The Influence of Scale in Climatic Geomorphology: A Case Study of Drainage Density in West Malaysia

Abstract

The scale factor in studies of climatic geomorphology is examined by presenting data, at three separate scales of analysis, on the relationship between one aspect of landform, drainage density, and a conceptual model of the denudation system, based on existing studies of landscape dynamics. The study areas are: a second-order basin on the University of Malaya campus (micro-scale); the basin of the River Klang, Selangor (meso-scale); and West Malaysia (macro-scale). These areas are briefly described and the results of the three analyses presented. A synthesis of the results shows: (1) the relative importance of climate varies with the scale of analysis, being approximately equal with lithology at the micro-scale, of minor importance at the meso-scale, and dominant at the macro-scale; (2) in passing from the micro- to the macro-scale, there is a decrease in the significance of moderate climatic events and an increase in the importance of events of greater magnitude.