Geomorphology in the works of Russian soil scientists-geographers XX c. From V.V. Dokuchaev to I.P. Gerasimov

Abstract

Examples of relief studies by seven prominent Russian soil scientists, representatives of the Dokuchaev school, are presenterd. Geomorphological issues, ideas and concepts in the works of soil scientists of the XX century. showed their high professional interest in geomorphology. The beginning of the geomorphological research of Russian soil scientists was laid by the great Russian researcher V. V. Dokuchaev. Geomorphological views of V. V. Dokuchaev were ahead of the V. M. Davis' concept of the geographic cycle. Soil-geomorphological studies of S. S. Neustruev partially supplemented the concept of V. M. Davis. B. B. Polynov proved the necessity of attracting geomorphological methods and techniques when conducting soil studies, used geomorphological principles in the deduction of the three laws of the distribution of weathering crusts. I. P. Gerasimov created the theory of morphostructure and morphosculpture, introduced the idea of three macrocycles in the history of the formation of the Earth's landscapes. All the researchers cited in the article conducted detailed complex studies using geodesy methods. Scientists were able to identify a large array of new geomorphological data from the classification of microrelief to the adjustment of the main laws of geomorphology. The main feature of the scientific activity of Russian soil scientists-geomorphologists was the Dokuchaev school that gave rise to all them. It was from the Dokuchaev's principles and approaches that the mentioned scientists started and developed and passed to their students and followers. The well known Russian soil scientist and geomorphologist I. P. Gerasimov completed the century-long period of the geomorphological studies by soil scientists started by V. V. Dokuchaev.