About Book

Geomorphology, in simple words, is the study of landforms or the description and classification of the Earth’s topographic features. The studies incorporate the in-depth understanding of various processes occurring on earth’s surface in form of soil, water and air as the medium which directly or indirectly affects the landscapes. Present day landforms are a result of millions of years of geomorphological processes that continue to occur at their own pace now and in future. Few examples of natural geomorphological processes are soil erosion or deposition, melting of glaciers, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, sea floods, landslides, and avalanche. Geomorphology is closely allied with a number of other scientific disciplines that are concerned with natural processes. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex theories and principles in the field of geomorphology. It focuses on nature of seabed, coastal geomorphology, anthropogenic geomorphology, volcanoes, digital elevation models and degradation. It explores all the important aspects of this subject in the present day scenario. In the book, constant effort has been made to make the understanding of the difficult concepts of the subject as easy and informative as possible, for the readers. Also included in it a detailed explanation of the various concepts and applications of this subject. It aims to serve as a resource guide for researchers and facilitate to the study of the discipline.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Introductory Chapter: Geomorphology.................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................1

Chapter 2 Digital Elevation Models in Geomorphology.....................................8

Abstract...................................................................................................8

1. Introduction............................................................................................8

2. Digital elevation models (DEMs).....................................................11

3. Morphometric landform properties.................................................19

4. Landform classifications....................................................................28

Acknowledgements.............................................................................35

Chapter 3 Monogenetic Basaltic Volcanoes: Genetic Classification, Growth, Geomorphology and Degradation........................................................46

1. Introduction..........................................................................................46

2. Monogenetic magmatic systems......................................................48

3. Construction of monogenetic volcanoes.........................................52

4. Geomorphology of monogenetic volcanoes...................................65

5. Degradation of monogenetic volcanoes..........................................86

6. Conclusions: towards understanding the complexity of

monogenetic volcanoes....................................................................106

Acknowledgements...........................................................................110

Chapter 4 Simulation of 3-D Coastal Spit Geomorphology Using Differential Synthetic Aperture Interferometry (DInSAR)..................................152

1. Introduction........................................................................................152

2. Study area...........................................................................................154

3. Data sets..............................................................................................155

4. DInSAR data processing..................................................................156

5. Three-dimensional SPIT visualization using DInSAR

technique.............................................................................................157

6. Conclusions........................................................................................163

Chapter 5 Introduction to Anthropogenic Geomorphology............................167

1. Introduction........................................................................................167

2. Scope of anthropogenic geomorphology.....................................169

3. Case study: Quarrying ...................................................................171

4. Conclusion ........................................................................................181

5. Acknowledgement ...........................................................................181

Chapter 6 Spatial and Time Balancing Act: Coastal Geomorphology in View

of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) .........................183

1. Introduction........................................................................................183

2. Coastal geomorphology and ICZM...............................................185

3. Coastal geomorphology and the Fuzzy Coastal Vulnerability

Assessment Model (FCVAM).........................................................189

4. FCVAM case studies: Viveiro, Spain, B’Buga, Malta and Silifke,

Turkey.................................................................................................195

5. Results of the FCVAM Analysis....................................................200

6. Conclusion ............................................................................. 205

7. Acknowledgment .................................................................... 207

Chapter 7 The Geomorphology and Nature of Seabed Seepage

Processes....................................................................................................210

1. Introduction........................................................................................210

2. The “Second Surface” with seep and vent manifestations......210

3. Seeps in the North Sea....................................................................213

4. Seeps off Mid-Norway.....................................................................223

5. Other seep-related seafloor features, worldwide.......................231

6. Conclusions........................................................................................237

Citation......................................................................................................243

Index...........................................................................................................245

About Author

Juana Kristtofer pursued her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Institute of Science & Technology, Carlow. She’s a keen enthusiast of environment protection and management. She serves as a Research Associate at Public Research University, Hobart. An alumnus of Indo-German centre for sustainability which is essentially a collaborative interface to gather scientists in the field of environment sciences to come together and work for the common cause which is environment protection. Her primary areas of scholarly and research interests lie in the fields of oceanography and geomorphology. Kristtofer has been an eminent speaker in seminars across Europe and America.