THE Geomorphology is an area of Earth Science responsible for the study of surface forms of relief, both in their current physiognomies and in their geological and historical process of formation and transformation. This field of knowledge is seen as an intersection area between two different sciences: a geography and the Geology.
O Geomorphology concept is directly linked to the etymology of the word: Geo = “Earth”; morph = “shape”; logy = study. Thus, it is the study of the shape of the Earth, that is, the manifestations of relief and all the structural dynamics related to it. It is, therefore, an important tool for understanding reality, as it allows for greater and better knowledge about the natural composition of our planet.
For societies and human practices in general, the usefulness of Geomorphology lies in the possibility of studying the surface terrestrial in order to allow the implementation of systems and methods of planning the production process and occupation of space geographical. Thus, with the studies undertaken by this area of scientific knowledge, we know which are the areas of best occupation and those at greatest risk, in addition to understanding the necessary measures to avoid problems related to the relief in the city and in the field.
Thus, when we observe or follow in the news cases of serious erosion, landslides, occupation of degraded areas, among others factors related to the surface structure, we are facing problems that could have been avoided through the application of geomorphological knowledge specific. Therefore, when we ask ourselves what Geomorphology is for, we can understand that it is relevant in the sense of helping the human being to occupy and use the natural environment correctly, in order to minimize the impacts generated on the nature.
Geomorphology does not only study the relief in a static way, but the whole set of processes that lead to its transformation in the most diverse temporal scales. Thus, studies on endogenous and exogenous factors for the transformation of the relief, that is, the natural elements that act internally (tectonism, earthquakes, etc.) and those that act externally (erosion, weathering etc.). With this, we better understand the formation of types of relief, the constitution of the soils and the best way to conserve them.
The levels of approach to Geomorphology
In a division elaborated by Aziz Ab'Saber, cited by Casseti (1994)¹, there are three main levels of approach to Geomorphology or segmented studies, which involve: a morphological compartmentation, the lifting of the surface structure and the study of landscape physiology.
The) morphological compartmentation: analysis and observation of relief and variations in its topographies (the set of geographic accidents and altitude variations). It is a useful procedure in the definition of occupation areas and the delimitation of risk areas that a given environment has, being important and necessary for the correct use of the land.
B) surface structure survey: defines the characteristics and, emphatically, the fragility that a given terrain has. It is also responsible for analyzing the training history through the performance of exogenous and endogenous agents.
ç) study of landscape physiology: study the physiology of a landscape means to analyze its set of functions and, in the present case, the action and impacts of morphodynamic processes (movement of landforms) today, which includes the effects of human action on the environment.
Therefore, when we understand these levels, we can have a dimension of the complexity and scope that Geomorphology has by laying bare, in its studies, the geological scope from which they were formed terrestrial structures – through the survey of their genealogy – to the natural and anthropic processes that alter the relief forms and the chain of related natural elements.
¹ CASSETI, V. Geomorphology elements. Goiânia: UFG Publisher, 1994.
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/geomorfologia.htm
