From: rstenson@spartan.ac.BrockU.CA (Ronald Ernest Stenson)
Newsgroups: sci.geo.geology
Subject: geomorphology
Date: 11 Sep 92 17:42:05 GMT
Organization: Brock University, St. Catharines Ontario

Well now that we're mostly back from the field, I thought I might try posting
my request for geomorphic input again.  The original posts were sent separate
with the second one drawing on some of the original responses.  Please feel
free to comment and by all means Email me if you wish a dialogue.

Post 1

I am currently trying to compile a list of generalizations which when brought
together describe geomorphology.  These would include statements such as
"The past is the key to the present" or perhaps generalizations based on
the accepted concepts of equilibrium, catastrophism or uniformity.

I am trying to establish a series of teachable statements that can be used:

i)   as a springboard for undergraduate teaching
ii)  as a measure of the application of geomorphology in planning and
     management   and
iii) as a theoretical basis for future applied studies

If you are interested in participating in the development of such a list
please Email me at the address below.  If you have any comments or
suggestions please feel free to write.  This is a long term project which
should yield preliminary results in September/October, but will continue
well into next year.

Post 2

I recently posted a notice requesting anyone interested 
in helping identify the underlying concepts in 
geomorphology to let me know.  As a result of 
correspondence I have summarized the following 
statements which I invite comment on.  I know that these 
concepts are not the sole jurisdiction of geomorphology, 
but eventually I would like to identify the particular 
combination of them that form the basis for modern 
geomorphic thought.

Generalizations Which Form The Basis for Modern 
Geomorphic Thought (?)

1.      UNIFORMITY
        -  The present is the key to the past.'  The same 
           physical processes and laws that operate today 
           operated throughout geologic time, although not 
           necessarily always with the same intensity. 
           (Thornbury, 1969)
        -  Little of the earth's topography is older than 
           Tertiary and most of it no older than Pleistocene. 
           (Thornbury, 1969)

2.      EVOLUTION
        -  Landforms and the landscapes they belong to are 
           the result of a process of evolution.  Time periods 
           for the development of a landscape vary and are 
           dependent on both physical and process variables.  
           The rate of evolution of a landscape changes over 
           time. (Hart, 1985)
        -  Geologic structure is a dominant control factor in 
           the evolution of landforms and is reflected in 
           them. (Thornbury, 1969)
        -  Geomorphology, although concerned  primarily with 
           present-day landscapes, attains its maximum 
           usefulness by historical extension. (Thornbury, 
           1969)

3.      COMPLEXITY
        -  The intricate connections between the various 
           parts of a geomorphic system implied that any 
           external imposed change may diffuse through the 
           system in a complex manner, with many lags, such 
           that any one part may suffer a complex of change 
           through time while a new equilibrium is being 
           achieved. (Chorley, Schumm & Sugden, 1984).
        -  The complexity of geomorphic systems is scale 
           dependent. (Selby, 1985)

4.      SYSTEMS
        - The modeling of the effects of energy inputs to the 
           system involves both positive and negative 
           feedback's and the concepts of equilibrium. (Selby, 
           1985)
        -  As different erosional agents act upon the earth's 
           surface there is produced an orderly sequence of 
           landforms (Thornbury, 1969)

If you have any others or think that these should be 
reworded somehow, please feel free to let us know.

Thank you for your time,

R.E. Stenson, BSc., MSc, ABD
Department of Geography
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1              rstenson@spartan.ac.brocku.ca
Newsgroups: sci.geo.geology