CASIRJ

Volume 5 Issue 2 [Year - 2014]

ISSN 2319 9202

Comparative study concept ofthe cycle erosion based on two theories

given by W.M.DAVIS and Walther Penck.
Ajay Kumar
(extension assistant professor)
M.sc in geography and ugc-net
Abstract
This paper attempts to study the Comparative study concept of the cycle erosion based on two
theories given by W.M.DAVIS and Walther Penck. Its based on some physical geography
books and internet web sites.

W.M. Davis was geography professor at Harvard University. He wrote about his model from
1880-1938, travelled and spoke widely. Like his contemporaries in natural science he was
strongly influenced by Charles Darwin (On the Origin of the Species) and Charles Lyell
(Principles of Geology), although used evolution as a notion of history (inevitable progress or
change over time) rather than a process and took a deterministic rather than probabilistic view of
evolution like Darwin.
This is the first model of landscape evolution to gain widespread acceptance within the
discipline.
The cycle of erosion was a model for stream erosion and landscape development proposed by
William Morris Davis in the late 19th century. Davis' Stages in the fluvial cycle of erosion
published in 1909 defined a young, mature, and old sequence in the development of river valleys
and the landscape the rivers were eroding. His basic concept includes a rapid tectonic uplift,
followed by cessation of the land, which allows the rivers and streams to reduce the surface to a
level close to sea-level. The concept of peneplanation was a part of his model. In his model
Davies picked up ideas of John Wesley Powell about limitation of erosion on land and concluded
that sea level is the ultimate base level for subaerial erosion. Further he suggested that streams
always have at least some gradient and temporary base levels, such as inland-lakes, are
controlling points upstream of them. It has three stages of its model i.e. he stated that the whole
geomorphic process takes three stages as young, mature and old stages. Davis stated that the
cycle begins with the uplift of mountains. Rivers and streams begin to create v-shaped valleys in
their younger stage and during the first stages, the relief is steepest and most irregular in nature.
Next, the streams are able to carve wider valleys in mature stages and then begin to meander,
leaving only gently rolling hills in old age.The model developed by Davis, though important in
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historical context, is currently considered only a first approximation. Developments in the

sciences of geology and geomorphology, especially the plate tectonics revolution of the 1960s
and 70s, have confirmed the preliminary nature of the model.

Walther Penck (30 August 1888 29 September 1923) was an Austriangeographer, born in
Vienna as the son of geographer Albrecht Penck.
Walther Penck worked 19121914 in Argentina as a geographer, and is best known for his
contributions to the field of geomorphology. In particular, he opposed key elements of the
Davisiancycle of erosion, concluding that the process of uplift and denudation occur
simultaneously, at a gradual and continuous rate.[1] His book, Morphological Analysis of
Landforms, was published posthumously in 1924 by his father.
Walther Penck, the German geologist, put forward his thesis of landform evolution in 1924. His
main work was in the German language which was translated into English (Czech and Boswell
1953).
Penckcriticised and opposed the cycle concept of Davis. In fact, Davis and Penck saw
geomorphology through different eyes.
Davis attempted the explanatory description of landscape, adopted another standpoint that the
main purpose of geomorphological research is to obtain information that might contribute to the
understanding of crustal earth movements.
Penck did not agree with Davis' assumption of very rapid uplift of a land surface followed by a
long period of crustal stability. Penck, contrary to Davis' concept, built his theory on the
alternative assumption of uplift so prolonged that the landscape would be eroded at the same
time as it was being elevated.
The characteristic feature of Penck's hypothesis is that landform evolution of a given region is
dependant on the tectonic activity of the region concerned.
In the opinion of Davis, 'landscape is a function of structure, process and stage', whereas in the
opinion of Penck, 'landscape is the result of the relative intensity of the degradational processes
and the phases and rates of uplift'.Opposed to the view of Davis, he was convinced that
landforms were shaped and developed by the rate of uplift and that of erosion.
In his morphological system model Penck hypothesized that 'geomorphic forms are an
expression of the phase and rate of uplift in relation to the rate of degradation'.
The interaction, according to him, between these factors is continuous. In other words, according
to Penck's notion, the shapes of slopes, and thus the shape of the landscape in general, were
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Volume 5 Issue 2 [Year - 2014]

ISSN 2319 9202

determined primarily by the rate of river erosion, and that this in turn was determined primarily
by the rate of uplift of the land.
Penck visualized three situations. First, a constant rate of uplift would produce a constant rate of
downcutting by streams, and the result would be straight valley-side slopes which together made
up a landscape of Mittel relief (medium relief).
Steepness of slope, according to him, would depend on rate of incision. Secondly, a rapid rate of
uplift would produce convex valley- side slopes and strong Steal relief (strong relief).
Thirdly, slower rate of uplift would give concave or waning slopes. After uplift ceases, a flat or
gently undulating surface called an Endrumpf (terminal surface) would remain.
As regards slopes, he made several assumptions : (i) Any slope, even it was curved, is made up
of a number of straight slope segments, called slope units, (ii) All slope units undergo parallel
retreat, (iii) The rate of retreat are supposed to depend on gradient; steep slopes retreating
quickly.
Penck's hypothesis envisages the initial uplift begins with regional up-doming and the landscape
development goes through the following phases:
(a) Fase of waxing rate of landform development (AufsteigendeEntwickelung)
Endogenetic forces cause the slow rise of the initial land surface (Primarumpf) but later on the
upliftment is rapid.
In this phase, because of upliftment and the increase in the channel gradient and stream velocity
rivers continue to degrade their valleys with accelerated rate of valley deepening.
The rate of upliftment is faster than the rate of down-cutting. It results in the formation of gorges
and narrow V-shaped valleys. Since the upliftment of landmass far exceeds the valley deepening,
the absolute height goes on increasing.
Altitude of the summit of interfluves and valley bottom continues to increase due to the faster
rate of upliftment than that of the vertical erosion.
This phase is characterized by the maximum altitude and the maximum relief (relative heights of
the valley floors).
(b) Phase of uniform development of land form (GleichformigeEntwickelung)
This phase may be divided into three sub-phases on the basis of upliftment and consequent
degradation

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(i) The first sub-phase is characterised by the continuance of accelerated rate of uplift. The
absolute height continues to increase because the rate of upliftment is still greater than the rate of
down-cutting.
The maximum altitude or the absolute relief is achieved, but relative relief remains unaffected
because the rate of valley deepening is almost equal to the rate of lowering of the summits of
stream interfluves.
The valley walls are steep. This is known as the phase of uniform development because of
uniformity in the rate of valley deepening and lowering of divide summits.
(ii) In the second sub-phase the absolute relief neither increases nor decreases. This is due to the
fact that rate of upliftment and the rate of erosion are the same. However, in this phase the
absolute height and the relative relief's are unchanged. So this may be called the phase of
uniform development of landforms.
(iii) In this sub-phase there is no more upliftment of land.
(c) Phase of Wanning development of landscape (AbsteigendeEntwickelung)
The erosional processes dominate in this phase. The lateral erosion rather than vertical erosion is
more important. There is progressive decrease in the height of the landforms. In other words, the
absolute and the relative relief decline.
The valley side slope consists of two parts, the upper and the lower. The upper segment
continues to have steep angle which is called as gravity slope.
The lower segment of the slope is called wash slope. The wash slope is composed of talus
materials of lower inclination which is formed at the base of valley sides.
The later part of this phase is marked by the presence of inselbergs and a series of concave wash
slopes.
This type of extensive surface produced at the fag end of absteigendeentwickelung has been
labelled is endrumpf which may be equivalent to peneplain as envisaged by Davis in his cycle
concept. Thus, the cycle of landscape development as envisaged by Penck ends in endrumpf.

Conclusion
Davis was the first geography which given the idea of cycle erosion. This theory was famous and
acceptable by many geographer that time but according to time many geography not accept this
thought so penck one of them mr.penck was given the similar topic but this topic opposed of
davis .both were given the idea of similar topic but both have different thing.
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References
I pick the idea from Wikipedia and encyclopedia.
Dr.d.s.lal.book
Dr. savindersingh.

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