Geomorphology: Definition and Scope
The word ‘Geomorphology’ derives from three Greek words: ‘Ge’ means earth, ‘morphe’ means form and ‘logos’ meaning discourse (Huggett, 2007). Geomorphology is the branch of science, that deals with study of landforms and the processes that form those landforms (Addy, 2013). It investigates the development of landforms and the processes which are acting on them at present. Geological structures and processes control the evolution of landform on a large scale as well as on a small scale basis (Hugget, 2007). According to Thornbury, 1969, there are ten important fundamental concepts of Geomorphology, which are elementary pillar for interpretation of landscapes which are as follows:
Concept 1: “The same physical processes and laws that operate today operated throughout geologic time, although not necessarily always with the same intensity as now”
Concept 2: “Geologic structure is a dominant control factor in the evolution of land forms and is reflected in them”.
Concept 3: “To a large degree the earth’s surface processes relief because the geomorphic processes operate at different rates”.
Concept 4: “Geomorphic processes leave their distinctive imprint upon land forms, and each geomorphic process develops its own characteristic assemblage of land forms”.
Concept 5: “As the different erosional agents act upon the earth’s surface there is produced an orderly sequence of land forms”.
Concept 6: “Complexity of geomorphic evolution is more common than simplicity”.
Concept 7: “Little of the earth’s topography is older than Tertiary and most of it no older than Pleistocene”.
Concept 8: “Proper interpretation of present day landscapes is impossible without a full appreciation of the manifold influences of the geologic and climatic changes during the Pleistocene”.
Concept 9: “An appreciation of world climates is necessary to a proper understanding of the varying importance of the different geomorphic processes”.
Concept 10: “Geomorphology, although concerned primarily with present day landscapes, attains its maximum usefulness by historical extension”.
‘Geomorphic processes’ refers to all those physical and chemical transforms which effect a modification of the earth’s surface feature’s form and shape. A ‘geomorphic agent or agency’ means any kind of natural medium which is capable of removing, transporting and depositing earth’s material. Some great geomorphic agents include wind, glaciers, running water (including both concentrated and unconcentrated runoff both), groundwater, waves, current tides and tsunami (Thornbury, 1969). Geomorphic processes which shape and reform the earth’s surface has been described in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Types of geomorphic processes
Mathematical analysis and measurement of the configuration of the earth surface, extent and shape of its landforms is known as morphometry (Sedrette et. al, 2016). Geomorphometry or landform morphometry is a branch of geomorphology that deals with quantitative studies of the form of the land surface (Huggett, 2007).
From the concept of Geomorphology, Morphometry and Geomorphometry, the conception of Geomorphic Signatures can be inferred. These signatures are mainly formed and shaped by geomorphic processes that are operating on them from the past and today. Geomorphic signatures are those signatures on the earth surface which help to identify the footprints of tectonic activity and its impact on the formation of landforms and on the evolution of earth surface features. These signatures play very important role in assessment of tectonic evolution of the landforms of the earth surface.