geography - one of the most exciting and relevant science to mankind.Do not be the Age of Discovery, we would still not know, in which the vast and diverse world we live.In short, the key knowledge in the discipline needed almost everyone.
Do you know what the geographical process?This is one of the key concepts, an understanding of which depends on the quality and quantity of knowledge of not only the geography but also the set of related sciences.
Concepts
The word "process" implies a succession of some phenomena or even entire formations.Geographical process (examples we give below) - is the formation of new formations on the planet's surface and in its depths.Responsibility for these changes in a variety of agents of morphogenesis.Most scientists describe these phenomena by the word "dynamic" because they believe (and rightly so) that only such morphological forces can lead to major changes.
similar view fully confirms the fact that many geographical processes are (in varying degrees) relefopreobrazuyuschimi as directly affect the pre-existing landscape, actively transforming it.
Many can not understand from a scientific explanation, that such a geographic process.Examples are diverse enough, but you can immediately recall the movement of tectonic plates.This is precisely the dynamic (see above), a phenomenon that leads to severe morphological changes in the landscape not only a particular area but also the entire planet as a whole.Continental drift, thus also ideally suited for the discussed above definition.
importance of the concept is not surprising that the study of these phenomena is considered to be the foundation of Geography and Geology.As the theoretical model VMDavis, the term "process" has an important place between the structure and stages of change, and in fact the research that scientists are still considered to be one of the most profound and important.In this article, we will try not only to give a detailed definition of the phenomenon, answering the question of what is the geographical process, but also give an example of his typing.
main features of the basic characteristics of geographical processes is that they are both actively involved in the morphogenesis of the earth's surface, also contribute to the movement of materials in its vicinity, which is an indication of their importance in lithogenesis.Accordingly, in analyzing their overall role can come to a conclusion about the necessity of typing directions.
fair to say that there are many different classifications, which represent about geographical processes are, but based only on two or three principles, which for serious research is not enough.We do not claim to present an exhaustive method of typing.Rather, the article considers the role of geographic processes in the nature and possibilities of their classification in principle.
importance for nature
geographical speciation process involves the impact of geographical factors on the emergence of entirely new species of living organisms: relief changes fundamentally affect the migration of animals in their diet.No wonder that under the influence of these factors often are new subspecies.
Geological process of continental drift has led (and leads so far) to the climate change, the emergence and disappearance of hundreds of thousands of new species, many of which we will never know.It is these natural factors have contributed to the formation of deposits of oil, gas and fossil coal.
any processes in nature, no matter how insignificant in global terms, they may seem, can have a significant impact on the geographical landscape.
little about the factors cosmic nature
accepted that major changes to the landforms result solely phenomenon agents which originated on the planet itself (for rivers, winds, etc.).People completely forget about the initial stages of development of the Earth, when the main factors is the process of cosmic nature.Of course, with the passage of time has evolved a normal atmosphere, their importance declined somewhat, but you can not forget them.
It is, for example, the fall of meteorites.Scientists suggest that once similar phenomenon has led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, while reigned unchallenged in the world, as well as a significant change in the climate.On the surface of the Earth to this day traces of falls of celestial bodies, and in some areas there are huge craters from meteorites that fell millions of years ago.It is not so much a process of environmental and geographic speciation, as the phenomenon of the complete destruction of many species of living beings.
Do not assume that those days are over, if something like that happen again in our time, landforms and seriously changed, and on the climatic transformations should not be forgotten.
Thus, any geographical process (see photo. In the article) is rather unstable: the main agents of change, under the influence of which is its dynamic modification can occur at any time.
What are they?
Most often scholars prefer not to complicate the issue under study, so spread a simple classification of such phenomena: lowering of the surface, maintaining it in the same state or elevation relief.
If we impose this typology to the timeline, it becomes clear that all processes lead to the dismemberment or surfaces (faults), or its gradual leveling.Thus, any geographical process (definition of the term we have given at the beginning of the article) can be assigned to only one of the two main groups.Of course, this approach is just not in every case, but in certain circumstances, this view is justified.
Thus, the gradual erosion of the mountains (wind, water) in any case lead to their becoming plain.Perfect example - the Ural Mountains, which are a result of complex geographic processes occurring over thousands of years, in fact ceased to be.
negative variations
As often happens in plain sight are not the most fundamental and the most destructive and negative in relation to the phenomenon of man.Let's look at the most typical examples of them.You probably already guessed that we will discuss some geographical natural phenomena has on our lives is particularly tangible impact.
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Erosion .This process of degradation of soils and rocks, when the constituent parts are washed with water and gradually eroded by the wind.The most intensive processes of this kind can be seen in the mountains and hilly terrain due to inept plowing land.
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Landslides - the failure of large masses of rocks under the influence of both gravity and because of the rain.These physiographic processes characteristic of the mountainous terrain.
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Seli .It is extremely dangerous phenomenon.This rapid convergence mixture of soil, rock debris, snow, ice and water.Debris flows can carry from the ground the whole city in just a few minutes.As you can guess, they are observed mainly in the mountains.
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Karst .This phenomenon implies the emergence of large cavities in the bowels of the earth's crust.This is due to the characteristics of the geological rocks that are prone to rapid leaching.For example, the karst cavity in a relatively short period of time are formed in limestone.
- gradual waterlogging territory , due to the high water table, soil composition and characteristics.This phenomenon is typical of many areas of our country.
Thus, geographical natural phenomena occur more often than is commonly believed.
details on karst processes
It is believed (and in some scientific journals is possible to encounter a similar view) that karst processes are not such a significant phenomenon in the geographical and geological features of the area.This is not so.
Take, for example, the Yucatan Peninsula.The fact that the geologists and geographers often compare it with a huge head cheese that someone threw into the ocean.This is due to the fact that its entire surface is literally riddled with faults and failures.And they, as you might guess, just the same karst origin.In this case, it is not necessary to deny that these geographic features and phenomena had a very serious impact on the development of the landscape of the area.
addition, Karst on such a scale may contribute to some shifting of climatic.A large number of karst sinkholes, which are often at the bottom of the lake are, is considered to be a predisposing factor for climate mitigation and moisture.In this area more often rains, which are one of the main agents of water erosion.
It should be noted that is not fully understood the position of karst processes in the classification number.They can be attributed to both underground and to ground processes.Rather, they belong to two groups simultaneously.Thus, this geographical process photo is shown in the article is important from the point of view of a permanent modification of the landscape of our planet.
Adverse climatic processes
drought, winds, storms, large hail, and many other climate processes - this is not a complete list of negative phenomena.Let's see some of them in detail:
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Sukhovey .Hot and hot wind, which occurs when the air temperature above 25 degrees Celsius and relative humidity less than its 25%.Within Russia, it almost does not occur, but it is constantly observed in the Central Asian republics of the former USSR.
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Storm dust and sand. constantly arise in those areas, where due to soil erosion roots of the plants are no longer able to strengthen the upper layers of the soil.In these circumstances, any wind can provoke a storm.
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At a wind speed of more than 29 meters per second, there is a hurricane .This geographical process is extremely dangerous, as a strong wind can provoke the emergence of giant waves of the sea, blows a huge amount of fertile soil, heats even large oceanic ships.
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Rain is considered unfavorable geographic process if 12 hours will drop more than 50 millimeters of precipitation.This is extremely dangerous, since a large amount of water easily provokes powerful mudflows, landslides, causes major floods.
- Hail with a diameter of more than 20 millimeters, also applies to this category because it can contribute to climate change over large areas due to the complete destruction of vegetation.
typing
As can be classified locations and processes?Typing these phenomena should be carried out according to a formula that includes just three items: the characteristics of the terrain, the processes and factors that directly or indirectly influence the changes in the landscape.Note that a similar formula is used in soil science.But in this case, all factors should influence each other bidirectionally and simultaneously.
Usually found in the division of endogenous and exogenous processes.But now almost all reputable scientists agree that this classification is wrong: these terms only indicate the localization process, but say nothing about the reasons for their occurrence.
If we take the basis of the depth of the earth's surface, almost all phenomena of this kind can be attributed to internal.The fact is that in practice it is often impossible to distinguish a particular geographic process.What does this mean for geography in general?Just what experts in the field, who are guided by the above principle of classification, to rely more on their experience and opinion than on a solid scientific basis.
Therefore we would like to say that much more effective and justified to follow a different principle of separation:
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geographical processes of tectonic origin. most common, are the main cause of global changes in the terrain.
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Volcanic .Similar to the previous species.
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isostatic .
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erosion and accumulation processes, that the scientific literature is often referred to as fluvial.
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gravitational phenomena .Do not underestimate the force of gravity, which contributes to the formation of many new forms of surface topography.
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Eolian .
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Education caverns , which we have already mentioned above.
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suffusion .
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Abrasive processes , which are particularly pronounced in mountainous areas.Harder rocks constantly grind less stable formations, acting like sandpaper.
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phenomena cryogenic rock (and postkriogennye) .Constant freezing and thawing in no small measure contributes to changing the landscape.This is especially pronounced in mountainous areas.
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glacial processes.
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Fluvioglacial phenomenon.
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biogenic processes of nature.With them, everything is more complicated, because many people underestimate the impact of wildlife on the planet's surface.Meanwhile, it suffices to recall the formation of coal deposits, in order to make the error of this view.
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phenomena of weathering and soil formation.
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cosmic phenomena.These include cases of falling of large meteorites, from which in ancient times often formed a giant crater.
- anthropogenic processes.
More anthropogenic processes
about people's ability to create environmental problems says a lot.The disappearance of species, air and water pollution ... Where rarely remember that human activity - a powerful geographical process that can seriously alter the surrounding landscape.Sometimes even on a planetary scale.
Many people know about the Great Wall of China, but not all are thinking that it has seriously changed the geographical terrain.This building is not only seen from space (which in itself fully confirms the thesis stated above).The wall at one time seriously violated the migration routes of many species, for its construction were simply set aside or covered with several small rivers, not to mention the streams.Thus, in many areas, which it passes, it has significantly reduced the intensity of the wind and water erosion, which could not but affect the geographical features of the terrain.
Much the same can be said about the construction and operation of large cities.They seriously change and sometimes do not impossible migration of animals, in their construction and development of a fully modified river beds, suspended or severely restricted the actions of many agents of geographical processes.
Some species
As can be seen from the above classification, many of the processes are divided into subspecies, due to differences in the basic agents that directly impact on the landscape.For example, the current on the surface of the water of the river - the agent fluvial processes.
Depending on the environmental conditions in which the active agent is one or the other, the processes can be described more precisely, underwater, surface and underground.But what is the geographical process, in terms of the time required for its development?More precisely, how to classify them in this case?
typology in terms of chronology
All geographic processes can be divided into groups based on their chronological characteristics.By the time they are modern manifestations, ancient and relic.