Argues that knowledge of geomorphological processes is fundamental to understanding the ways in which carbon is stored and recycled in the terrestrial environmentIntegrates classical geomorphological theory with understanding of microbial processes controlling the decomposition of organic matterDevelops an interdisciplinary research agenda for the analysis of the terrestrial carbon cycleInformed by work in ecology, microbiology and biogeochemistry, in order to analyse spatial and temporal patterns of terrestrial carbon cycling at the landscape scaleConsiders the ways in which, as Humanity enters the Anthropocene, the application of this science has the potential to manage the terrestrial carbon cycle to limit increases in atmospheric carbon