A Geomorphic Classification System U.S.D.A. Forest Service Geomorphology Working Group Haskins, Donald M.1, Correll, Cynthia S.2, Foster, Richard A.3, Chatoian, John M.4, Fincher, James M.5, Strenger, Steven 6, Keys, James E. Jr.7, Maxwell, James R.8 and King, Thomas 9 February 1998 Version 1.4 1 Forest Geologist, Shasta-Trinity National Forests, Pacific Southwest Region, Redding, CA; 2 Soil Scientist, Range Staff, Washington Office, Prineville, OR; 3 Area Soil Scientist, Chatham Area, Tongass National Forest, Alaska Region, Sitka, AK; 4 Regional Geologist, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA; 5 Integrated Resource Inventory Program Manager, Alaska Region, Juneau, AK; 6 Supervisory Soil Scientist, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, NM; 7 Interagency Liaison for Washington Office ECOMAP Group, Southern Region, Atlanta, GA; 8 Water Program Leader, Rocky Mountain Region, Golden, CO; and 9 Geology Program Manager, Washington Office, Washington, DC. A Geomorphic Classification System 1 Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... 5 I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 6 History of Classification Efforts in the Forest Service ............................................................... 6 History of Development .............................................................................................................. 7 Goals of the Geomorphology Working Group ............................................................................ 8 II. GEOMORPHIC CLASSIFICATION .......................................................................... 10 Geomorphic Process ................................................................................................................. 10 Landform ................................................................................................................................... 11 Morphometry............................................................................................................................. 12 Geomorphic Generation ........................................................................................................... 14 III. APPLICATION OF GEOMORPHIC CLASSIFICATION ....................................... 16 Application of the Classification at a Site................................................................................. 16 CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................ 17 CHARACTERISTIC ............................................................................................................ 17 Geomorphic Mapping and Map Units ...................................................................................... 17 Map Unit Concepts ............................................................................................................... 17 Application of the Classification for a Polygon .................................................................... 19 IV. USING THIS CLASSIFICATION FOR EXISTING MAPPING .................................. 21 V. LINK TO NATIONAL TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC HIERARCHIES .......... 23 VI. SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 26 VII. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................ 27 References Cited ....................................................................................................................... 27 References used for the classification but not cited .................................................................. 29 References by Geomorphic Process .......................................................................................... 31 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 35 Appendix A : Reference List of Existing Geomorphic and/or land Classification Systems ...... 35 A Geomorphic Classification System 2 Appendix B; A Hierarchical Classification of Geomorphic Processes and Landforms .......... 36 FLUVIAL ............................................................................................................................. 36 GLACIAL ............................................................................................................................. 39 PERIGLACIAL .................................................................................................................... 42 LACUSTRINE ...................................................................................................................... 43 TECTONIC ........................................................................................................................... 44 VOLCANIC .......................................................................................................................... 45 MASS WASTING ................................................................................................................ 46 COASTAL MARINE ........................................................................................................... 51 SOLUTION........................................................................................................................... 53 EOLIAN ................................................................................................................................ 54 Appendix C: Landscape Terms ................................................................................................. 55 Appendix D: Common landforms.............................................................................................. 56 Appendix E: Microfeatures ....................................................................................................... 57 Appendix F: Morphometry ........................................................................................................ 58 Appendix G: List of Reviewers .................................................................................................. 63 Appendix H: Codes for Geomorphic Processes and Landforms .............................................. 64 Used in this Geomorphic Classification ................................................................................... 64 Appendix I: Glossary of Geomorphic Processes and Landforms ............................................. 77 A ............................................................................................................................................ 77 B ............................................................................................................................................ 78 C ............................................................................................................................................ 83 D ............................................................................................................................................ 86 E ............................................................................................................................................ 90 F ............................................................................................................................................ 92 G ............................................................................................................................................ 96 H ............................................................................................................................................ 97 I ............................................................................................................................................. 98 K .......................................................................................................................................... 100 L .......................................................................................................................................... 101 M ......................................................................................................................................... 104 N .......................................................................................................................................... 106 O .......................................................................................................................................... 108 P .......................................................................................................................................... 109 R .......................................................................................................................................... 113 S .......................................................................................................................................... 117 T .......................................................................................................................................... 124 U U .......................................................................................................................................... 128 V .........................................................................................................................................