GEOMORPHOLOGY: HISTORY, WHAT STUDIES, BRANCHES, GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES - SCIENCE - 2025

The geomorphology is a science which studies the Earth 's relief, perceiving it as a distribution in constant process of development and change. For this discipline, the terrestrial relief consists of a contact surface, which is the result of the interaction over time of forces that act below and on this space.

Geomorphology shows that the earth's surface is made up of a great variety of shapes, which can be described and identified by researchers. The union and relationship of these structures in a given space is what confers a definitive characteristic to the landscapes that make up planet Earth.

The Kukenán tepui. Author: Mauricio Campello. Via Wikipedia commons

In general terms, it can be established that geomorphology is a scientific study that requires other disciplines to perform. In fact, this science derives from geology and geography; In addition, it uses knowledge of hydrography, climatology, among other branches of science.

History

Classical Antiquity

In ancient times, the Greeks dedicated themselves to trying to describe the Earth and its formation processes. In fact, many important geographical approaches were the product of Greek thought.

For example, this culture was the first to conclude that the Earth is round. Furthermore, the first calculation of the earth's circumference, carried out by Eratosthenes (276-194 BC), also dates from this period.

Portrait of Eratosthenes

Similarly, the Greeks defined geography as the knowledge that is responsible for the description of the Earth. A very important contribution for this time was the work of Strabo (64 BC - 2 AD), who wrote a work entitled Geography; an encyclopedic study that recorded the known territories of the world at that time.

Despite these advances, some historians claim that, during the Middle Ages, European cultural dogma censored the postulates about the Earth made by the Greeks and began a period of stagnation within the discipline.

The Renaissance

Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance movement.

The study of land relief and the explanation of its origin or modeling began properly in the Renaissance. During this time, interest in geomorphology was reflected in the works of engineers, chroniclers, geographers, and so-called naturists, who in an isolated way recorded the first observations on the subject.

The Renaissance engineers carried out the first investigations on the processes of erosion and modeling, while the naturalists carried out physical analyzes in a great variety of spaces; This allowed them to formulate hypotheses about the processes of origin and evolution of the reliefs.

On the other hand, the geographers provided information on the location, dimensions and typology of the relief of the continents.

All these results and observations were systematized, completed and scientifically articulated in the mid-nineteenth century, thanks to the work of the German geologist Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859).

However, Humboldt's systematization did not imply the appearance of an independent and specific discipline, which is why the geomorphological theme remained integrated into physical geography.

The double linkage of geomorphology

For this reason, it is stated that land relief issues were not exclusively dominated by geographers, as geologists continued to investigate the issue.

Such is the case of the works of Charles Lyell (1797-1875), whose contributions were reflected in his work Principles of Geology, published in several volumes during 1830 and 1833.

Charles Lyell. Source: John & Charles Watkins, via Wikimedia Commons

In this way, in the second half of the 19th century, the double link necessary for the study of land relief took hold: geography and geology.

Each of these specialties focuses on geomorphological issues from a different point of view; geographers measure, describe, and classify relief, relating it to climate, hydrology, and vegetation.

For their part, geologists study the relationships of relief with nature, the emergence of rocks on the surface and the functioning models of these structures.

As can be seen, these two disciplines were developed in well differentiated areas with their own theoretical and scientific proposals. However, both coincide in contributing to the new geomorphological discipline an eminently geographical character.

What does geomorphology study? (Field of study)

Mountains in the desert. Source: web.archive.org Via: Wikipedia commons

Geomorphology has as object of study the terrestrial relief, as well as the nature and activity of the internal and external forces that shape it. These shaping forces can be of different natures, so geomorphology - in addition to geological study - has hydrology, climate, biogeography and human geography as its field of research.

For this reason, geomorphology not only confines its study to the surface shape of the earth's relief, but is also interested in the type and organization of the materials that constitute it and arise from it.

Due to this, nature, the arrangement of rocks and surface formations that arise from contact with the external environment fall within his field of study.

Finally, geomorphology, considering its object of study as an area constantly subjected to shaping forces, introduces the temporal factor in its analysis. In this way, it considers the analyzes carried out as a momentary state of the process.

Branches of geomorphology

The great variety of factors and forces that shape the land relief has led to the emergence of different subdivisions in the study of geomorphology. The main ones are:

- Structural geomorphology

Study the earth's crust and its different distributions. It focuses on the characterization of rocks and analyzes the deformation of materials (folds and faults).

- Dynamic geomorphology

It is the discipline that studies the processes of erosion and the agents that cause it.

- Climatic geomorphology

Investigate the influence of the weather on the progress of the relief. It focuses on the study of atmospheric pressure, temperature and the origin of winds.

- Fluvial geomorphology

It is the science that studies the action of rivers and deltas on forms and geographic reliefs.

Geomorphological processes

At the origin of the relief, a series of processes act that have been classified as exogenous and endogenous. It is important to note that in many events the predominance of one over the other is recorded and that they also act in the opposite direction, but as a whole they are responsible for the resulting relief.

Exogenous processes have degrading effects or are inclined to reduce the elevated forms of the relief and are cumulative when their action is to fill in depressions. According to these characteristics, exogenous processes lead to the leveling of the surfaces.

On the other hand, endogenous processes are responsible for the tectonic deformations, the formation of volcanoes and the great alterations of the earth's surface caused by telluric movements.

- Natural geomorphological processes

Geographic processes

These are non-biological factors of exogenous origin, such as the soil, the relief and the climate (temperature, pressure changes and wind). It also includes water bodies (rivers, seas, surface water, and glacial modeling).

Biological processes (

Biological processes are of exogenous origin, such as the effects of vegetation and fauna.

Geological processes

These include the movements of the earth's crust, the formation of mountains, and volcanism. All are constructive procedures and of endogenous origin, therefore, they oppose modeling and alter the geographic cycle.

- Geomorphological processes of human origin

Direct processes

These may or may not favor the frequency of natural change, such as activities that affect river beds or protect river banks.

Indirect processes

Man's activities can have an indirect action on natural processes, such as the action exerted by cutting down forests for the use of these extensions of land in agriculture.

Importance of geomorphology

Geomorphology provides information, knowledge and aspects that are necessary for the development and study of other disciplines. In many cases, geomorphological assessments are essential to achieve a comprehensive environmental investigation and define sustainable guidelines.

For example, petroleum geologists use knowledge about the formation processes of different sediment deposits. In this way, they are able to improve surface exploration in search of gas reserves found in sedimentary rocks.

On the other hand, the engineers use the knowledge of the erosive processes and the formation of the sediment deposits to optimize the stability estimates of the different terrains. They also use the information that geomorphology gives them to plan the structures.

In the area of ​​archeology, knowledge of erosive processes and deposition of materials is used to evaluate the conservation of fossils and structures belonging to ancient human societies.

In ecology, knowledge about the complexity of the physical landscape and its interactions is used in order to assist in the preservation of species diversity.

Important concepts in geomorphology

- Weathering: It is the disintegration of rocks and minerals on the earth's surface or at a shallow depth. This process is carried out in the place of origin of the rock.

- Erosion: is the displacement of soil material through the action of forces such as wind, water, ice and other agents. The process occurs when these forces overcome the resistance of the soil components, generating the erosion process.

- Soil: it is a natural complex made up of altered rocky materials and organic elements.

- Tectonics: movement of the earth's crust.

- Folds: these are expansions caused by the action of tectonic forces on rocky materials arranged in the form of strata or layers, endowed with flexibility and plasticity.

- Fracture: it is a separation or rupture that occurs when the intensity of the tectonic forces exceeds the resistance of the rocky blocks.

- Faults: it is the fracture and displacement of rocky blocks.

- Climate: is the set of atmospheric conditions that occur in a certain sector of the earth's surface.

- Infiltration: it is the descent of surface water towards the ground and subsoil.

References

1. Geomorphology. Retrieved on 2020 22 from: dialnet.unirioja.es
2. García, H. (2018). On evolution as a science of dynamic geomorphology in fluvial environments. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from: researchgate.net
3. Stetler, L (2014). Geomorphology. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from: researchgate.net
4. Rodríguez, M. (2012). Structural geology. Stresses and deformations of the rocks. Ductile deformation: the folds and their types. Folding mechanisms. Brittle deformations: joints and faults. Characteristics and types. Associations of folds and faults. Retrieved on January 23, 2020 from: researchgate.net
5. Garcia – Ruiz, M. (2015). Why geomorphology is a global science. Retrieved on January 21, 2020 from: researchgate.net
6. Tooth S., Viles H. (2014). 10 reasons why Geomorphology is important. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from: geomorphology.org.uk