Geomorphology of Puget Sound

This chapter describes a few examples of the geomorphology of regions within the Puget Sound region that represent the results of different interactions between the environment, humans, and the earth's surface and which have created the landscapes we see today. It summarizes the eight processes that affect geomorphology as they relate to the Puget Sound region: aeolian, biological, fluvial, glacial, hillslope, igneous, tectonic, and marine. Geomorphological processes generally fall into three groups: the production of rock and mineral fragments by weathering and erosion, the transport of that material, and its eventual deposition and interaction with the underlying surface. The chapter summarizes how precipitation and water flow have affected the geomorphology of the Puget Sound region. Igneous processes may catastrophically alter the landscape, thereby re-setting the paths of flowing water, migration routes of birds and animals, and delay the establishment of the botanical ecosystem for many years.