GEOMORPHOLOGY

geomorphology noun Geol. the scientific study of the nature and history of the landforms on the surface of the Earth and other planets, and of the processes that create them.
- Chambers Combined Dictionary Thesaurus (1997) (Edinburgh)

Geomorphology is an academic discipline. It is scientific in approach. It attempts to explain features found and processes operating upon the surface of the earth. Research in geomorphology is mostly carried out in the empirical, analytical, reductionistic traditions of modern science. The approach includes information gathering in the field and testing of hypotheses. Efforts are taken to replicate and to generalise results. Many universities teach geomorphology (it is generally offered as a group of subjects). At schools in Australia, it is frequently covered as a part of geography, although aspects of landforms are also usually covered in science.


 

Because it is scientific in approach, with strong links to underlying rock characteristics, geomorphology is considered by some to be a branch of geology (and thus, as a science). This approach appears to particularly represent the prevailing North American view.
Because it studies features of and processes acting upon the surface of the Earth, geomorphology is considered  by some to be a branch of  (physical) geography. This approach appears to particularly represent the prevailing European view (and the view of the university the author attended in Australia).