Geomorphology, << jee oh mawr FOL uh jee, >> is the study of the earth’s surface and the changes that occur there. Geomorphology is a branch of geology or physical geography.
A theory called plate tectonics explains the formation of the major surface features of the earth. According to this theory, the earth’s outer shell consists of a number of rigid plates. The slow, continual motion of these plates results in such landforms as mountains, plateaus, and islands. See Plate tectonics .
Landforms on the earth’s surface are changed by the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Weathering breaks down rocks into small pieces. Erosion carries off these pieces (see Erosion ). Through deposition, the pieces accumulate elsewhere. For example, rivers and glaciers carve valleys and deposit the eroded material in plains and deltas. In desert regions, winds can wear away rock and build huge sand dunes. Waves erode rocky shorelines and create sandy beaches.
Geomorphology can aid us in controlling such natural hazards as avalanches, river flooding, and coastal erosion. It can also help reduce the environmental damage caused by poor farming practices, mining, and other human activities.
