Scale Relationships in Geomorphology

Question 1

Continents, ocean basins

Answer 1

10,000 km

Question 2

Physiographic provinces, shields, depositional plains

Answer 2

1,000 km

Question 3

Medium-scale tectonic units (sedimentary basins, mountain massifs)

Answer 3

10-1000 km

Question 4

Smaller tectonic units (fault blocks, volcanoes, troughs, sedimentary subbasins, individual mountain zones)

Answer 4

10-100 km

Question 5

Large-scale erosional/depositional units (deltas, major valleys, piedmonts)

Answer 5

1-100 km

Question 6

Medium-scale erosional/depositional units or landforms

floodplains, alluvial fans, moraines, smaller valleys and canyons

Answer 6

1-10 km

Question 7

Small-scale erosional/depositional landforms (ridges, terraces, sand dunes)

Answer 7

10-1000 m

Question 8

Larger geomorphic process units (hillslopes, sections of stream channels)

Answer 8

10-1000 m

Question 9

Medium-scale geomorphic process units (pools, riffles, solution pits)

Answer 9

0.1-10 m

Question 10

Microscale geomorphic process units (fluvial and eolian ripples, striations)

Answer 10

0.01–1 m