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In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the long-term behaviour of landforms. This should be soundly based in theory rather than inferentially based on historical studies. Some recent concepts in dynamical systems theory are reviewed, particularly the notions of stability, instability and bifurcation, as inputs to this theoretical base. Three examples illustrate the potential of this approach and indicate its implications for geomorphological studies.
J. B. Thornes (Wed,) studied this question.