Physical geographyLesson 1 of 2 in the course Landforms and geomorphology

Geomorphology: Landforms, Processes, and Landscape Change

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Geomorphology is the scientific study of Earth's landforms and how they originate and change. It helps explain why landscapes look the way they do and how they may change in the future.

The word geomorphology combines Greek roots meaning “earth,” “form,” and “study.” The field examines the origin and evolution of topographic features on land and bathymetric features beneath water. These features result from physical, chemical, and biological processes operating at or near Earth's surface.

All flashcards

What is geomorphology?
The scientific study of the origin, form, history, and evolution of landforms and other features at or near Earth's surface.
What is a landform?
A recognizable natural feature of Earth's surface, such as a mountain, valley, dune, or delta.
Name two broad kinds of processes that shape landscapes.
Surface processes, such as erosion and weathering, and geological processes, such as tectonic uplift and subsidence.
What is orographic precipitation?
Precipitation that occurs when air is forced upward by topography, often by a mountain range.
Why is geomorphology interdisciplinary?
It examines interactions among landforms, climate, water, life, rocks, and human activity, so it connects fields such as geography, geology, climatology, and engineering.

Quiz questions

  1. Which set of features is studied in geomorphology?Answer: Landforms and underwater topographic features, including their origins and changes.
  2. Which example is a geological process that can raise terrain?Answer: Tectonic uplift associated with mountain building
  3. What did climatic geomorphology seek to explain?Answer: Regional landform patterns through the influence of climate
  4. In Davis's simplified cycle of erosion, what follows uplift?Answer: Rivers cut valleys, and erosion gradually reduces relief.
  5. What is the purpose of geochronology in geomorphology?Answer: To estimate when a surface or deposit formed and how quickly it changed

Based on the Wikipedia article Geomorphology, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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