Page 55 - Fundamentals of Geomorphology

38 INTRODUCING LANDFORMS AND LANDSCAPES

Box 2.3

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

Earth system science takes the view that all the ter- denudation processes are a major link between crustal
restrial spheres interact in a basic way: the solid tectonic processes and the atmosphere and hydro-
Earth (lithosphere, mantle, and core), atmosphere, sphere (Beaumont et al. 2000). Mantle convection
hydrosphere, pedosphere, and biosphere are inter- largely drives tectonic processes, but the denuda-
dependent (Figure 2.3). From a geomorphological tional link with the atmosphere–hydrosphere system
perspective, a key suggestion of this view is that has a large effect. In turn, tectonic processes, acting

Intragalactic motions and intragalactic constellation and orbits; intergalactic connections

Sun–planets constellation Earth–Sun constellation Earth–Moon constellation
and orbits and orbit and orbit

Asteroids, comets, Rotational and gravitational External gravity
meteoroids changes of the Sun

Meteoritic Isolation Solar wind Cosmic rays Obliquity
dust changes

ECOSPHERE
COSPHERE
E
Atmosphere
Dust, gases,
water vapour, Biosphere Pedosphere Rotation rate
heat
Hydrosphere Toposphere
Sea-level
change
Large and Orogeny and Disposition of True polar
small impacts Volcanoes epeirogeny continents wander

Lithosphere
(plate tectonics processes)

Core and mantle processes
(including growth tectonics, plume tectonics, geothermal energy dissipation;Earth expansion?)
Figure 2.3 Interacting terrestrial spheres and their cosmic and geological settings.
Source: Adapted from Huggett (1991, 1995, 1997)