10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
[O02-P05] Researchers working on the science of landforms
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Japanese Geomorphological Union (JGU), Geomorphology, Landforms, disaster management, urban planning, tourism
The undulation of the ground surface, such as mountains, alluvial plains and coasts, are called “landforms”, and the academic field studying the mechanisms and history of landform development (why are landforms developed and how do they change over time) is “geomorphology”. The Japanese Geomorphological Union (JGU) is a group of scientists, engineers, teachers and others who are interested in geomorphology, and we are actively conducting research and discussion for the advancement of geomorphology. In this presentation, we will introduce the daily works of geomorphologists who are active in Japan and abroad, and how they chose their career path.
Landforms are the field for human activities and are very familiar to us. What are the possible contact points between our lives and geomorphology? Understanding the landforms is very important, for example, when considering the natural hazards that can be occurred there. In the case of Japan, there are many mountainous areas and most large cities are located on alluvial plains created by the processes of rivers. Usually, alluvial plains are vulnerable to floods, so understanding the development processes and morphological characteristics of the landforms in the target areas is necessary, particularly when evaluating inundation risks and creating hazard maps. For such purposes, we use a variety of methods including fieldwork, observation, experiment, and GIS-based analysis.
There are both social sciences/humanities and science departments at universities where topography can be learned. In studying landforms, we sometimes learn knowledge and methods of surrounding disciplines such as geology, hydrology, ecology, and archaeology, and we sometimes conduct research in collaboration with them. Graduates of geomorphology are active in a wide variety of fields, including teaching, research, public service (e.g., disaster management and urban planning), and private industry (e.g., tourism, real estate, and natural resource development). Questions from anyone interested in geomorphology are welcome.
Landforms are the field for human activities and are very familiar to us. What are the possible contact points between our lives and geomorphology? Understanding the landforms is very important, for example, when considering the natural hazards that can be occurred there. In the case of Japan, there are many mountainous areas and most large cities are located on alluvial plains created by the processes of rivers. Usually, alluvial plains are vulnerable to floods, so understanding the development processes and morphological characteristics of the landforms in the target areas is necessary, particularly when evaluating inundation risks and creating hazard maps. For such purposes, we use a variety of methods including fieldwork, observation, experiment, and GIS-based analysis.
There are both social sciences/humanities and science departments at universities where topography can be learned. In studying landforms, we sometimes learn knowledge and methods of surrounding disciplines such as geology, hydrology, ecology, and archaeology, and we sometimes conduct research in collaboration with them. Graduates of geomorphology are active in a wide variety of fields, including teaching, research, public service (e.g., disaster management and urban planning), and private industry (e.g., tourism, real estate, and natural resource development). Questions from anyone interested in geomorphology are welcome.