2 - Geological framework of the tropical lands
from Part I - The Tropical Environment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2012
Summary
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
Will DurantIntroduction
A little more than a century ago, William Morris Davis described the form of the land as a function of three variables: structure, process and time (Davis, 1899). The statement is equally true for tropical landforms. Geology is usually the primary determinant of land: its elevation, steepness and stability. Understanding of tropical landforms should start with an introduction to the geological framework. The distribution of tectonic mountains that produce large quantities of sediment; stable areas underlain by old rocks (cratons) that produce very little; and large river valleys where the sediment is temporarily stored while being transported to the sea are all determined by plate tectonics. A familiarity with the distribution of plates and their boundaries in the tropics is necessary to understand regional landforms and operating processes.
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- Tropical Geomorphology , pp. 13 - 30Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011