L.C King model of Landform Development | Geomorphology | Physical Geography | Geography for UPSC IAS PCS NET JRF ~ Civil Services Self Study

LC King's parallel retreat model and the development of the landform model were based on his observations of the semi-arid and arid regions of the African continents.

The following are the main observations of the LC King Model:

As per LC King, the influence of climate on landform development is generally negligible, there is uniform development of landform in all climatic conditions except a very cold and very hot climate.
Major Landforms of the earth were evolved by tectonic events.
As per LC King, there are four major components of the profile of ideal hill slopes-summit, scarp, debris slope, and pediments.
The hillslopes retreat parallel in the erosional cycle, and the decline of the slope of hills is always in the form of a "parallel retreat".

In the parallel retreat of slopes,

The slope of hills does not change with time.
Ideal hill slopes with all four components are developed in areas where there is sufficient relief and fluvial agents such as running water are present.
If the cause of erosion is the river or running water, the same parallel retreat gradient will develop, regardless of the climatic conditions.
The level of the upper curve and the lower curve does not change with time in the LC King erosion cycle.

LC King Erosional Cycle

Three stages in Lc Kind cycle of erosion:

Lc king agreed to the three stages of the division cycle of erosion but disagreed with the notion of stages. As per Lc king, the following are three stages of the king's cycle of erosion:

First stage:

In this phase, the land is uplifted by tectonic forces, leading to the formation of major landforms.
In this phase, the river cuts the valley vertically.

Second stage:

Lateral erosion is more prominent.
The river-based pediment is formed in the river valley.

Third stage:

Pediplanation formed after the merging of many pediments.

Pediplanation concept of LC King

Lc King vs Davis cycle of erosion:

After the formation of Peneplain, the Davis cycle stops but the King's erosion cycle never stops. According to Lc King, the erosion cycle is a never-ending process, each cycle beginning with uplift by tectonic force, and a cycle complete with the formation of the pediment. Many pediments merge to form Pediplantation and the erosion cycle begins again.

Major Criticism of Lc King cycle of erosion:

By observation, it has been found that parallel retreat of slopes is different in different climatic conditions.

Download PDF Notes

Answer the following questions:

1. Which of the following is the final landform of the LC king cycle of erosion?

a) Peneplain

b) Pediplanation

c) Primarumpf

d) Pedeplain

Answer. b) Pediplanation

2. Lc king model of landform development is based on the study of which region?

a) Appalachian Mountains of North America

b) Alps Mountains

c) Himalayan mountains

d) Semi-arid and arid regions of Africa

Answer. d) Semi-arid and arid regions of Africa

3. Which of the following concept was given by the LC king regarding slope development in the cycle of erosion?

a) Slope decline

b) Slope replacement

c) Parallel retreat

d) Slope upliftment

Answer. c) Parallel retreat

4. How many stages are in the LC king cycle of erosion?

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

d) 5

Answer. b) 3

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Try to solve the following questions:

"In explaining the concept of "Pediplanation", King combined the ideas of Davis, Penk, and Wood with his own." Elaborate. (UPSC 2016, 250 words, 20 marks)

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