Global change and long‐term geomorphology

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Abstract
Landscape evolution is on the same time‐scale as global tectonics, biological evolution, and major climatic change. Some features of global change reflected in landscape evolution result from the breakup of Pangaea. Others relate to major climatic changes, and yet others to a major change from a dominantly plains landscape of the Mesozoic to an increasingly mountainous landscape in the Tertiary. Worldwide deep weathering profiles of Cretaceous and early Tertiary age suggest widespread planation and warm, moist climates. Erosion of deeply weathered regolith following the formation of new continental margins and tectonic uplift led to the deposition of unusual mature sediments. Many river patterns can be traced to early Tertiary or older antecedents.Some climatic changes are due to orbital forcing, but others may be related to changing positions of continents, creation of new seaways, or to mountain building. The timing of mountain uplift, climatic changes and biological changes must be resolved to test models of their mutual interaction. Geomorphic input on tectonics, drainage evolution, and deep weathering will be an essential component in dealing with these problems.