日本地理学会河成・海岸平野地形作業(研究)グループの活動経過

Abstract

The working group on “Geomorphology of River and Coastal Plains” of the Association ofJapanese Geographers was founded in 1979. Its members have presented 85 studies during the last 10 years. The main features of these studies can be summarized as follows: 1) Almost all of the studies have been based on geomorphological land classification. 2) We have paid attention not only to the geomorphology of alluvial plains but also to the overallcondition of drainage basins. In particular we have discussed the influence of catchmentcharacteristics on the topography of alluvial plains. Most notable is the major influence of anintermontane depression in the upper reaches on an alluvial plain in the lower reaches. 3) We have paid attention to the relationships between micro-topography of the plains andarchaeological sites such as shell mounds, etc. 4) The coasts of Japan have been divided into several groups on the basis of environmentalcharacteristics such as landforms, vegetation, hydraulic conditions, and climate. 5) Applied geographical studies have been carried out using geomorphological land classificationmaps. These maps have been used in the identification of areas subject to inundation and soilliquefaction due to earthquakes. 6) Integrated regional studies have been carried out in contrasting climatic zones such as theGkhotsk sea coastal plain, in the subpolar zone and the outer zone of S. W. Japan in the humidtemperate zone. 7) We have compared the research on alluvial plains carried out in the stable continental zones ofother cuntries - for example, the Korean Peninsula and the Central Plain of Thailand - withthat on Japanese plains. We have planned this special publication on “The Geomorphology of River and Coastal Plains inJapan” based on the evidence collected in these studies.