peneplain

pe·ne·plain

also pe·ne·plane P0162200 (pē′nə-plān′)n. A nearly flat land surface representing an advanced stage of erosion.

[pene-, almost (from Latin paene) + plain.]

peneplain

(ˈpiːnɪˌpleɪn; ˌpiːnɪˈpleɪn) or

peneplane

n (Physical Geography) a relatively flat land surface produced by a long period of erosion[C19: from pene- + plain¹] ˌpeneplaˈnation n

pe•ne•plain

or pe•ne•plane

(ˈpi nəˌpleɪn, ˈpɛn ə-)

n. an area reduced almost to a plain by erosion. [1889; < Latin paene almost + plain¹] pe`ne•pla•na′tion (-pləˈneɪ ʃən) n.

peneplain

A nearly flat land surface almost worn down to sea level.

Thesaurus

Noun

peneplain - a more or less level land surface representing an advanced stage of erosion undisturbed by crustal movementspeneplanegeology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rockschampaign, plain, field - extensive tract of level open land; "they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain"; "he longed for the fields of his youth"

Peneplain

enUK

peneplain

[′pēn·ə‚plān] (geology) base-leveled plain

Peneplain

a denudation plain that has formed where mountainous regions were leveled under humid conditions. In contrast, there are plains whose initially flat relief was the result of accumulation.

The peneplain concept was introduced into geomorphology in the late 19th century by the American geographer W. M. Davis, who considered the peneplain a theoretically conceivable concluding stage of the geographic cycle. According to Davis, the mechanism of peneplain formation consists in the reduction of every point of the surface of a mountainous region by subaerial erosion, but Davis’ explanation is not universally recognized. L. King disagreed with such an explanation of planation and contrasted the concept of the pediplain to that of the peneplain.

Peneplains are formed at the end of major tectonic cycles during the transition from the orogenic stage of development of the earth’s crust to the platform stage. Thick weathering mantles form within peneplains. When tectonic subsidences occur, peneplains may become buried by sedimentary strata; when uplifts occur, peneplains become raised, as in the case of the syrts of the Tien-Shan.

A. E. KRIVOLUTSKII

peneplain

pe·ne·plain

peneplain

peneplane

pe•ne•plain

or pe•ne•plane

peneplain

Peneplain

peneplain

Peneplain

peneplain

Synonyms for peneplain

noun a more or less level land surface representing an advanced stage of erosion undisturbed by crustal movements

Synonyms

Related Words