rejuvenation

geology

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July 13, 2026

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In geology, rejuvenation refers to the process where a landform, typically in its "old age" stage, is renewed by a new period of uplift. This uplift can interrupt the natural progression of the geomorphic cycle, returning the landform to a more youthful state with steeper slopes and more vigorous erosion. This concept was central to William M. Davis's theory of landform evolution, which proposed that landforms progress through stages of youth, maturity, and old age, eventually being reduced to a peneplain near sea level. Rejuvenation can occur at any point in this cycle, effectively restarting the process. While Davis emphasized time as the primary factor, modern understanding suggests a dynamic equilibrium between landforms and the processes acting upon them.1

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geomorphic cycle
…stage; this return is called rejuvenation. The geomorphic cycle could be applied to all landforms such as hillslopes, valleys, mountains, and river drainage systems. It was assumed that, if the stage of a landform was known, its history followed directly according to a predetermined framework.
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…stage; this return is called rejuvenation. The geomorphic cycle could be applied to all landforms such as hillslopes, valleys, mountains, and river drainage systems. It was assumed that, if the stage of a landform was known, its history followed directly according to a predetermined framework.
Read More

river
Formation of canyons and gorges
…rivers, a phenomenon known as rejuvenation. Vertical entrenchment produces different valley styles depending on the size of the river and the magnitude and rate of uplift. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, located in the southwestern United States and formed in response to uplift of the Colorado Plateau, has…
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…rivers, a phenomenon known as rejuvenation. Vertical entrenchment produces different valley styles depending on the size of the river and the magnitude and rate of uplift. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, located in the southwestern United States and formed in response to uplift of the Colorado Plateau, has…
Read More