Geomorphology

Geomorphology is the science of studying Earth’s landforms, their formation and development through time, and the wide array of factors that influence them. Geomorphology is a greatly varied discipline that is closely related to, and sometimes combined with, geography, Earth science, and geology. Geomorphologists often specialize in one aspect of their field, but also commonly partner with other scientists or specialists to accomplish certain goals or projects. They may join engineers, ecologists, archaeologists, or other experts to study Earth-bound land. Working with astronomers can even bring insights into the formation of the landforms on other planets and space bodies. Geomorphologists regularly study how landforms have changed over the course of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of years. They also study the present to explore modern advances and problems relating to landforms, and to prepare for responsible land use in the future. The term geomorphology is derived from a Greek term meaning “study of Earth’s form.”

Background

For thousands of years, through the course of human travel and settlement, people have studied their environmental surroundings such as rivers and mountain ranges. Early nomads and traders began making simple maps to capture the rough dimensions of regions and their natural features, such as good hunting, fishing, and foraging areas. Over time, as more people explored the world and reported their findings, mapmakers improved and expanded their work. Their studies set the foundation for the modern science of geography.

These basic geographic studies evolved to become increasingly scientific and ambitious as people used improved technologies and insights into nature. As explorers began to travel throughout the world, geographers began to incorporate human elements, such as cultural differences and adaptations to varied environments, into their research.

In addition, geography grew far beyond mapmakers and explorers to become a major academic discipline, divided into separate but closely related fields of physical geography and human geography. Students around the world began studying both aspects of geography. By the twentieth century, geography students researched physical locations, their natural characteristics, their animal and plant life, and their human populations and human-environment interactions.

Growing alongside geography was another new science, often referred to broadly as Earth science. Earth science can be described most basically as the study of Earth. Though it incorporates many elements of geography, Earth science delves more deeply into the forces and processes that impact the planet and its life.

Some of the many disciplines within Earth science include seismology, the study of earthquakes; volcanology, the study of volcanoes; hydrogeology, the study of water flow on and below Earth’s surface; and oceanography, the study of the world’s oceans. Earth sciences study magnetism, physics, statistics, history, and many other fields.

One of the most important subdisciplines in Earth science is geology, itself a broad-reaching science. In general, geology encompasses the study of the materials that make up Earth, the history and formation of these materials, the forces and processes that impact these materials, and how these materials have changed over Earth’s lifespan.

Geologists may study climates and minerals of the distant past and determine how they affected the formation of the modern world. They may study the natural resources of the world, such as precious metals and fossil fuels, where these resources are found, and how humans may best extract and use them. Geologists may also study the forces that accompany Earth’s formation and change, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and floods.

In most academic institutions, students can study geography, Earth sciences, or geology as separate disciplines. However, there are many instances where these similar-yet-different fields intersect. It is these areas, where questions may require input from more than one discipline, that the field of geomorphology seeks to address.

Though geomorphology is an increasingly important part of science, it is not generally taught as its own discipline. Geomorphologists usually work in conjunction with national and international organizations more than schools. Some of these groups include the International Association of Geomorphologists and the British Society for Geomorphology. Members of these groups regularly collaborate on research projects and publish studies to advance geomorphological understanding of Earth.

Overview

People in the modern era have a much greater understanding of Earth than did people in the past. However, they also have much more complex questions about how Earth forms and changes over time and circumstances. Pressing issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and endangered and extinct species have created many questions that relate to Earth’s diverse landforms.

People may question why some mountains are higher than others, or take different shapes. They may wonder how conservation efforts can preserve forests, or pollution management can save melting glaciers and avoid rising seas. They may question the age or composition of rock formations or examine reasons why natural hazards seem to be becoming more severe and dangerous. All of these questions relate to the various elements of geomorphology.

Though geomorphology incorporates many fields of study from geography and Earth sciences, it is most generally defined as the science of landforms and how these landforms begin and develop over time. It also studies why and how these landforms join to form landscapes, which are collections of interrelated natural features. These landscapes may include mountains, bodies of water, vegetation, and human settlements.

Geomorphologists examine modern-day topics such as rising sea levels, global warming, or potentially dangerous shifts in Earth’s tectonic plates, and how they relate to landforms. These scientists also examine landforms of the past and how they developed and changed through hundreds, thousands, or millions of years. They also look ahead at how the landforms may change in the near or distant future. Geomorphologists may also work alongside astronomers to seek insights into the landforms of other planets.

The work of geomorphologists can vary greatly, and each study in the field requires its own set of plans and rules. In general, geomorphologists undertake field studies of various kinds of landforms. They observe and examine lands up close and perform experiments and measurements. From about the middle of the twentieth century, geomorphologists have been greatly aided by aerial maps that have provided up a new view and valuable view of the planet’s landforms.

In particular, information gathered from satellite images have helped scientists plot out intricate topographic maps. Similarly, photographs and other records produced by spacecraft have allowed scientists to geomorphologically study other planets—most notably Mars—and other heavenly bodies such as asteroids and comets. With easy access to detailed satellite and topographical maps, geomorphologists can conduct studies and experiments digitally rather than relying on hands-on field study. Computer technology can allow scientists to create and manipulate countless forms of geomorphic maps.

Though most geomorphologists focus on a specific specialty within the field, geomorphology is a varied field of study. Its applications often intersect with other fields. As a result, geomorphologists regularly join other scientists and specialists in an array of related disciplines to achieve certain goals. The research and conclusions of geomorphologists and their collaborators may greatly impact national and international laws and policies relating to environmental protection and land-management procedures.

Geomorphologists often work with civil and environmental engineers to design new buildings, bridges, roads, or dams in the most efficient and nature-friendly way. They may team with astronomers and other space-related scientists to study the composition and formation of extraterrestrial planets. They may work with ecologists to help create or preserve biospheres, or with geologists to locate, access, and extract fuels or minerals. Geomorphologists may even work with archaeologists to study the relationship between landforms and ancient civilizations.

One of the main guiding principles of geomorphology is that Earth’s landscapes are dynamic, meaning they are constantly changing through time. Landforms may change due to movement and friction of moving water, rock, or sediments. For example, rushing water may, over thousands or millions of years, carve valleys or canyons through stone. Tectonic motion, weather patterns, plant and animal behavior, and geological processes such as erosion may also greatly affect landforms.

Particularly in modern times, humans and the effects of human activity are significant forces behind landform changes. Though humans are becoming more aware of the consequences of their actions, their effect on landforms has been largely destructive and has in many cases created deadly new hazards. Geomorphologists not only study the effects of humans on the land, but also help to inform and guide people and governments toward more responsible futures.

Bibliography

Alcántara-Ayala, Irasema, and Andrew Goudie. Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster Prevention. Cambridge UP, 2010.

Anderson, Robert S., and Suzanne P. Anderson. Geomorphology: The Mechanics and Chemistry of Landscapes. Cambridge UP, 2010.

Goudie, Andrew S., editor. Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. Routledge, 2013.

Huggett, Richard John. Fundamentals of Geomorphology. 3rd ed. Routledge, 2011.

King, Hobart M. “What Is Geology?—What Does a Geologist Do?” Geology.com, 2019, geology.com/articles/what-is-geology.shtml. Accessed 11 June 2019.

Tooth, Stephen, and Heather Viles. “10 Reasons Why Geomorphology is Important.” British Society for Geomorphology, 14 Apr. 2014, www.geomorphology.org.uk/sites/default/files/10‗reasons‗full.pdf. Accessed 11 June 2019.

“What is Geomorphology?” British Society for Geomorphology, www.geomorphology.org.uk/what-geomorphology-0. Accessed 11 June 2019.

“What is Earth Science.” University of Minnesota, 2012, www.esci.umn.edu/whatis. Accessed 11 June 2019.