Relief sphere

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The relief sphere is a natural earth sphere . It encompasses the entirety of the solid surface forms of the planet earth - i.e. its surface shape, its relief . A modern synonym for relief sphere is toposphere . Older synonyms are called geomorphosphere and rarely morphosphere.

term

The surface shapes of glacier ice also belong to the relief sphere.

The relief sphere was introduced to the geosciences in 1969 by the German geographer Julius Büdel (1903–1983). It represents the attempt to grasp the diversity of the surface forms of the earth in one overarching term:

“The science of geomorphology examines the 'relief' (surface shape, terrain forms, treasure trove of shapes, shape image), which, as a diverse interface, encompasses the solid crust of our earth (rock shell, lithosphere) to the outside. In its entirety, we call this interface the relief sphere . It is an independent structure of very different shapes as mountains and valleys, mountains and hills, slopes of any shape and wide flatness with a colorful alternation of small forms. "

- Julius Büdel : Climate Geomorphology. P. 1.

From the quotation just given, however, it is not very clear what exactly is meant by the relief sphere. Whether a completely independent natural earth sphere can be seen in it or whether only the upper edge of the lithosphere that is involved in the relief can also be separated out as a relief sphere . Further expressions even seem to want to separate the relief sphere completely from the lithosphere:

“With this basic feature [the modeling by exogenous (external) processes] the relief sphere differs significantly from the 'lithosphere' ... which owes its emergence primarily to endogenous (internal) influences.
[Fixed permanent traces of conditions during earlier times of the earth] only preserves the solid earth's crust with its two partial shells: the lithosphere that determines its inner structure and the relief sphere that dominates its surface shape and is constantly redesigning . "

- Julius Büdel : Climate Geomorphology. P. 2, 4.

The relief sphere can, however, also be understood completely differently. Namely, exclusively as the totality of the relief forms - really only as the "multifaceted interface of the earth's crust". This alternative view is particularly clear from an illustrative figure, also by Julius Büdel. It was this view of the relief sphere that was to prevail in the majority:

“BÜDEL delimits an independent relief sphere around the geosphere. One can agree with this view, one only has to have in mind that the relief is an immaterial quantity; material is the carrier, i.e. H. the earth's crust. "

- Jaromír Demek : Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review], p. 195.

Julius Büdel saw something in the relief sphere that actually exists in scientific reality . In his opinion, it was even the central scientific research object in geomorphology. After its conceptualization, however, the relief sphere has not experienced a particularly wide distribution in geoscientific literature. Nevertheless, the relief sphere is at least occasionally mentioned by geoscientists. In addition, she even made it into educational plans for German high schools.

Content and scope

Antelope Canyon : The red sandstone from the Moenkopi Formation represents morpho structures that are modeled by flash floods to form the morpho sculptures visible here. The directly adjacent sandstone acts as a relief support for this section of the relief sphere.

The relief sphere encompasses the entire relief of the earth - i.e. all surface shapes, terrain forms, shapes, the complete treasure trove of shapes. All over the world, the relief is created by the interaction of internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) influences. This applies to both terrestrial earth's surfaces and solid surfaces at the bottom of the oceans and glaciers:

The beginnings of every earthly surface relief, the beginnings of the relief sphere, lie in the raw objects of the solid (r) underground - in the morpho structures . Morpho structures often consist of rock. Stone morpho structures were created by endogenous processes ( igneous rocks ) or their mineral composition changed ( metamorphic rocks ) or at least lifted (again lifted sedimentary rocks ). If these endogenously shaped and / or moved rocks reach the solid surface of the earth, they become the starting point for the formation of the relief. They become endogenous raw forms . The energy for the endogenously operated formation of the morpho structures ultimately comes from the hot interior of the earth .

Other rocks on the earth's surface were accumulated by deposition , but remained near the surface thereafter. So they never went through endogenous uplifting processes. Such sediments therefore have purely exogenous origins: they remained close to the surface after they had been deposited by wind, glaciers and water . In addition to the stone morpho structures, part of the solid earthly surface also consists of other hard materials, of glacial ice and its preliminary stage, the firn . Glacier ice and firn are created by the accumulation and compression of snow. Together with the sediments mentioned last, glacier ice and firn represent the exogenous raw forms of the relief formation.

On the surface, morpho structures are transformed by exogenous processes, which can differ in type and extent from one region to the other. By exogenous processes modeled Morphostrukturen will Morphoskulpturen to exogenous real forms. All over the world, the energy for the exogenously operated modeling of the morpho sculptures ultimately comes from the sun .

Lauterbrunnen Valley : The relief is mainly determined by the surrounding rock. Valley floors only soften the sharp contours. Overall, the surface shape of this typical trough valley mainly follows the lithosphere there.

Stone morpho structures can weather . This already represents a form of exogenous modeling and is therefore already a step in morpho sculpturing. The weathered rocks transform into regoliths and soils . The regoliths and the soils, together with the still unweathered superficial rocks ( pending ) and with glacier ice and firn, form the material subsoil in which the relief sphere is formed. They are the relief carriers . Thus, the relief sphere is formed in the decomposition sphere in the narrower sense (regoliths), the pedosphere (soils), the lithosphere (adjacent rocks) and the cryosphere (glacial ice and firn). Often, however, the relief is already strongly dictated by the shape of the surface of the lithosphere alone. This lithospheric surface shape is usually followed by any overlying regoliths and soils: Compared to the relief-defining influence of the lithosphere, the surface shapes are created by the decomposition sphere i. e. S. and pedosphere usually only slightly modified.

In summary, the relief sphere presents itself as a place in which striking steps take place in the global cycle of rocks . Because weathering, erosion, transport and sedimentation take place on the earth's surface. Sedimentites, metamorphites and plutonites are lifted from great depths towards the earth's surface and come to light. The volcanic rocks continue to cool here . In addition, the relief sphere turns out to be an important factor influencing microclimates :

“[The relief sphere is] the only two-dimensional [surface of the earth] in the strict sense, without any actual thickness or thickness. It is the exchange surface on which short-wave sunlight is converted into long-wave thermal radiation and which therefore has a high local or regional climate impact with its different slopes, exposure conditions and altitude. "

- Horst Eichler : Earth Ecosystem. P. 35.

structure

  • Relief spheres structure according to the prevailing relief-forming process:
  1. Relief sphere of the erosion areas : The entirety of the relief formed primarily by erosion processes.
  2. Relief sphere of the transport areas : The entirety of the relief formed primarily by transport processes.
  3. Sphere of relief of the deposition areas : the entirety of the relief formed primarily by deposition processes.
  • Relief spheres breakdown by location:
  1. Subaeric relief sphere: the totality of the relief of the terrestrial surface of the earth. It comprises about 26% of the solid outer surface of the earth. This also includes the relief on glaciers and inland ice masses.
  2. Submarine relief sphere: The entirety of the relief of the surface of the seabed. It comprises about 71% of the solid outer surface of the earth.
  3. Subglacial relief sphere: The entirety of the relief beneath glaciers and inland ice. It currently comprises around 3% of the solid outer surface of the earth.
  4. Littoral relief sphere: the entirety of the relief in the transition from submarine and subaeric relief ( marginal marine relief ).

literature

  • J. Büdel: The relief sphere in the shell structure of the earth . Mannheim 1969.
  • J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, pp. 1-9.
  • J. Demek: Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review]. In: The Earth. 110: 195-196 (1979).
  • CJ Kiewietdejonge: Büdel's geomorphology. In: Progress in Physical Geography. 8, 1984, pp. 218-248.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ RJ Huggett: Geoecology: an evolutionary approach. New York 1995, pp. 7, 26.
  2. ^ RJ Huggett, J. Cheesman: Topography and the Environment . Harlow 2002, pp. 9-11.
  3. ↑ I. Mac: Geomorfosfera - Continut, Structura Şi Extindere (The Geomorphosphere - Content, Structure and Extension). In: Memoriile Secțiilor Științifice. 4, 1983, pp. 259-266.
  4. ^ M. Gallay: Assessing alternative methods for acquiring and processing digital elevation data. Bratislava 2009, p. 18.
  5. ↑ Herz K (arl): Large-scale and small-scale landscape analysis in the mirror of a model. In: Petermann's geographical communications. Supplement 271, 1968, p. 49.
  6. ↑ J. Büdel: The relief sphere in the shell structure of the earth. Mannheim 1969.
  7. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977.
  8. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977.
  9. ↑ J. Büdel, H. Hagedorn: Introduction. In: Journal of Geomorphology. Supplement volume 23 (1975), SV
  10. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology. Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 1.
  11. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology. Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 3 (Figure 2)
  12. ↑ CJ Kiewietdejonge: Büdel's geomorphology. In: Progress in Physical Geography. 8, 1984, p. 218.
  13. ↑ H. Zepp: Geomorphology. Paderborn, 2002, p. 18.
  14. ↑ H. Dürr, H. Zepp: Understanding Geography. Paderborn, 2012, p. 79.
  15. ↑ J. Demek: Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review]. In: The Earth. 110: 195-196 (1979).
  16. ↑ J. Büdel: The position of geomorphology in the system of natural sciences. In: Journal of Geomorphology. Supplement volume 23, 1975, p. 9.
  17. ↑ J. Büdel, H. Hagedorn: Introduction. In: Journal of Geomorphology. Supplement volume 23, 1975, SV
  18. ↑ RJ Huggett: Geoecology: an evolutionary approach. New York, 1995, pp. 7, 26.
  19. ↑ H. Zepp: Geomorphology. Paderborn, 2002, p. 18.
  20. ↑ H. Dürr, H. Zepp: Understanding Geography. Paderborn, 2012, p. 79.
  21. ↑ W. Endlicher: Introduction to urban ecology. Stuttgart 2012, pp. 20, 68.
  22. ^ Ministry for Culture, Youth, Sport Baden-Württemberg (Ed.): Education plan 2004 · General education high school. Stuttgart 2004, p. 245.
  23. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. III.
  24. ↑ J. Büdel, H. Hagedorn: Introduction. In: Journal of Geomorphology .. In: Supplementband. 23, 1975, p. VI.
  25. ↑ J. Büdel: The position of geomorphology in the system of natural sciences. In: Journal of Geomorphology. Supplement volume 23, 1975, p. 9.
  26. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology. Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. III.
  27. ↑ G. Sommerhoff: Geomorphological processes in the Labrador and Irmingersee. A contribution to the submarine geomorphology of a subpolar marine region. In: Polar Research. 51, 1981, pp. 175-191.
  28. ↑ J. Demek: Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review]. In: The Earth. 110 (1979), p. 196.
  29. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 14.
  30. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 2.
  31. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 3 (Figure 1)
  32. ↑ J. Demek: Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review]. In: The Earth. 110 (1979), p. 196.
  33. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology. Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 14.
  34. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. III, 16.
  35. ↑ cf. J. Demek: Julius Büdel: Klima-Geomorphologie [review]. In: The Earth. 110, 1979, p. 195.
  36. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 3 (Figure 2).
  37. ↑ H. Eichler: Ecosystem Earth . Leipzig 1993, p. 35.
  38. ↑ H. Eichler: Ecosystem Earth . Leipzig 1993.
  39. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 2.
  40. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, pp. 1-2.
  41. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, pp. 1-2.
  42. ↑ CJ Kiewietdejonge: Büdel's geomorphology. In: Progress in Physical Geography. 8, 1984, p. 218.
  43. ↑ J. Büdel: Climate Geomorphology . Berlin / Stuttgart 1977, p. 1.
  44. ↑ CJ Kiewietdejonge: Büdel's geomorphology. In: Progress in Physical Geography. 8, 1984, p. 218.