What are landforms? - Landform definition

What are landforms? Landforms are features on the earth's surface. Landforms are defined in respect to their surface forms, spatial distribution and their location.
They are the geomorphological aspects of the earth science studies. Landforms do not include man made structures such as dams, canals, ports and buildings. Physical characteristics such as elevation, placement and alignment, slope and gradient, stratification and level of exposure to weather elements help in categorizing types of geomorphological forms.

Hills, mountains, valleys, rivers and oceans are some of the elements acted upon by surface processes such as erosion and deposition to constitute geomorphological forms having unique physical features. The sudden subsurface processes like plate tectonics can generate and modify landforms. Biological processes like vegetation can also influence geomorphological forms such as dune systems and salt marshes. Other processes generating and modifying them are, fluvial processes, aeolian processes, hillslope processes, glacial processes, igneous processes and biological processes. These natural processes create the geomorphological forms by individual action as well as an interacting action of geologic processes with climatic, hydrologic, and biologic actions.

Web definitions

1.The thefreedictionary.com defines as, "One of the features that make up the earth's surface, such as a plain, mountain, or valley."

2.The merriam-webster.com defines as, "a natural feature (such as a mountain or valley) of the Earth's surface."

3.According to dictionary.reference.com it is "a specific geomorphic feature on the surface of the earth, ranging from large-scale features such as plains, plateaus, and mountains to minor features such as hills, valleys, and alluvial fans."

Keywords: definition, what are landforms

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