The geomorphic landscape: Classification of geoforms

Abstract

This chapter attempts to organize existing geomorphic knowledge and arrange the geoforms in the hierarchically structured system with six nested levels introduced in the foregoing Chap. 6. Geoforms are grouped thematically, distinguishing between geoforms mainly controlled by the geologic structure and geoforms mainly controlled by the morphogenic agents. It is thought that this multicategorial geoform classification scheme reflects the structure of the geomorphic landscape sensu lato. It helps segment and stratify the landscape continuum into geomorphic units belonging to different levels of abstraction. This geoform classification system has shown to be useful in geopedologic mapping, and it could also be useful in digital soil mapping.