Applied Geomorphology

-introduction on geomorphological mapping-

Dr EDY TRIHATMOKO
Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES)
Dept. Of Geo | Community of Landscape Dynamics Study (CLanDS) |
Center for Geospatial Services | Sub Laboratory of Spatial Analysis
 Time
Before 1950s • The earliest geomorphological map was probably made by Passarge
History of Geomorphological Map

(1914) on the Stadtremba 1:25,000 topographic map sheet in Germany.

• It did not encompass all aspects of geomorphology, and it emphasized mainly descriptive
morphographic features and metrical elements

early 1950s • Klimaszewski (1956,1963)launched a countrywide 1:50,000 scale geomorphological survey

together with Galon (1962) From Poland.
• At the beginning, emphasis was mainly focused upon detailed mapping at scales ranging
from 1:10,000 to 1:100,000, methods and legends for medium- and small-scale mapping
followed soon after
• Afterwards there are so many geomorphological mapping developed by various country.
This has led to the development of a great variety of legends in different countries on the
basis of which some common concepts gradually emerged.
1960 onwards • the Sub-commission for Geomorphological Mapping of the International Geographical
Union (IGU) Commission on Applied Geomorphology (since 1968, the IGU Commission of
Geomorphological Survey and Mapping) has been diligent in this field.
• It produced a manual for detailed and medium-scale geomorphological mapping
(Demek, 1972)
Applied Geomorphology
-UNDERSTANDING OF SCALE-
 • Scale is one of main issues in geomorphological mapping.
• The spatial scale span over a large range from 107 km2 (continents,
Introduction

ocean-seabed topography/bathymetry) to 10-8 km2 (ripples)

• The persistence time range from 108 years (for largest feature) to less
than 100 years (the smallest features)
 Geomorphological
scale by spatial and temporal ORDER
 Taking into account the timescale of geomorphological phenomena,
Barker (1986) considers three main categories
Introduction
 Small
Hierarchy (Scale) of Landform
- The main morphological
framework
- The main genesis that built up
the Landform
(ex: Volcanic, Structural, Fluvial,
Aeolian, Marin, Karst, Glacial, and
Denudation
Medium
- Morphology based on compound slope
- Explain the arrangement of landform
- Explain the recent geomorphological
process taking place in the landform
(ex: transportational slope of structural
mountain; Colluvium foot slope of
structural mountain
Large
- Detail explanation on morpho-
chronology.
- The data of Main stratigraphic,
sedimentology characteristics and
thickness of landform related to
near-surface deposit is needed
Map scale classes, range and mappable lengths
The Rule of MLD/MLA/MLL

The MLA is defined as the minimum ground area that is legible

on the map, defined as the MLD converted to ground scale
using the square of the Scale Number (SN). The SN is the
denominator of the scale ratio, e.g. for 1:50 000 scale ration,
the SN is 50 000.

Example for a 1:50 000 map:

(Cornell): MLA = (50 000/1 000)²/250 = 2500/250 = 10ha
Example (Vink): MLA = (50 000/1 000)² / 400 = 2500/400 =
6.25ha
 • Find 2 example of geomorphological map from difference source/country, and
please identify it!
INDIVIDUAL TASK……

a. What Scale is it?

b. What kinds of information within the map?
c. Describe the symbol used in that map!
 fundamental Principal that must be delivered
in a Geomorphological map based on IGU meeting in 1968:
IGU Results: Many Geomorphologist trying to interprate and use their own
terms, but still follow those fundamental principle. Example:
fundamental Principal

Romanian Lucian Badea. M+G+A+Lithology

Morphology Genesis
(M) Geomorphologist
(G)
Swedish Gustavsson et al M+G+A+Lithology
Age Geomorphologist
(A) Dutch Van Westen et al Morphology, (M)
Geomorphologist Morphogenesis (G),
Morphocronology (A)
Lithology (L)

It also could be
interpreted as:
Morphology( Material Process
M) (L & A) (G)
Types of Geomorphological mapping approach
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
mapping

Morphography & Recent Geomorphic

Morphogenesis process

Lithology

Morpho-
chronology
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
Genesis
Morphography
Morphology
Morphometric

Morpho-structure active

Morpho-structure
Morphogenesis passive/lithology
mapping

Morphodynamical
Morpho-chronology
V1IAa α V 1 IAaα

Young (relative), Quartenary (absolute)

Volcanism (Active), Boulder (passive), erosion

(dynamic)

Steep peak to 45 °

Volcanic
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
mapping
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
mapping
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
mapping
Example of analytic approach in geomorphological
mapping
Example of Synthetic approach in geomorphological
Example of Synthetic approach in geomorphological mapping

Generating Soil Map from

Landform delineation
mapping
Example of pragmatic approach in geomorphological

Hydro-Morphological Map
mapping

Morphology & Hydrological

soil permeability process
Example of pragmatic approach in geomorphological
mapping

Morphology

Lithology

Morphogenesis
Landslide Hazard Map
 the smallest area (cm²) on the map that be legibly delineated.
The Rule of MLD/MLA/MLL

It is a somewhat arbitrary cartographic concept.

MLD is defined as = 0.4 cm² = 40mm² (Cornell University). This

definition is based on the observation that in most published
soil surveys there are rarely any delineations smaller than
0.4cm². Actually, somewhat smaller delineations are marginally
legible, and therefore some authors, such as Vink use a smaller
area, MLD = 0.25 cm² = 25mm²;