Geomorphology: Principles and Applications
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsGeomorphology: Principles and Applications
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsUniversity of Jijel.
Faculty of Sciences.
Department of Environmental Sciences & Sciences
agronomic.
3èmeYear of Ecology & Environment.
Geomorphology
Prepared by Mr. HAMIMECHE Mohamed
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Bibliographicreferences
SAFFACHE P., 2003 –Glossaire de géomorphologie. IBIS ROUGE Ed., Paris. 172p.
PARRIAUX A., 2006 - Geology, fundamentals for the engineer. Polytechnical Presses &
Roman universities, Lausanne. 516p.
BABIN C., ELMI S., 2002 –Histoire de la terre. Éd. DUNOD, Paris. 222p.
CHAPUT J-L., 2006 - Introduction to Geomorphology. ELLIPSES Ed., Paris. 172p.
COQUE R., 2002 -Géomorphologie. Armand Colin Ed., Paris. 502p.
GIRARD M-C. & al., 2005 –Sols et environnement. Éd. DUNOD, Paris. 816p.
CALVET R., 2003 – Soil properties and functions, volume 1: composition and structure,
phenomena at interfaces. Ed. France Agricole, Paris. 455p.
CALVET R., 2003 - The soil properties and functions, volume 2: Physical phenomena and
Chemical. Agronomic and environmental applications. Ed. France Agricole, Paris.
511p.
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Geomorphology: Coeff. 1 - Credit 2
VHS: 22h 30; Cours: 1h 30, TD: /, TP: /.
Content of the subject
I. Generalities
Introduction
Relations geomorphology ecology
Valleys and watersheds
Erosion, Lithology, structure
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II. The structure
Influence of lithology
General structure of the globe
Classification of rocks
III. Tectonic Deformations
Isostatic equilibrium
Derivative of continents and plate tectonics
Formation of reliefs
Tectonic accidents
Données tectoniques: synclinal, anticlinal
Reliefs of simple structures: slopes
Evolution of jurassian forms
Reliefs of complex structures
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[Link] factors of morphology
Conditions of erosion
Process of erosion
Areolar erosion
Profiles of the slopes
Linear erosion: the terraces
Periglacial erosion
Karstic Model
Wind erosion: wind formations
Hydroelastic cuvettes: Daia
Anthropic action and morphogenesis
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climate variations: the Quaternary
Morphological system of Algeria
Wetland
Arid domain
Desert or Saharan domain
Common forms in arid areas
Evolution of forms in the three areas
VI. Ecological predominances of the geomorphology factor
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Article analysis:
Article 01: Effects of riparian vegetation on geometry
River banks: case studies in the Massif Central (France).
Link to the article:
[Link]
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I. Generalities
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1. History
The discipline is very old if we consider its object of observation - the
reliefs - and the sources date back to Antiquity and the Middle Ages so much
Westerners (Aristotle (384-322 BC), Pliny, Strabo, Seneca, Avicenna)
what Chinese:
Shen Kuo (1031-1095), great naturalist and Chinese politician: study
fossils, effects of erosion on the surface of the earth and the evolution of
climate of the earth (Aristotle & Leonardo da Vinci).
the foundations of erosion developed by naturalists and travelers such as
Alexander Von Humboldt, James Hutton & John Playfair.
Carl Friedrich Naumann used for the first time in 1858 in his
manual of geology the expression morphology of the Earth's surface.
For others, it is up to geologist A. Keith (1894) to forge the name of
geomorphology to replace that of physiography (old name).
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2. Definitions
Geomorphology (from Greek Gaia: the Earth, morphê: the form and logos: the study)
or speech) is "the science that aims to describe, explain and
the evolution of the terrestrial, continental, and submarine relief.
In a simple way, geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and
of processes that shape them, on terrestrial planets. This discipline
was built within physical geography (of which it has long been the
fleuron) then of geosciences.
Physical geography or geography of environments is the branch of
geography that describes the earth's surface and does not concern itself
directly related to human activities. It includes several disciplines:
geomorphology, climatology hydrology, oceanography, glaciology
pedology, paleogeography and biogeography.
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A distinction must be made between topography and geomorphology:
The topography is the representation of places and landforms on a
map (topographic map), while geomorphology interprets the forms.
The presentation of forms constitutes the starting point of the study.
geomorphological, which classifies and explains the different elements.
Two fields share the scientific domain of geomorphology:
Structural geomorphology concerns the influence of structure
(lithology and tectonics) on relief at different scales since the
plate tectonics up to elementary structural forms (surfaces,,
escapes, etc.
Dynamic lagoeomorphology (zonal or climatic geomorphology) is
specializes in the analytical study of external processes that contribute to the
formation and evolution of relief forms (erosion, alteration, ablation,
transport, storage, etc.). It is related to the modeling of shapes, i.e.
the particular aspect of such or such a form depending on the present climate or
past.
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Terrestrial planet:
The terrestrial planets (from the Latin tellus: the earth, the soil), in opposition to
gas giants are planets composed of rocks and metals that
generally have three concentric envelopes (core, mantle and crust).
Their surface is solid and they are composed mainly of non-elements.
volatiles, generally silicate rocks, metal, and iron. Their density is
so relatively important and between 4 and 5.5.
Theoretically, there are two types of terrestrial or rocky planets:
one dominated by silicon compounds (silicate planets) and the other
dominated by carbon compounds (carbon planets or "planets of
diamond
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Article analysis:
Article 02: Biodiversity and landscapes in the Guiana forest:
development of a characterization methodology and
spatialization of habitats for the use of managers
natural forest environments
Link to the article:
[Link]
10/[Link]
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Cup of the Earth
The interior of the earth is made up of a succession of layers with different properties.
different physiques
Continental crust (30 to 70 km)
Crust or bark (02%) SIAL
Oceanic crust (5 to 15 km)
Upper mantle (up to 700km)
The coat (82%) SIMA
Lower mantle (700 to 2900 km)
Crust Crust Coat
continental oceanic Fe, sulfides, little Si
Outer core (up to 5155km):
SiO2
3. Core (17%) 60% 49% 44%
Al2O3 Inner
15% core or seed (NIFE)
16% 02%
Magnesium oxide
03% 07% 37%
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3. Utility aspects of geomorphology
The closest links appear with geology.
Pedology: reliefs (slopes) and pedogenesis.
Looser connections with life sciences
• Living beings/geomorphological evolution
• Relief/distribution of living beings
• Ecology: study of ecosystems
Development and management of natural environments
• Rural development plans: streamline agriculture, increase
of productivity, expansion of the cultivated area;
• The major works of DRS (Defense and Restoration of Soils).
Terraces & bleachers
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3. Valleys & watersheds
The three fields of geomorphology
The topography of emerged spaces is generally divided into 2 elements:
Valleys & watersheds.
Talweg or thalweg: the line connecting the lowest points of a valley.
Interfluve: the space between 2 valleys. Includes a summit and two slopes.
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Profile showing model in valleys & watersheds
Modeled
It refers to the external shape of a terrain at the scale of a landscape.
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There are several types of modeling, each depending on a shape
of erosion:
Glacial model: erosion caused by a glacier;
River model;
Model of slope;
Anthropic model (Anthropic activities).
Cross section of a valley showing the role of lithology and
the structure.
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Regular long profiles and irregular long profiles of the thalwegs.
Regular long profile = variation of the progressive slope or the slope is constant (A, B).
Irregular long profile = slope breaks (C, D)
• Lithological slope failures
• Slope failures of different origins (ground movement and resumption of erosion)
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Example of a flat area on a slope.
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Erosion: from the Latin erodere, to gnaw. A gathering of various phenomena that
result in a modification of the reliefs by removal of the land
existing. Synonym: Erosive denudation.
Erosion is a process of degradation of rocks.
a. Chemical action:
Alteration of rocks attacked by water (hydrolysis) more or less loaded with
carbon dioxide The covalent bonds are broken, the rock having no more
structure degrades into fine dust (= creation of an arena).
b. Mechanical action:
Rock fragmentation (frost or thaw) - Abrasion (wind erosion - erosion
glacier) - Transport, removal - clearing of materials (by the
glaciers, the winds, the runoff waters, ...
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Erosion unleashes considerable energies to destroy the reliefs.
constructed by tectonics or volcanism. We will mention, starting from the
most elementary processes:
The kinetic energy of rain, wind energy (deflation, corrasion);
Thermal energy (thermoclasty, cryoclasty);
Hydraulic energy (diffuse or concentrated runoff);
The mechanical energy of glaciers (the most powerful agents of erosion on
land through the energy they deploy: abrasion, tearing, dislodging...
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Lithology: from Greek lithos, stone, and logos, discourse; in English lithology:
Nature of the rocks of a geological formation (Rock science).
Synonymes : Pétrographie, pétrologie.
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