Hierarchy of Landforms - Salisbury's Classification The search for geography as a systematic science resulted in simplification which in geomorphology was done by Salisbury. He classified landforms into a hierarchical order based on their scale and formation processes. SALISBURY'S CLASSIFICATION OF LANDFORMS Salisbury classified the landform into: 1. Relief Features of 1st Order This includes two major features Continental Platforms and Ocean Basins . The first order relief features are stable in the geological history of the earth, though there are some small scale changes in their forms, boundaries and geographical location. 2. 2nd Order of Relief Feature 2nd order relief features are superimposed on the 1st order relief features. Some of the examples are Mountains, Plateau, Plains on the continental landmass and mid oceanic ridges, sea-mounts are present on the ocean basins. The 2nd order relief ...