Lecture 2: Intro to Geomorphology

Question 1

What is geomorphology?

Answer 1

The study of landforms and the processes that modify and create them

Question 2

What is a landform?

Answer 2

An element of the landscape that can be observed

Question 3

What is a landscape?

Answer 3

Part of the Earth’s surface that is composed of many landforms

Question 4

Leonarda da Vinci involvement

Answer 4

Changes in sea levels and erosional power of streams

Question 5

Aristotle involvement

Answer 5

Slow rate of geological change

Question 6

Catastrophism

Answer 6

Required Earth’s landscapes to be formed primarily by great catastrophes
James Ussher estimated Earth is 6,000 years old

Question 7

Uniformitarianism

Answer 7

Land surface has been shaped by the slow, continuing erosive action of water
James Hutton argued that this required to be much older than 6,000 years old

Question 8

What are the 4 dating methods?

Answer 8

1) Relative age
2) Numerical age
3) Radiometric
4) Correlated-age

Question 9

Landscape Equilibrium

Answer 9

Idea that landforms are in balance with the processes that create them (negative feedback loop)

Question 10

Landscape Evolution

Answer 10

Evolution of landscapes through a series of stages (youth, mature & old)

Question 11

Dynamic Equilibrium

Answer 11

State of balance in a changing situation

Question 12

Main sources of geomorphic energy

Answer 12

Solar radiation, geothermal heat and gravity

Question 13

Age of the Earth

Answer 13

4.6 billion years old

Question 14

5 earth systems

Answer 14

1)Lithosphere
2)Atmosphere
3)Biosphere
4)Hydrosphere
5)Cryosphere