The Glacial Cycle of Erosion, proposed by W.M. Davis, follows the same logic as his Normal Cycle of Erosion, where landscapes evolve in sequential stages over time. However, due to the limited availability of glacial topography, this theory was widely criticized and rejected by many geomorphologists. Still, this model provides a broad framework for understanding…
Imagine a mighty glacier descending from towering mountains, its icy surface gleaming under the sun. As it moves downward, it reaches a point where temperatures rise above freezing—the snow line. Here, the glacier begins to melt, and a network of small, rushing streams emerges from its snout (the glacier’s endpoint). This melting process is called…
Imagine you are in a vast, icy landscape where a glacier is retreating after centuries of slow movement. As it melts, it leaves behind a chaotic mix of rocks, sand, and silt—like a construction site abandoned by nature. This is glacial deposition, a process where glaciers, after eroding landscapes, act as transporters and depositors of…
Imagine you are standing in the middle of a massive glacier—an endless river of ice stretching as far as the eye can see. At first glance, it seems calm and motionless. But don’t be deceived! Beneath this seemingly frozen world, a slow yet powerful force is at work, reshaping the landscape. Glacial erosion occurs due…
Imagine you are trekking in the high Himalayas. As you ascend, the air gets colder, the terrain turns from lush green to rocky, and finally, you reach a point where snow never melts. This is the snow line—the altitude above which temperatures never rise above freezing, even in the hottest month of the year. So,…
In 1905, W.M. Davis introduced the concept of the Arid Cycle of Erosion, which explains how desert landscapes gradually change over time due to erosion and deposition. However, this concept applies only to mountain deserts (like the Thar Desert) and not to low-level open deserts. The cycle passes through four stages — Initial, Youth, Maturity,…
Now to study the depositional landforms carved by Arid geographies let’s again imagine that you are standing in a vast desert, and the wind is blowing fiercely, carrying fine grains of sand with it. But what happens when the wind slows down or suddenly dies? The sand grains, which were once lifted and carried far…
Let’s say you are standing in the middle of a vast desert, under the blazing sun. The air is hot, and strong winds are constantly brushing past you, carrying tiny sand particles. Over thousands of years, these sand particles have sculpted some of the most fascinating and dramatic landforms you can imagine. Today, we’ll take…
We have already studied about pediments in earlier section: A Pediment is a broad, gently sloping rock-cut surface found at the base of a mountain. But how are these pediments formed? Scientists have debated this question for over a century, leading to multiple theories. Let’s explore them one by one: 1. Lawson’s Recession Theory: The…
Suppose you’re standing in a vast, arid desert. The land appears dry and lifeless most of the year, but occasionally, a sudden torrential downpour occurs. Water gushes through the barren landscape, shaping it in unique ways. Unlike humid regions where rivers continuously erode land, in arid regions, water erosion happens sporadically but intensely, giving rise…
