Geomorphology is the study of landforms and landscapes, including the description, classification, origin, development, and history of planetar surfaces. During the early part of this century, the study of regional-scale geomorphology was termed "physiography". Unfortunately, physiography also became synonymous with physical geography, and the concept became embroiled in controversy surrounding the appropriate concerns of that discipline. Some geomorphologists held to a geological basis for physiography and emphasized a concept of physiographic regions, A conflicting trend among geographers was to equate physiography with "pure morphology," divorced of its geological heritage. Remotely sensed imagery has been used extensively in geomorphology since the availability of early Land sat data, with its value measurable by the extent to which it can meet the investigative requirements of geomorphologists. Geomorphology focuses upon landform description/classification, process characterization and the association between landforms and processes, while remote sensing is able to provide information on the location/distribution of landforms, surface/subsurface composition and surface elevation. This book should be useful to remote sensing scientists and engineers, geographers, geologists, ecologists and environmental scientists, agricultural and soil scientists and urban and regional planners. Regional, state and university remote sensing centres may like to have this book as well.
