Walther Penck (1888-1923)

Morphological Analysis
Of Landforms

Translated (1953)
by Hella Czech & Katharine Boswell

From (1924)
Die Morphologische Analyse
Walther Penck (1888-1923)

Born in Vienna (1888)

Son of Albrecht Penck
 Walther Penck (1888-1923)

Born in Vienna (1888)

Son of Albrecht Penck

Professional Activities
University of Berlin
University of Heidelberg
Studied in Vienna
Direccion General de Minas
(Buenos Aires)
Served with Germans in Alsace
Leipzig University
University of Constantinople
(Istanbul)
Professorship at Agricultural
College of Halkaly
Professor at University of Leipzig
(unpaid)
*all before the age of 35

Der sudrand der Puna de Atacama

(1920) based on 1912 field work

Morphological Analysis
published posthumously
 Walther Penck (1888-1923)

Morphological Analysis
Of Landforms

Translated (1953)
by Hella Czech & Katharine Boswell

From (1924)
Die Morphologische Analyse
 1. Nature of the Problem
2. Basis, Nature and Aim of Morphological Analysis
The Problem
• study of morphology goes beyond limits of geography
• need to understand forces that produce land forms
• ‘problem’ is that of crustal movement

3 elements forming the substance of geomorphology

1. Exogenetic Activity (destructive)

- reduction and removal of rock
- transport of sediment from higher to lower (gravity)
- remove uneveness that endogenetic forces cause
- require a surface to attack
Earth sculpture is due to exogenetic transference of material. The sum total of this
constitutes denudation.”

2. Edogenetic Forces (constructive)

- originate within planet
- creates relief and uneveness
- independent of gravity forces (really?)
- all we know about them is from the effects they have produced

3. Earth’s surface
- “is a limiting surface between different forces working in opposition to one another”
 1.
1. Nature
Nature of
of the
the Problem/
Problem
2. Basis, Nature and Aim of Morphological Analysis

Morphological Study

Seeks to understand the interaction between three factors

(endogenetic, exogenetic, landforms)

“Therefore it is possible to see plainly in the forms of denudation not merely the results of
endogenetic and exogenetic transference of material; but even more that they owe their origin
and their development to a relationship of forces, to the ratio of intensity between exogenetic
and endogenetic processes.

Discussion Point

“Crustal movements cannot be observed directly, and no adequate tectonic

method is known for ascertaining their characteristics. Thus in studying land
forms, it is not permissible to make definite assumptions as to their course and
development, and to base morphogenetic hypotheses upon them.”

“Morphological analysis is this procedure of deducing the course and

development of crustal movements from the exogenetic processes and the
morphological features.”
 3.
3. Critical
Critical Survey
Survey Of
of Methods
Methods

Penck on Davis
So what were Penck’s beefs with Davis?
- does not include endogenetic processes
- rapidly uplifted during which no denudation processes occur
- once denudation processes begin, block remains at rest
(uplift and denudation are NOT successive processes)
- applying a ‘special case’ as a ‘general rule’
- followers only see landforms as a realization of the cycle (misunderstanding Davis?)

(b) facts on which the assumptions are based

(a) deduction as a method of morphological research

What are the main flaws Penck sees in the cycle of erosion?

What, if anything, did Davis get right?

How were Davis and Penck’s approaches to describing landscape

development/processes fundamentally different?
 3.
3. Critical
Critical Survey
Survey Of
of Methods
Methods

Davis on Penck

“He seems first to misunderstand a general scheme for a very limited, rigid,
spechal scheme; and second equally determined to show how the work of an
earlier time than his ought to have been done.
You do not mention A. Penck,….the father is as exasperating as the son.”

Excerpt from Chorley et al (1991) History of the Study of Landforms

Or the Development of Geomorphology
 3. Critical Survey of Methods
(b) Relationship between endogenetic and exogenetic processes

…it is essential, when investigating the origin and development of

denudational forms as they appear at the earth’s surface, to ascertain
the relationship between the intensity of the endogenetic and of
the exogenetic processes, in short, between uplift and
denudation; and it is necessary to follow out how this changes as
time goes on.”

What is his thought process leading up to this?

“So long as uplift is at work, denudation cannot be idle.”

“…the fundamental law of morphology: the modeling of the earth’s surface is determined by
the ratio of the intensity of the endogenetic to that of the exogenetic displacements of
material.”
“But the relationship is not an unchanging one.”
“…exogenetic happenings is subordinate to that of endogenetic processes”
“Any change in kind or in intensity which these movements undergo must therefore – as has
long been known – leave its traces upon the landscape.”
3. Critical Survey of Methods
(c) The Differential Method

cycle of erosion
 Penck’s Key Points from Introduction

- Uplift and denudation are NOT successive processes; denudation is

concurrent with uplift

- Crustal processes are important (but not observable…)

- Ratio of the intensity of endogenetic and exogenetic processes is key

- These intensities are constantly changing

- There is no one successive generation of landscape forms

 Chapter
Chapter 6:
6: Development
Development of
of Slopes
Slopes

SUMMARY OF SLOPE DEVELOPMENT SECTIONS

1. Form of slopes

2. The case of no incision (flattening of slopes)

3-7. The case of active incision

Ratio of erosion intensity to denudation intensity
Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
1. Gradient and Form of Slopes
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
2. Flattening of Slopes

In the case of the cessation of incision (erosion), denudation proceeds…..

Cliff-slope recedence and the development of the basal slope

 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
2. Flattening of Slopes

“It is now quite clear that the process obeys a law: Flattening of slopes always
takes place from below upwards” (p. 138)

“If left undisturbed, a slope

of any gradient whatsoever,
provided it is uniform,
becomes a slope system
concave in profile” (p. 140)

Cliff-slope recedence and the development of the basal slope and diminishing slope
 Chapter
Chapter 6:
6: Development
Development of
of Slopes
Slopes

SUMMARY OF SLOPE DEVELOPMENT SECTIONS

1. Form of slopes

2. The case of no incision (flattening of slopes)

3-7. The case of active incision

Ratio of erosion intensity to denudation intensity
 Chapter
Chapter 6:
6: Development
Development of
of Slopes
Slopes

Slope Development Summary

All slopes form at the local base level and propagate upwards

2. Erosion intensity controls gradient!

Convex slope = increase in erosion intensity (p. 150)

Concave slope = decrease in erosion intensity
Straight slope = no change

Amount of concavity or convexity indicates the rate of change

 Chapter
Chapter 6:
6: Development
Development of
of Slopes
Slopes
Questions

Q: How does Penck’s model of slope development compare to

that of Davis?
 Chapter
Chapter 6:
6: Development
Development of
of Slopes
Slopes
Questions

Q: Does Penck’s discussion of slope development follow the

methodological theory he used to criticize Davis’ work (i.e.,
inductive vs. deductive)?

How does Penck rely on observation?

“It is now possible to

give a complete
survey of the origin
and development of
slopes” p. 177
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
4. Straight slope profiles. Uniform development. (p. 143)

The cliff will recede

from the river as the
basal slope and
diminishing slope form
UNLESS there is…..

“a constant ratio
between the intensity
of the denudation
acting on the slope
unit and the intensity
of erosion by the
stream”.
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
4. Straight slope profiles. Uniform development.

“If uniform development

lasts sufficiently long,
straight slope units are
produced in every case.”
(p. 148)
Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
5. Convex breaks of gradient (p. 150)
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
7. Rates of Growth and Areas of Slope Units

Erosion intensity increasing over

time…..

Intermediate slope units vanish

as higher gradient slopes grow
more quickly

Results in more sharply convex

breaks in gradient
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
7. Rates of Growth and Areas of Slope Units

Erosion intensity continually increasing over time.

 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
8. Rise in the general base level of denudation (p. 161)
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
9. Influence exerted by rocks of heretogeneous character upon the development of slopes
 Chapter 6: Development of Slopes
9. Influence exerted by rocks of heretogeneous character upon the development of slopes