Geography

Geomorphology

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•Geomorphologists are concerned primarily
with earth’s surficial features, including their
origin, history, composition, and impact on
human activity.

•Geomorphology concentrates primarily on
Quaternary (Pleistocene and Holocene)
features.

•Earth’s landforms reflect the local and
regional balance between hydrologic, tectonic,
aeolian, glacial, atmospheric, and marine
processes.

Photo by NASA

•The word “geomorphology" comes from the
Greek roots "geo,““morph,” and “logos,”
meaning “earth,”“form,” ”

Geomorphic Process

• The process responsible for the formation and alteration of

the earth's surface.

• The physical and chemical interactions between the earth's

surface and the natural forces acting upon it to produce

landforms.

• The processes are determined by such natural environmental

variables as geology, climate, vegetation and base level, to say

nothing of human interference.

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Geomorphic Process (Cont…)

Definition:

• The geomorphic processes are all those physical and chemical

changes which effect a modification of the earth’s surgical

form [W. D. Thornbury (1968): Principles of Geomorphology,

pp. 34].

• A process by which the earth’s land forms are changed or

maintained [Jim Gardner (1979): Physical Geology].

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Agents of Geomorphic Processes

 River -Humid Geomorphic Environment

 Wind - Arid Environment

 Glacier/ice - PolarEnvironments

 Wave - Coastal Environment

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Agent, Process & products

Process

Process includes three types of activities

Erosion

Transportation

Deposition

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Agent, Process & products