Episode 41

It’s snowing down here in the Lone Star State, and geomorphology is the name of this episode’s game, which is fitting as there is a shift in the landscape here at Geology on the Rocks! Geomorphology, simply put, is just the study of Earth’s landforms and landform evolution. Traditionally, the subject has been studied qualitatively, which is the description of landforms, and quantitatively, which is process-based and aims to describe forces acting on Earth’s surface to produce landforms and landform change. And like every other branch of geology, many sub-disciplines within geomorphology include tectonic, fluvial, storm, aeolian, floodplain, glacial, groundwater, climate, tsunami, and many others. Geomorphologists interpret multiple forms of information from various sources to create a logical and rational argument that is appropriately supported by evidence. 

But, of course, much of that is going to depend upon the experience and training of the person (or team) making the interpretations. Therefore, interpretation can be thought of as indeterminate of really not having a definite end result as many interpretations might be valid. Combinations of attributes, relationships, processes, drivers, legacy effects, and sequences of events can create these contingent circumstances that are a complex sequence of events in response to particular events. We go on to discuss what mental faculties it takes to make a less wrong interpretations, and on the back half, we apply those techniques. As always, between the bars of our main discussion, we present to you another mineral minute and close things out with a little friendly competition. Let us know who said it best!

Until next time remember to be cool, stay tuned, and keep it on the rocks!