Logo
Prev
Bookmark
Rotate
Print
Next
Contents
All Pages
Related Articles
Browse Issues
Help
Search
Home
'
National Geographic : 1889 Oct
Contents
National Geographic Magazine. the rocks have been least energetically acted on, valleys are carved where the action of water has been most effective. In order that the process of degradation may go on it is essen tial that a land mass be somewhat raised above the sea, and, since the process is a never-ceasing one while streams have suffi cient fall to carry sediment, it follows that, given time enough, every land surface must be degraded to a sloping plain, to what has been called a base level. With these ideas of mountain genesis and waste, let us con sider some phases of degradation in relation to topographic forms ; and in doing so I cannot do better than to use the terms employed by Prof. Wmi. M. Davis. When a land surface rises from the ocean the stream systems which at once develop, are set the task of carrying back to the sea all that stands above it. According to the amount of this alloted work that streams have accomplished, they may be said to be young, mature or aged; and if, their task once nearly com pleted, another uplift raise more material to be carried off, they may be said to be revived. These terms apply equally to the land-surface, and each period of development is characterized by certain topographic forms. In youth simple stream systems sunk in steep walled cautions are separated by broad areas of surface incompletely drained. In maturity complex stream systems extend branches up to every part of the surface ; steep slopes, sharp divides, pyramidal peaks express the rapidity with which every portion of the surface is attacked. In old age the gently rolling surface is traversed by many quiet flowing streams; the heights are gone, the profiles are rounded, the contours subdued. In the first emergence from the sea the courses of streams are determined by accidents of slope, it may be by folding of the rising surface into troughs and arches. During maturity the process of retrogressive erosion, by which a stream cuts back into the watershed of a less powerful opponent stream, adjusts the channels to the outcrops of soft rocks and leaves the harder strata as eminences. In old age this process of differential degradation is complete and only the hardest rocks maintain a slight relief. Suppose that an aged surface of this character be revived : the rivers hitherto flowing quietly in broad plains will find their fall increased in their lower courses ; their channels in soft rock will 296
Links
Archive
1890 Apr
1889 Jul
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
