1. GEOL 333 Principles of Geomorphology

2. Goals of this class
Read landforms from topographic maps and aerial stereophotos
Identify and describe landforms
Discourse upon landform origin

3. What do you need to know for exams?
Textbook chapters are the information source of reference for exams
Lecture is only a guide
Plan at 2-4 hours of reading time per chapter

4. Chemical Weathering and Soils

5. Physical Weathering and mass movement

6. Drainage Basins and Fluvial Processes
GA18_01.pct portion of from Gabler cd; Grand Canyon, North is to the right of Kaibab Plateau, coconino plateau is left to south.

7. Fluvial Landforms

8. Eolian and Arid land geomorphology

9. Glaciers and glacial mechanics
Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland (Lachniet, 2011)

10. Glacial erosion and landforms

11. Karst Processes and Landforms

12. Coastal Geomorphology

13. What is Geomorphology? The study of LANDFORMS 1) Form 2) Process
Theoretical
Experimental
Descriptive
3) Geology and Climate (Physical)
4) Geography (Spatial)
5) History (Temporal)

14. Basic Principles of Process Geomorphology
An equilibrium (“delicate balance”) exists between landforms and processes
Balance between form and process created by interaction of force and resistance
Driving Forces and Resisting Forces
A coastal bluff in California is stable only if the driving forces (gravity, weight of sediments) is less than the resisting force (friction between particles and cohesion)
Heavy rainfall on coastal bluff increases water table (adding weight), and decreases the cohesion of the sediment, and becomes a landslide (temporary disequilibrium)
The new slope has adjusted to be closer to equilibrium

15. Example of Coastal Bluff

16. La Conchita, California
Ca. 1995
Ca. 2005

17. Endogenic and Exogenic processes
Endogenic processes – energy source is internal, i.e. within the Earth
Volcanism
Orogeny and Tectonics
Exogenic processes – energy source is external to the system
Gravity
Sun
Solar constant of 2.0 cal/cm2/min
Climate
The average of weather over 30+ yr
Both may combine to produce landforms

18. Volcan Popocatéptl Volcanism – composite volcano Angle of repose
Gravity
Age

19. Volcan Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico
Volcanism – composite volcano
Temperature
Precipitation
Glaciation
Gravity
Basic form related to endogenic energy – volcanic activity and eruption of Lavas. Scalloping and slopes on the volcano are a result of atmospheric processes such as snowfall, low temperatures, and the formation of glaciers which are driven by gravity.

20. Thresholds and Equilibrium
Thresholds represent the limits of equilibrium
Can be measured
E.g. increasing slope angle, water content, and landsliding
An extrinsic threshold is where the threshold is crossed by exogenic processes
increased rainfall on a slope already near failure
An intrinsic threshold is crossed when endogenic processes result in a decrease in resisting forces
weathering of cements that bind grains together

21. Gullying in the Scottish highlands; Lachniet, 2001
Example of threshold response
Gullying in the Scottish highlands; Lachniet, 2001

22. Driving Forces Solar Radiation
Insolation – amount of energy absorbed by the system
The sun drives the climate system
Main energy source for exogenic processes

23. Global Circulation

24. Precipitation vs. latitude
Figure 1-5

25. Driving Forces Gravity Equal over surface of earth
Controls processes such as fluvial action, glacial flow, tides

26. Driving Forces Internal Heat Radioactive decay
Less than solar radiation heat
Causes uplift and deformation

27. Resisting Framework Lithology and Structure Silicic and mafic
Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary (consolidated and unconsolidated)
Variations in weathering due to climate and mineralogy
Faults, folds, mountains, basins
Stratigraphic variations in rock density

28. Complex Response and Process Linkage
Threshold-crossing events initiate sequence of changes
Process Linkage
“Cascading” effects in geomorphic system
Hydraulic mining in Sierra Nevada
Increased sediment loads
Bed aggradation
Slope steepening
Increased flooding
Gradual relaxation to original state (unfinished)
“Recovery time”: time to revert to original state

29. Feedbacks Positive Negative Reinforcing “Snowball” effect
Not judgmental!
Uplift  erosion  overburden removal  uplift
Negative
Dampening
Thermostat
Flood scouring of stream channel  wider x-sectional area  slower stream velocity  more sediment aggradation  smaller x-sectional area

30. Next Topic: Internal Forces and Climate
Read Chapter 2.