography (as
a discipline) is discussed here with meaning, definition, main theme and
sub-branches.]

1.1 Origin and meaning of Geography?

Normally, Geography is a human creation. It starts with man’s attempt to identify the territorial
extent on the earth surface as his living space. It has generated as the result of interplay between
the Percept (direct observation) and Concept (mental image).
The term geography was first coined by Eratosthenes (Father of Geography), a Greek scholar
(276-194 BC.). The word has been derived from two roots from Greek language geo (earth) and
graphos (description) and from Latin word “Geographia”. In a very simple words, it can be said
that geography is the description of the earth.

The zone of the contact of solid, liquid and

The earth gaseous masses that make up the planet.

The description of all the physical and cultural

To write phenomena in relation to place.

1.2 Definition:

The earth has always been seen as the abode of human beings and thus, scholars defined
geography as, “the description of the earth as the abode of human beings”.

❖ In other words, Richard Hartshorne defined Geography as “the description and

explanation of the areal differentiation of the earth’s surface”.

❖ “Geography is closely related to its location, specific characteristics and

interrelationships of the region as a whole.” -- Strabo, 1970
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 ❖ “The purpose of geography is to provide ‘a view of the whole’ earth by mapping the
location of places.” --Ptolemy, 150 CE

1.3 Main theme of Geography?

According to Isaiah Bowman, geography tells us what is where, why. By What, we mean the
different natural and human features on the earth surface. So, it is about why, and where the
human and natural activities occur and how these activities are interconnected.

Geography as a discipline is concerned with three sets of questions:

Question Answer Example

The identification of the patterns of natural and cultural Rainfall, a physical
What?
features as found over the surface of the earth. activity over the earth.
These are related to the spatial distribution of the natural
Spatial variation of
Where? and human/ cultural features over the surface of the
rainfall intensity.
earth.
The explanation or the causal relationships between Finding the causes
Why? features and the processes and phenomena. Why one why these spatial
feature is different from the others. variations occur.

1.4 Branches of Geography

Variable phenomena or activities are present over the earth surface. These activities, the physical
and human, can be treated separately or in association. To deal with these, many sub-branches
are evolved under two broad fields: Physical geography and Human geography

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Different sub-branches are originated to deal with the specific features or activities (Figure 1) and
each branch are interrelated with other discipline (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Sub-branches of Geography

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 Figure 2: Interrelation with other natural science and social science subject

2.1 Origin and meaning of Geomorphology:

Geomorphology is one of the most important branches of geography under the category of
physical geography. The word “geomorphology” was first coined between 1870s and 1880s but
popularised by American geologist William Morris Davis.

The term geomorphology has been derived from the combination of three Greek words, i.e ‘geo’
(earth), ‘morphe’ (form) and ‘logos’ (discourse). Thus, the literal meaning of geomorphology is
the science of description of various forms of the earth’s surface. Geomorphologists are
concerned primarily with earth’s surficial features, including their origin, history, composition,
and impact on human activity.

The zone of the contact of solid, liquid and

The earth gaseous masses that make up the planet.

Individual topographic feature, of whatever size.

Landform It ranges from a cliff or a sand dune (minor) to a
peninsula or a mountain range (major).

The description about the landforms on the Page | 4

Discourse earth surface and its evolution.
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2.2 Definition:
Geomorphology is a discourse on earth forms. To understand the concept of geomorphology, few
definitions given by the well-known geomorphologist are discussed here.

“Geomorphology is the interpretative description of the relief features of the Earth” --- P.
G. Worcester (1940)

Geomorphology “is the science of Landforms and it also includes the submarine (beneath
sea level) landforms in addition to the surface reliefs”. --- W. D. Thornbury (1954)

“Geomorphology as the systematic description and analysis of landscapes and the process
that change them.” --- A. L. Bloom (1979)

Geomorphology “is an analysis of the origin and evolution of the earth surface” --- Strahler
(1983)

2.3 Major three aspect of Geomorphology:

Better way to understand the aspects of geomorphology is answering some question, i.e. What is
landform? What makes one landform unique from another? How do landforms evolve? Although
three major aspects are listed below:

❖ Geological morphology: It studies the relationship between landforms and the

underlying (sub-surface) rocks. The types of landforms largely controlled by the rock
characteristics like composition, types, stratigraphy etc.
❖ Denudation chronology: It includes the study of the evolution of landforms. It tries to
reconstruct the succession of landforms at different times.
❖ Process morphology: The third aspect of geomorphology is the study of the actual
process of erosion which gives rise to landforms. It explains the different processes with
the agents (river, wind, glacial etc.) of the environment and the resultant landforms.

2.4 Nature of Geomorphology:

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To understand the nature of geomorphology, we need to study the history of its development as
a discipline of geography. Geomorphology has emerged as a scientific discipline in the latter part
of the 19th century, and rapidly developed from the early 20th century under the dual influence
of its parent disciplines, geology and geography. According to time, the nature of subject has
been changed, and the developmental phases of geomorphology indicate its dynamic nature.

Changing
Phase/Period Scholars and contribution to geomorphology
nature
Herodotus- Descriptive and
i. Significant contribution in the field of river’s Interpretative
alluvial behaviour.
ii. ‘Egypt was the gift of Nile’
iii. Related shape of the depositional feature at
the mouth of the river with Greek letter ‘Δ’
(delta).
ANCIENT Aristotle-
i. Ideas regarding water spring, origin of streams
and behaviour of seas and oceans.
Strabbo-
i Depositional work of the river and the concept
of differential erosion.
Seneca-
i River deepen their valleys through abrasion.
After the fall of Roman empire, no such Dark Age
contribution to geomorphology was found.
DARK AGE Aviecena (arabian) classified mountain into two
categories i.e., due to upliftment and due to
Dynamic
erosion
i. New concept of catastrophism was added to the Toward
field of geomorphology which believed in the Scientific
quick and sudden origin (later popularised by
CATASTROPHISM Georges Cuvier)
ii. Evolution of all landforms in very short period
of time and pointed out sudden forces like
volcanic eruption and earthquakes.

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 i. New wave of uniformitarianism with James Complete
Hutton (1726-1797A.D.) has been appeared. Scientific
ii. The basic concept was ‘the same geological
processes which operate today, operated in the
past’
UNIFORMITARIANISM
iii Reconstruction of past earth-history on the
basis of the present “Present is key to the Past”.
iv. Observing cyclic nature of the earth’s history.
John Playfair and Charles Lyell are active
followers of Hutton.
A) European School (Luis Agassiz, J D Interdisciplinary
Charpentier, Sir Andrew Ramsay, Richthofen,
Greenwood etc.)
i. Identification and recognition of ice ages,
glacial erosion etc.
ii. Detailed description of marine platforms by
marine erosion.
iii. Sub-aerial erosion and postulation of the base
level of erosion.
B) American School
i. Genetic classification of river valleys like Quantitative
MODERN antecedent, superimposed, consequent etc and use and qualitative
of the term ‘base level’ (JW Powel)
ii. Systematic and quantitative geomorphology,
and concept of graded profile of a river. (GK
Gilbert)
iii. Isostasy- the equilibrium condition of
upstanding and downstanding landmasses of the
earth surface (CF Dutton)
iv. Cyclic development of landforms, cycle of
erosion, slope evolution (WM Davis)
v. Trio of Davis- landscape is the function of
structure, process and time. Applied nature

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After studying the historical development of the discipline, we may list the natures of
Geomorphology:

• Descriptive and Interpretative:

It was the traditional nature of the subject that describing anything whatever
is visible on the earth surface. It may be any physical features or any activities.
• Dynamic:
Face of the earth is constantly changing because of it is dynamic nature. These
changes are caused by both external and internal forces. This dynamic nature
of study became the major agenda of the geomorphology.
• Scientific:
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms. It gives scientific account
of the physical face of the earth. Spatial relations through geological time
scale are analysis in this subject.
• Interdisciplinary:
Geomorphology is interdisciplinary by nature. It has close relationship with
other branches of natural science (geology, hydrology, biology, chemistry,
geophysics, meteorology, pedology, engineering etc)
• Quantitative:
It starts with the quantitative revolution in the subject. The new dimension of
the study focus quantifying the basic characteristics (area, height) of the
landform and erosion, deposition rate etc.
• Applied:
The recent nature of the geomorphology is the application of the knowledge to
study any geomorphic phenomena or provide solution to problems.

2.5 Interdisciplinary nature of Geomorphology:

The explanation of geomorphic landforms requires the scientific knowledge which are the
domain of others disciplines. Even, the concept of geomorphic phenomena and explanation
contributes to another subject. So, there is interrelation of geomorphology with other discipline
as discussed below:

Geology and Geomorphology:

Geomorphology is considered as a branch of geology. Geological structure and dynamic
geological sciences are very helpful in studying geomorphology. With dynamic geology may

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help to explain the evolution of the earth's surface, while the geological structure in explaining
the types of forms landscape. Many forms landscape reflected by the geological structure.
Therefore, it is necessary to study geomorphological knowledge of these sciences.

Meteorology and Geomorphology:

Meteorology and Climatology studies the physical state of the atmosphere and climate. This
science has an influence, either directly or indirectly to the process of change in the earth's
countenance. Weather conditions such as the wind, lightning, humidity and the effect of climate
change can bring major changes to the shape of the existing earth romance. Therefore, to study
the changes that occurs on the surface of the earth, the necessary knowledge of these sciences.

Hydrology and Geomorphology:

Hydrology is the study of everything about the existing water on earth (the science of the waters
of the earth), including in this case water in rivers, lakes, oceans and underground water.
Knowledge of hydrology will also aide in studying geomorphology. Similarly, the atmosphere,
water can also cause changes to the existing earth romance and can leave scars.

Geo-tectonic and Geomorphology:

Two types of force e.g., endogenetic and exogenetic are very important for analysis of landforms.
The morphology of the earth is a result of the interaction of both forces, with the prevalence of
one or the other in terms of space and/or time.

Geomorphology and soil geography

The work of geomorphic processes affects soil formation, for example, when stream sediment is
deposited on an existing floodplain soil. At the same time, the development of soil horizons can
alter the effectiveness of geomorphic processes such as hillslope erosion. Both geomorphic and
pedogenic processes cannot really be separated from the rest of the ecosystems in which they
occur; without land-based life of all kinds, Earth’s landscapes and soils would be very different.

Geomorphology and engineering:

Geomorphological techniques and knowledge become very helpful in several engineering
projects related to development activities e.g. construction of roads, dams and reservoirs, canals,
withdrawal of groundwater etc.

Geomorphology and Urbanization:

The application of the geomorphic knowledge in urban development comes under the domain of
urban geomorphology. Urban geomorphology a recent but more useful branch of applied
geomorphology, is the study of landforms, and their related process, materials and hazards, ways
that are beneficial to planning, development, and management of urbanized areas or areas where
urban growth is expected.

Geomorphology and planning:

the attention of planners was drawn towards dynamic geomorphology. Terrain evaluation and
classification, fluvial characteristics of the basin, ground water condition etc. provide useful
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information to the decision makers and planners for geomorphological planning. For example
DVC planning in India.

Remote sensing, GIS and geomorphology:

Geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based system used for collection,
maintenance, storage, retrieval, analysis, and distribution of geographic data and information.
GIS and remote sensing have been integrated in many geomorphological studies to quantify
surface processes and landforms. A new discipline, geomorphometry, have been developed to
quantify landforms and topography at various spatial scales on the basis of mathematical,
statistical, and image-processing techniques.

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