b. The Cartographical Elaboration of the Concept
The variety of information to be incorporated in a modern analytical geomorpho
logical map ranges from morphography, morphogenesis, morphometry, and
morphochronology and includes both forms and processes as well as geological
structure and lithology, hydrography etc., and thus poses serious cartographical
Problems. All means at the disposal of the cartographer, such as coloured area
symbols, line symbols (including hachures and screens of all types), numbers,
letters or indices will have to be used to füll advantage in order to produce a
satisfactory map that is not overcrowded. A variety of attempts to overcome the
problem has been tried during the last decade, none of them being fully satis
factory. A few examples will be given to examplify this.
On the Polish maps prepared by m. klimaszewski and his school coloured area
symbols are used to indicate genesis and chronology combined (for example:
red recent fluvial erosion and denudation; blue recent accumulation
orange pleistocene fluvial erosion and denudation; green pleistocene accu
mulation, etc.).
The advantage of this method is that genesis and chronology are equally stressed.
Lack of flexibility, however, interferes with its application in other geomorphologi
cal environments. Lithology and structure are omitted, notwithstanding the fact
that rock type is of considerable importance for an understanding of the processes
occurring. Since structure becomes increasingly important with decreasing scale
for geomorphological maps, the legend is not suitable for small-scale mapping.
Another interesting attempt is made in the DDR by sachse and Scholz (1959).
Coloured area symbols are used here for chronology only. This is in concordance
with geological maps. When geologists more than a Century ago had to decide
about the contents of geological maps, lithology was considered of secondary
importance and priority was given to the age of the geological formations for
which purpose the colours were used (with the exception of crystalline rocks).
This decision is completely sound for geological maps and also is fully justified
for the area near Berlin where sachse and Scholz made their map. The age of
the Pleistocene deposits occurring there is well established and is beyond doubt.
It seems not advisable, however, to use this method universally since in most
areas chronology is the most difficult kind of information to collect and at the
same time it is susceptible to change with the advancement of our knowledge.
In insufficiently known areas a geomorphological map cannot be produced with
colouring based on chronology.
In Strasbourg, France, j. tricart (1965) uses the coloured area symbols for lithol
ogy. One may wonder whether rock type, though doubtless of great geomorpho
logical significance, is not overstressed this way. More serious is the fact that the
best cartographical means of expressioncoloured area symbols, cannot be used
in areas of accumulation and is thus completely banished amongst others from
the Netherlands.
In Hungary m. pecsi (Geographische Forschungsgruppe, 1962) also puts much
stress on lithology but he applies the coloured area symbols to major landform
types. He indicates chronology by ciphers. The advantage of this is that if the age
of certain forms is unknown, the cipher is simply omitted and the surveying
Introduction to the ITC System of geomorphological survey
87
K.N.A.G. Geografisch Tijdschrift IV (1970) Nr. 1
