NEWS NOTES ON SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES  Physiographic Provinces    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiographic_province  ...

Published on by

NEWS NOTES ON SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES  Physiographic Provinces    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiographic_province ; “A physiographic province is a geographic region with a characteristic geomorphology, and often specific subsurface rock type or structural elements. The continents are subdivided into various physiographic provinces, each having a specific character, relief, and environment which contributes to its uniqueness. The physiographic provinces are then subdivided into smaller physiographic sections.”  “In eastern North America, the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, and Appalachian Plateau are specific physiographic provinces.”  More detail can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_physiographic_region ; “This list of physiographic regionsof the contiguous United States identifies the 8 regions, 25 provinces, and 85 sections. The system dates to Nevin Fenneman's paper Physiographic Subdivision of the United States , published in 1917. Fenneman expanded and presented his system more fully in two books, Physiography of western United States (1931), and Physiography of eastern United States (1938). In these works Fenneman described 25 provinces and 85 sections of the United States physiography.”  A handy map that organizes a great deal of tabular data can be found here:https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0933/ML093340269.pdf ; “An interpretative tool that can help make sense out of the large amount of information contained in this map is the regional classification shown here. Geomorphic, or physiographic, regions are broad-scale subdivisions based on terrain texture, rock type, and geologic structure and history. Nevin Fenneman's (1946) three-tiered classification of the United States - by division, province, and section - has provided an enduring spatial organization for the great variety of physical features. The composite image presented here clearly shows the topographic textures and generalized geology (by age) from which the physical regions were synthesized. The features we describe represent many of these subdivisions.”