Initially inseparable from geography, geomorphology took shape at the end of the century at the hands of its father, the renowned geographer William Morris Davis, who is also considered the father of American geography. In his time, the predominant idea about the creation of the relief was explained through catastrophism as if it were the assumption of the great biblical flood. Davis and other geographers began to believe that other causes were responsible for the shaping of the Earth's surface and not catastrophic events. Davis, within the framework of uniformitarianism, developed a theory of the creation and destruction of the landscape, which he called the geographical cycle. Works such as The Rivers and Valleys of Pennsylvania, The Geographical Cycle and Elementary Physical Geography, gave a first and strong impulse followed by his numerous successors such as Mark Jefferson"), Isaiah Bowman, Curtis Marbut, who were consolidating the discipline, while continuing to participate in the context of geography and also delving into other sciences.

The terrestrial relief evolves in the dynamics of the geographic cycle through a series of constructive and destructive processes that are permanently affected by the force of gravity that acts as a balancer of unevenness; That is, it makes the elevated areas tend to fall and fill the depressed areas. These processes cause the relief to go through different stages. The triggers of geomorphological processes can be categorized into four large groups:

• - Geographical factors: The relief is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors, of which those abiotic of exogenous origin are considered geographical, such as gravity, soil, climate and bodies of water. The climate with its elements such as pressure, temperature, humidity, winds. Surface water with the action of runoff, river and marine action. The ice with glacial modeling, among others. They are factors that help modeling, favoring erosive processes.

• - Biotic factors: The effect of biotic factors on the relief usually opposes the modeling processes, especially considering the vegetation, however, there are quite a few animals that collaborate with the erosive process such as goats.

• - Geological factors: such as tectonics, diastrophism, orogenesis and volcanism, are constructive processes of endogenous origin that contribute to modeling and restart or rejuvenate the geographic cycle.

• - Anthropic factors: The action of man on the relief is very variable, depending on the activity carried out, in this sense and as commonly happens with man, it is very difficult to generalize, and can influence in favor or against erosive processes.[10]​.

Although the different factors that influence the earth's surface are included in the dynamics of the geographical cycle, only geographical factors always contribute towards the development of the cycle and its ultimate goal; the peneplain. While the rest of the factors (biological, geological and anthropic) interrupt or disturb the normal development of the cycle. The interaction of these elements results in morphogenetic or modeling processes, divided into 3 stages or three successive processes, namely erosion, transport and sedimentation. This process is, in large part, responsible for the modeling of the Earth's surface taking into account a series of circumstances.

It can be subdivided, in turn, into three major approaches: structural geomorphology, which deals with the characterization and genesis of “relief forms” as study units. Dynamic geomorphology, on the characterization and explanation of erosion and weathering processes by the main agents (gravity and water). And climatic geomorphology, on the influence of climate on morphogenesis (morphoclimatic domains).

Originally descriptive and classificatory, geomorphology evolved, like any science, towards a discipline that explores the causes and interrelationships between processes and forms. Since the last half of the century, a large sector of geomorphologists has focused particularly on finding relationships between processes and forms. This approach, known as dynamic geomorphology, has benefited greatly from the parallel technological advancement and cost reduction in measurement equipment and the exponential increase in computer processing capacity. Dynamic geomorphology deals with elementary erosion processes, transport agents, the geographic cycle and the nature of erosion.

Other branches of geomorphology study various factors that exert a marked influence on the forms of the earth, such as the predominant effect of climate or the influence of geology on the relief. The main ones are:

• - Climatic geomorphology: studies the influence of climate on the development of relief. Atmospheric pressure and temperature interact with climate and are responsible for winds, runoff, and the continuous modeling of the geographic cycle. The diversity of climates represents different speeds in the evolution of the cycle, as is the case of arid climates with slower evolutionary rates and very humid climates with higher evolutionary rates, as well as climate represents the predominant type of modeling; glacial, wind, fluvial, etc. This knowledge is synthesized in what is called "morphoclimatic domains."

• - Fluvial Geomorphology: is the specialized branch of geomorphology that is responsible for the study of geographical features, shapes and reliefs caused by river dynamics. This subfield often overlaps with the field of hydrography.

• - Geomorphology of slopes: is that which studies the phenomena produced on the slopes of mountains, as well as studies mass movements, stabilization of slopes "Talud (geology)"), etc. It is related to the study of natural risks.

• - Wind geomorphology: is responsible for studying the processes and forms of wind origin, especially in morphoclimatic domains where wind action is predominant, for example in coastal areas, cold and hot deserts, and polar areas.

• - Glacial geomorphology: is responsible for studying the formations and processes of geographical features, glacial and periglacial forms and reliefs. This branch is closely linked to glaciology.

• - Structural geomorphology: prioritizes the influence of geological structures on the development of the relief. This discipline is very relevant in areas of marked geological activity where, for example, faults and folds predetermine the existence of summits "Cima (topography)") or ravines, or the existence of bays and capes "Cabo (geography)") is explained by the differential erosion of more or less resistant rock outcrops. This branch is closely related to geology.

• - Coastal geomorphology: studies the relief forms typical of coastal areas.

The success of the predictive capacity of some models and potential applications in the fields of urban planning, civil engineering, military strategies, coastal development, among several others, gives rise in recent decades to applied geomorphology that is very prominent in French geography, especially thanks to the Institute of Applied Geography, founded by Jean Tricart. This application basically focuses on the interaction between human actions and landforms, in particular focusing on the management of risks caused by changes in the earth's surface (natural or induced) known as georisks"). Studies of this type include mass movements, beach erosion, flood mitigation, tsunamis among others.

• - Arthur Newell Strahler.

• - Earth Sciences.

• - Erosion.

• - Physical geography.

• - Structural geology.

• - Geomorphology of Chile.

• - Orography.

• - Land relief.

• - Topography.

• - Ialenti, Vincent. “Envisioning Landscapes of Our Very Distant Future” NPR Cosmos & Culture. 9/2014.

• - Anderson, R.S.; Anderson, S.P. Geomorphology: The Mechanics and Chemistry of Landscapes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN 978-0521519786.

• - Bierman, P.R.; Montgomery, D.R. Key Concepts in Geomorphology. New York: W. H. Freeman, 2013. ISBN 1429238607.

• - Ritter, D.F.; Kochel, R.C.; Miller, J.R.. Process Geomorphology. London: Waveland Pr Inc, 2011. ISBN 1577666690.

• - Hargitai H., Page D., Canon-Tapia E. and Rodrigue C.M..; Classification and Characterization of Planetary Landforms. in: Hargitai H, Kereszturi Á, eds, Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Cham: Springer 2015 ISBN 978-1-4614-3133-6.

• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia category on Geomorphology.

• - Wiktionary has definitions and other information about geomorphology.

Initially inseparable from geography, geomorphology took shape at the end of the century at the hands of its father, the renowned geographer William Morris Davis, who is also considered the father of American geography. In his time, the predominant idea about the creation of the relief was explained through catastrophism as if it were the assumption of the great biblical flood. Davis and other geographers began to believe that other causes were responsible for the shaping of the Earth's surface and not catastrophic events. Davis, within the framework of uniformitarianism, developed a theory of the creation and destruction of the landscape, which he called the geographical cycle. Works such as The Rivers and Valleys of Pennsylvania, The Geographical Cycle and Elementary Physical Geography, gave a first and strong impulse followed by his numerous successors such as Mark Jefferson"), Isaiah Bowman, Curtis Marbut, who were consolidating the discipline, while continuing to participate in the context of geography and also delving into other sciences.

The terrestrial relief evolves in the dynamics of the geographic cycle through a series of constructive and destructive processes that are permanently affected by the force of gravity that acts as a balancer of unevenness; That is, it makes the elevated areas tend to fall and fill the depressed areas. These processes cause the relief to go through different stages. The triggers of geomorphological processes can be categorized into four large groups:

• - Geographical factors: The relief is affected by both biotic and abiotic factors, of which those abiotic of exogenous origin are considered geographical, such as gravity, soil, climate and bodies of water. The climate with its elements such as pressure, temperature, humidity, winds. Surface water with the action of runoff, river and marine action. The ice with glacial modeling, among others. They are factors that help modeling, favoring erosive processes.

• - Biotic factors: The effect of biotic factors on the relief usually opposes the modeling processes, especially considering the vegetation, however, there are quite a few animals that collaborate with the erosive process such as goats.

• - Geological factors: such as tectonics, diastrophism, orogenesis and volcanism, are constructive processes of endogenous origin that contribute to modeling and restart or rejuvenate the geographic cycle.

• - Anthropic factors: The action of man on the relief is very variable, depending on the activity carried out, in this sense and as commonly happens with man, it is very difficult to generalize, and can influence in favor or against erosive processes.[10]​.

Although the different factors that influence the earth's surface are included in the dynamics of the geographical cycle, only geographical factors always contribute towards the development of the cycle and its ultimate goal; the peneplain. While the rest of the factors (biological, geological and anthropic) interrupt or disturb the normal development of the cycle. The interaction of these elements results in morphogenetic or modeling processes, divided into 3 stages or three successive processes, namely erosion, transport and sedimentation. This process is, in large part, responsible for the modeling of the Earth's surface taking into account a series of circumstances.

It can be subdivided, in turn, into three major approaches: structural geomorphology, which deals with the characterization and genesis of “relief forms” as study units. Dynamic geomorphology, on the characterization and explanation of erosion and weathering processes by the main agents (gravity and water). And climatic geomorphology, on the influence of climate on morphogenesis (morphoclimatic domains).

Originally descriptive and classificatory, geomorphology evolved, like any science, towards a discipline that explores the causes and interrelationships between processes and forms. Since the last half of the century, a large sector of geomorphologists has focused particularly on finding relationships between processes and forms. This approach, known as dynamic geomorphology, has benefited greatly from the parallel technological advancement and cost reduction in measurement equipment and the exponential increase in computer processing capacity. Dynamic geomorphology deals with elementary erosion processes, transport agents, the geographic cycle and the nature of erosion.

Other branches of geomorphology study various factors that exert a marked influence on the forms of the earth, such as the predominant effect of climate or the influence of geology on the relief. The main ones are:

• - Climatic geomorphology: studies the influence of climate on the development of relief. Atmospheric pressure and temperature interact with climate and are responsible for winds, runoff, and the continuous modeling of the geographic cycle. The diversity of climates represents different speeds in the evolution of the cycle, as is the case of arid climates with slower evolutionary rates and very humid climates with higher evolutionary rates, as well as climate represents the predominant type of modeling; glacial, wind, fluvial, etc. This knowledge is synthesized in what is called "morphoclimatic domains."

• - Fluvial Geomorphology: is the specialized branch of geomorphology that is responsible for the study of geographical features, shapes and reliefs caused by river dynamics. This subfield often overlaps with the field of hydrography.

• - Geomorphology of slopes: is that which studies the phenomena produced on the slopes of mountains, as well as studies mass movements, stabilization of slopes "Talud (geology)"), etc. It is related to the study of natural risks.

• - Wind geomorphology: is responsible for studying the processes and forms of wind origin, especially in morphoclimatic domains where wind action is predominant, for example in coastal areas, cold and hot deserts, and polar areas.

• - Glacial geomorphology: is responsible for studying the formations and processes of geographical features, glacial and periglacial forms and reliefs. This branch is closely linked to glaciology.

• - Structural geomorphology: prioritizes the influence of geological structures on the development of the relief. This discipline is very relevant in areas of marked geological activity where, for example, faults and folds predetermine the existence of summits "Cima (topography)") or ravines, or the existence of bays and capes "Cabo (geography)") is explained by the differential erosion of more or less resistant rock outcrops. This branch is closely related to geology.

• - Coastal geomorphology: studies the relief forms typical of coastal areas.

The success of the predictive capacity of some models and potential applications in the fields of urban planning, civil engineering, military strategies, coastal development, among several others, gives rise in recent decades to applied geomorphology that is very prominent in French geography, especially thanks to the Institute of Applied Geography, founded by Jean Tricart. This application basically focuses on the interaction between human actions and landforms, in particular focusing on the management of risks caused by changes in the earth's surface (natural or induced) known as georisks"). Studies of this type include mass movements, beach erosion, flood mitigation, tsunamis among others.

• - Arthur Newell Strahler.

• - Earth Sciences.

• - Erosion.

• - Physical geography.

• - Structural geology.

• - Geomorphology of Chile.

• - Orography.

• - Land relief.

• - Topography.

• - Ialenti, Vincent. “Envisioning Landscapes of Our Very Distant Future” NPR Cosmos & Culture. 9/2014.

• - Anderson, R.S.; Anderson, S.P. Geomorphology: The Mechanics and Chemistry of Landscapes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN 978-0521519786.

• - Bierman, P.R.; Montgomery, D.R. Key Concepts in Geomorphology. New York: W. H. Freeman, 2013. ISBN 1429238607.

• - Ritter, D.F.; Kochel, R.C.; Miller, J.R.. Process Geomorphology. London: Waveland Pr Inc, 2011. ISBN 1577666690.

• - Hargitai H., Page D., Canon-Tapia E. and Rodrigue C.M..; Classification and Characterization of Planetary Landforms. in: Hargitai H, Kereszturi Á, eds, Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Cham: Springer 2015 ISBN 978-1-4614-3133-6.

• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia category on Geomorphology.

• - Wiktionary has definitions and other information about geomorphology.