tectonic geomorphology

Tectonic geomorphology is the study of landforms created by the movement and deformation of Earth's crust, a concept central to plate tectonics. This field examines how processes like uplift and subsidence, driven by tectonic forces, shape major geological features such as mountains, plateaus, and rift valleys. While erosion sculpts these features, their fundamental origins lie in the "builder" aspect of tectonics.12

The Earth's lithosphere is broken into plates that move over the asthenosphere. Interactions at plate boundaries—where they converge, diverge, or slide past each other—generate earthquakes, volcanism, and mountain ranges. For instance, mountains can form from the uplift of crustal blocks or volcanic activity, while valleys and basins can result from crustal extension and thinning. Tectonic processes are responsible for the large-scale differences in elevation, with erosion then refining these into distinct shapes.341