Tectonic Geomorphology

Abstract

Tectonic geomorphology is a relatively young branch of geomorphology, which in essence examines the role of endogenetic and exogenetic processes in landscape development and their implications for hazard mitigation. Research in tectonic geomorphology, together with newly developing technologies and methodologies, has rapidly evolved during the past few decades. Tectonic landforms are diverse, ranging from continental‐scale features to submeter scale forms, and include active mountain ranges, plateaus, basins, volcanic island arcs, linear valleys, escarpments, marine terraces, fault scarps, shutter ridges, sag ponds, landslides, and sand blows, among others. Areas of emphasis have included: the study of the development of fault and fold systems; landscape evolution of active plate margins, passive margins, continental interiors and plateaus; mountain building and erosion; volcanic processes and landforms, and volcanic hazard mitigation; paleoseismology and seismic hazard assessment; and the interaction and the relationships between tectonics, climate change and erosion, and polygenetic landscapes.