Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction

by Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles

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Questions for Thought and Discussion

• What evidence can you see of landscape-shaping processes in a landscape you know well?



• Why were most geomorphologists before the mid-20th century male and why is their work important to us today?



• What does it take to be a successful ‘landscape detective’?



• How can geomorphologists start to untangle the effects of climate and tectonics on a landscape?



• How are the living and non-living parts of the natural landscape related?



• Why are geomorphologists interested in other planets?



• Are geomorphologists useful in tackling current environmental problems?



• Is fieldwork enough for today’s successful landscape detective?



• What does ‘the present is the key to the past’ mean for interpreting landscapes?



• Is 21st century climate change a big issue for geomorphology and landscape?



• To what extent do you agree that humans are now the major geomorphological agent, shaping the landscape around them?



• Why are geomorphologists interested in the Ice Ages?



• Select a spectacular geomorphological landscape and consider the factors that make it spectacular



• Find some examples of where geomorphologists have substituted space for time



• Why are geomorpholgists useful?

Other books by Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles

• The Human Impact (2006)



• The Nature of the Environment (2001)



• Environmental Change (1992)



• The Encyclopedia of Global Change (2000)



• Smith, BJ, Gomez-Heras, M, Viles, HA and Cassar, J. (eds), Limestone in the built environment: Present-day challenges for the preservation of the past. (2010); Bourke, M.C. and Viles, H.A. (editors)