The Earth and Its Landforms

Geomorphology is the study of the landforms that make up the Earth's surface and the processes that create and reshape them. Mountains, valleys, plains, and coastlines are the products of forces acting over long spans of time, including the movement of the Earth's crust, the wearing away of rock by water, wind, and ice, and the deposition of the loosened material elsewhere. Viewing the surface from above, through aerial photographs and satellite images, lets geographers map these features and study how they change.

Different agents of erosion and deposition produce characteristic landforms. Glaciers, slow-moving masses of ice, carve broad valleys and leave behind deposits as they advance and retreat, creating distinctive glacial landforms. Rivers shape the land by cutting channels and, where they meet the sea, building deltas from the sediment they carry. Wind sculpts eolian landforms such as dunes in dry regions. Where water dissolves soluble rock such as limestone, it creates karst landforms with caves and sinkholes.

Satellite images and views from above have transformed the study of the Earth, allowing whole landscapes, ocean surfaces, and atmospheric features to be observed at once. They support geomorphological mapping, reveal the properties of the oceans, and help monitor changes such as the state of the protective ozone in the upper atmosphere. By combining these observations with knowledge of the underlying geology, geographers reconstruct how landscapes formed and predict how they may continue to evolve.

Frequently asked questions

What is geomorphology?

Geomorphology is the study of the Earth's landforms and the processes, such as erosion and deposition, that shape the surface over time.

What are glacial landforms?

Glacial landforms are features created by moving ice. Glaciers carve valleys and leave behind deposits of rock and sediment as they advance and retreat.

Why are satellite images useful in geography?

They let whole landscapes, oceans, and atmospheric features be observed at once, supporting mapping and the monitoring of changes across large areas.