Walther penck biography of alberta

(b. Vienna, Austria, 30 August 1888 d. Stuttgart Frg, 29 september (1923)

geology.

Penck’s interest steadily natural science developed under distinction tutelage of both his churchman the geologist and gemorophologist Albrect Penck, and his teacher, Unenviable Pfurtscheller.

When the elder Penck moved to the University nigh on Berlin, Penck ebgan his undregrauated studies there, but these studits were soon interrupted when, top 1908–1909, he accompanied his daddy to the United States locale the altter was an convert profesor at Columbia University Before this year, he traved thoroughly with his father and tumble many geology, inculding G.

Youthful. Gilbert. After returning to Songster via Hawii, Japan, China, near Siberia, Penck enrolled at description University of Heidelberg, from which he grauated; he subsequently protracted his studies in Vienna.

In 1912 he was appointed geologist disparage the Direcion General de Minas in Buenos Aires, Where proceed was responsible for geological examination and topography mapping in northwesterly Argentian.

Aided by his monutainneering ability, he ampped sone 4,500 squrae miles of territory cry less than two years stall made a reconnaissance across honourableness Andes. It was during these years (1912–1914) that Penck official his ideas regarding the representation of tectonic movements. His studies of the Upper Cretaceous tell Tertiary sediments flanking the Calchaqui mountains, Sierra de Famatina, allow Sierra de Fiambala in justness Puna de Atacama led him, like his father, to honour temporal patterns of uplift wellknown more varied than the replica of rapid uplift followed overtake long quiescence, which was recognized by W.

M. Davis.

Penck ostensible that most tectonic movements began and ended slowly, and guarantee the common pattern of specified movements involved a slow early uplift, an accelerated uplift, systematic deceleration in uplift, and, at length, quiescence. There can be cack-handed doubt that much of Penck’s geomorphic work was an have a crack to provide physiographic support carry the general pattern of stir that he had previously extraneous from stratigraphical evidence.

The short while that Penck placed on indentifying the movements of the strategic area from the record thoroughgoing sedimentation is cleraly stated presume the first chapter of her majesty Die morphologische Analyse. Few geologists would now attempt more stun to suggest the occurrence manage some generalized uplift on probity sole evidence of the aqueous record, and even fewer would infer the pattern of stir in any great detail.

Bear 1917 Joseph Barrell showed guarantee much of the character emancipation the sedimentary record is graph by the subsidence of excellence basin of the adjacent pitch area. Although these behaviors anecdotal often so closely linked wind it is difficult to identify between them, the work practice Barrell began to cost challenge on the simple association halfway the nature of sedimentation tube the pattern of uplift possess the source area.

The major thrifty of Penck’s work in Argentina were not published until grandeur end of World War Mad.

The war broke out behaviour he was in Germany deepen leave and, although his Southmost American work qualified him sustenance a geological post at picture University of Leipzig, he served for a while in interpretation German army in Alsace. Level the end of 1915 take steps was appointed professor of minoeralogy and geology at the Sanatorium of Constantinople.

For the monitor two and a half discretion he made tectonic observations pin down Anatolia (where he visited dignity Bithynian Olympus) and did sundry geological work in the district of the Sea of Sea (where he studied the char strata of the Dardanelles). Prohibited also served as a fellow at teh Agricultural College have a high opinion of Halkaly.

Malaria forced him redo return to Germany in rectitude summer of 1918; shortly thenceforth he published the two agitated works that summarized his studies in Turkey.

Penck was unable require return to Turkey after teh end of the war, pointer he became an unsalaried academic at the University of Metropolis, where he also held smashing lectureship in topographical and geologic surveying.

Refusing, despite straitened pecuniary circumstances, more lucrative posts consider it would have inhibited his researches, Penck studied the terrian sight the German highlands, and epoxy resin particular thta of the Jet Forest. In 1921 he raise some of his Turkish affluence. Shortly afterward he died castigate cancer, survived by his helpmate and two small sons.

During say publicly last years of his vocation, Penck developed his most relevant ideas on the interpretation attention landforms through analysis of rectitude relationships between endogenetic (diastrophic) splendid exogenetic (erosional) processes.

Of justness three major publications that incarnate his views, only the lowest important, “Wesen und Grundlagen stern morphologischen Analyse” (1920), was available before his death. “Die Piedmontflächen des sudlichen Schwarzwaldes” (1925) was based upon two lectures zigzag he gave at Leipzig arbitrate December 1921; his book Die morphologische Analyse (1924) was sole part of a contemplated paramount work and was assembled view edited by his father.

That last, posthumously published work was not only fragmentary but further hurriedly written, full of cloak terminology, and often unclear, Packet from J. E. Kesseli’s mimeographed translation (1940) of an notional of chapter 6, which issue the development of slopes, Die morphologische Analyse was not translated into English until 1953.

Simons, one of Penck’s later translators, wrote “I have hardly astute met more difficult and hide language. Quite often it was difficult to tell whether operate said yes or no.”

It review unfortunate that, for a term of more than twenty eld, the only English interpretation delightful Penck’s geomorphic ideas was go off available in a highly depreciatory article published in 1932 soak his major opponent, W.

Collection. Davis. Davis concentrated on Penck’s Black Forest paper of 1925 and, besides seizing on representation obvious difficulties of interpreting topographical discontinuities as the product refreshing continuous crustal uplift, grossly artful Penck’s ideas, particularly in attributing to him the postulate indicate the parallel retreat of give someone a ring major slope element which leaves beneath itself a surface follow less declivity (compare fig.

4 of Davis’ 1932 article be equal with fig. 4 of Penck’s 1925 publication). By World War II the Davis-Penck controversy, as strike was carried out in authority English-speaking world, had foundered inspect a doctrinaire and depressingly precise morass.

Penck believed that landforms could be interpreted through the ratios that might be expected around occur between exogenetic processes (which he believed to be oust uniform type but developed usage different rates in different climates) and a wide spectrum announcement endogenetic process.

He also esteem that diastrophic movement were custom two amjor types, which could occur independently or together Closure anmed the frist type Grossfalt (“great” or “broad” fold) near state that it was concern by lateral compression with sideways synclines; this fold became narrower with time and was apparently faulted and thrusted in vary stages.

Penck interprected “basin mushroom range” structures as beloging commemorative inscription this type. He treated these in detail in Die morphologische Analyse, in which eh peaky unsuccessfully to show that significance facies of the sediemnts variant from these folds do very different from indicate intermittent uplift.

he judged the whole summit area be in the region of such a range as spruce up deformed primary peneplain that was formed during slow intial ascendance and correlated with unconformities constant worry the basin.

The second type fo movement defined by Penck was regional arching. He stated turn this movement was produced moisten differential uplift thgus, generating domas (Gewölbes) taht progressively expaned their area with time but were not necessarily assocation with sideways down-warps.

Penck slighted the physiographic results of this type addendum movement in Die Morphologics Analse, but described them in concentration in his 1925 paper escalation the Black Forest All wellreceived exposition of Penck geomography views were based to some control on his description of distinction landforms that might be refine on such a done depiction surface a donhe the horizontal of whcih forms a set attendants of stepped erosional benches (Piedmontreppen) of differing age.

Where the bend in half types fo crustal movement arise together as in the Chain, Penck thought that a excellent complex deforamtion was poduced pimple which the regional doming much outlasting the Grossfalt, was solid for the general relief.

Powder believed that regional up doming began with a major pahase of waxing development (aufsteigende Entwickung) in which the accelering acclivity rates were generally in residue fo steam degradation and integrity resulting land forms were domiated by the crustal instablity. That development was followed by calligraphic general decline in the sport of uplift, during which unmixed short period of uniform happening (gleichförmieg Entwicklung), in which far-out short period of uniforms system (gleichformige Entwicklung) in whcih magnanimity rate of eroisen by haul overtook thosepof uplift was succeeds by a domiantly waning pahse (absteigende Entwicklung), during which greatness rate of uplift decreased, attractive stable as the landscape, became progressively domined by the eroisnal process fo valleys wideking.

Acquit yourself this model the intially reduce uplift would result in birth formation and sbsequent elevation get through a primery penelpain (Primärumpf), comprehend convex valleys side slopes Considerably the uplift accelerated the field would be surrounded by systematic series fo Pedomnttreppen, each execute which had orginated the on the rocks piedmiont flat (Piedmonfälche) on probity slowly rising doem amrin Penck believed conex breaks fo sloves (Knickpunkte)to from on the radially draining river course during escalating uplift leaving “one conex clip after the other .

. ., belwo wach one yoke begins a narrow steep path (“Die Piedmont flance des südilen Schewarwaldes,” p. 90). The concen stearm reach ebtween teh conex nicks are formed formed laboratory analysis assocation with the Piedmontrreppan; coach tends to act as harangue independent local baselevel for rectitude subsequent valleys widedncing on either side of the steam system.

Penck made no clear distruction betwen contiues acceleration fo climbing the mechinanies that he evoaked for the production of Piedmottrappan and Knickpunte also lakced gauziness. Dauivs made much of these points and the modren geomorpholosit can only find it burdensome to understan how topographics discontinuities can develop during the waxing phase of Penck model.

Penck’s ingenious wqork was nonetheless fo enormously value in reparing the omossion of diastrophic causes in all the more of the classic geomorphic literature.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

I.

Original Works. The more chief of Penck’s 43works include Die tektonischen Grundzüeg West kleinasiens (Stuttgart 1918); “Grundzuge der Geologie nonsteroidal Bospour” in Veröffentlichungen des Insutitutes fur Meereakunde an dem Univresität n.s4 (1919) 1–71; “Der Sudrand der Puna de Atacama (Nodwestgraentinien).

Ein Beitrag zure Kenntnis nonsteroid andien Gebrigsbildung” in nAbhandlungen conductor Sachsischen Akdemie der Wissenschaften Math,- Phys. K1.,37 no, 1 (1920) 1–420; “Western und Grundlagen hold back morphological Analyse” in Berich Sachsischen Akademie der Wissemshaften Math nat., K1., 72 (1920) 65–102; “Ubre die From Andiner Krustenbebwegungen closet ihre Beziehung zur Sedimentation” hit down Geologische Rundscant, 14 (9123) 301–315; “Die morphological Anaylse.

Ein Kapital der physikalischen Geologie” in Geographiache Abhandlungen 2dn ser., 2 (1942)1–283; this work was subsequently available separately (Stuttgart 1924) and trans. by H. Czech and K.C.Boswell as Morphological Analysis of Landfroms (London 1953)This ed,. contains unadulterated short biography of Penck (pp.vii-viii) and a list of realm publ;ications (pp.352–353).

See also “Die peidmontfachen des sudlican Schwarzwaldes” embankment Zeitschrft der Gesllschen für Erdkunde zu Berlin (9152), 83–108, accomplice mimoegraphed trans by M.Simons, “The Piedmont-flats of the Southern Coal-black Forest”(1961).

II. Secondary Literature. On Penck and his works are Lowdown. Ampferer, “Walther Penck” Verhandlungen derGeologischen Bundesanstalt, 4 (1924), 81–82; Pirouette.

G. Backlund, “Walther Penck,” alter Geologiska Foreningins I Stockholm Förhandlinger, 45(5) (1923), 445–447; J. Barrell, “Rhythms and the Measurement slow Geologic Time,” in Bulletin business the Geological Society of America, 28 (1917), 745–904; H. Baulig, “Sur les gradins de piedmont,” in Journal of Geomorphology, 2 (1939), 281–304, a somewhat ill-advised criticism of Penck’s concept be fooled by slope development; I.

Bowman, “The Analysis of Landforms; W. Penck on the Topographic Cycle,” throw Geographical Review, 16 (1926), 122–132, a critical article on Die morphologische Analyse written with glory approval and help of Davis; R. J. Chorley, “The Diastrophic Background to Twentieth-Century Geomorphological Thought,” in Bulletin of the Geologic Society of America, 74 (1963), 953–970; R.

J. Chorely set a limit al., The History of righteousness Study of Landforms, (Methuen-London, 1973), passim, which presents the ultimate personal correspondence between Penck unacceptable Davis; W. M. Davis, “Piedmont Benchlands and the primarrumpfe,” shore Bulletin of the Geological Chorus line of America, 43 (1932), 399–440, a detailed attack on Penck’s 1925 publication; G.

K. Gi, “The Convexity of Hilltops,” emphasis Journal of Geology, 17 (1909), 344–350; and J. E. Kesseli, The Development of Slopes (Berkeley, Calif., 1940), mimeographed; F. Kossmat, “Walther Penck,” in Centralblatt mint Mineralogie, Geologie und Palaontologie, 25 (1924), 123–127.

Additional works include Pirouette.

Lautensach, “Albrecht und Walther Panck,” in Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, n.s. 2 (1958), 245–250; A. Blurred. Ogilvie, “Argentine Physiographical Studies; Unblended Review,” in Geographical Review, 13 (1923), 112–121, a review sign over “Der Südrand der Puna comfy Atacama” and other works; Dinky. Penck, “Biography of Walther Penck,” Foreword to Die morphologische Analyse (1924), VII-XVIII; A.

Penck, “Letter Regarding ’Die morphologische Analyse,’ “ in Geographical Review, 16 (1926), 350–352, a reply to Archer (1926); C. O. Sauer, “Landforms in the Peninsular Range near califorms as Developed About Warner’s Hot Springs and Mesa Grande,” in University of California Publications in Geography, 3 no. 4 (1929), 199–290, an attempt resolve apply Penck’s geomorphic notions cage up North America; M.

Simons, “The Morphological Analysis of Landforms; Practised New Review of the be troubled of Walther Penck,” in Transactions of the Institute of Nation Geographers, no. 31 (1962), 1–14, a penetrating review of multitudinous of Penck’s ideas; and requisite critical in the preparation of that biographical note; H. Spreitzer, “Die Piedmottreppen in der regionalen Geomorphologie,” in Erdkunde, 5 no.

4 (1951), 294–304; Symposium, “Walther Penck’s Contribution to Geomorphology,” in Annals of the Association of Dweller Geographers, 30 (1940), 219–284; Twisted. -F. Tuan, “The Misleading Antonym of Penckian and Davisian Concepts of Slope Retreat in Depose Development,” in Proceedings of blue blood the gentry Indiana Academy of Science, 67 (1958), 212–214; and O.

Return. von Engeln, Geomorphology (New Dynasty, 1942), 256–268, an exposition home-made on Davis (1932).

Richard Chorley