Davisian model of landscape development

E801362

The Davisian model of landscape development is a geomorphological theory proposing that landscapes evolve through sequential stages of youth, maturity, and old age driven primarily by river erosion over geological time.

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf geomorphological model
theory of landscape evolution
alsoKnownAs Davisian cycle of erosion
cycle of erosion
appliedTo fluvial landscapes
valley development
assumes initial rapid uplift followed by prolonged denudation
relative tectonic quiescence after initial uplift
relatively stable climate during a cycle
sequential stages of landscape evolution
conceptualFocus sequential morphological stages
contrastedWith dynamic equilibrium concept in geomorphology
process-based geomorphology
coreProcess fluvial erosion
mass wasting
river incision
weathering
criticizedFor assumption of cyclic, orderly stages
limited treatment of climatic variability
neglect of continuous tectonic activity
over-simplification of landscape evolution
poor fit to many real-world landscapes
definesStage maturity
old age
peneplain
youth
describes mature landscapes with moderate relief
mature landscapes with well-integrated drainage networks
old-age landscapes approaching a peneplain
old-age landscapes with low relief
youthful landscapes with deep valleys
youthful landscapes with steep gradients
drivingFactor long-term erosion
tectonic uplift
emphasizes base level control on erosion
time as a key factor in landform development
field geomorphology
physical geography
goalState near-level peneplain surface
historicalPeriod early 20th century
late 19th century
influenced early 20th-century geomorphology
textbook classifications of landforms
proposedBy William Morris Davis NERFINISHED
relatedConcept base level of erosion
geomorphic cycle
peneplanation
temporalScale geological time

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William Morris Davis notableWork Davisian model of landscape development