Dryland Climatology

ISBN-13: 9781108446549 / Angielski / Miękka / 2018 / 528 str.

Sharon E. Nicholson

Opis

Provides a comprehensive overview of dryland climates and their relationship to the physical environment, vegetation, hydrology, and inhabitants.

Recenzje

'Dryland Climatology presents a unique view of dryland climates from a broad perspective. The author, Sharon E. Nicholson, draws together over 30 years of her research in drylands to provide a comprehensive, 500-plus-page review of dryland climates … comprehensive yet skilfully crafted to explain detailed and complex concepts in an easy-to-follow manner … this volume has been very carefully thought through and nicely presented. [It] is a must for anybody interested in dryland systems and certainly reaches audiences far beyond the title.' Adrian G. Parker, The Holocene

Spis treści

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. The Dryland Environment: 1. Introduction to dryland environments; 2. The geomorphologic background; 3. Vegetation of the dryland regions; Part II. The Meteorological Background: 4. The general atmospheric circulation; 5. The global distribution of arid climates and rainfall; 6. Radiation, heat and surface exchange processes; 7. Water balance; 8. Evaporation; Part III. The Climatic Environment of Drylands: 9. Defining aridity: the classification and character of dryland climates; 10. Desert microclimate; 11. Precipitation in the drylands; 12. Hydrologic processes in the drylands; 13. Desert winds and dust; Part IV. The Earth's Dry Lands: 14. North America; 15. South America; 16. Subsaharan Africa; 17. The Mediterranean lands; 18. Australia; 19. Asia; 20. Coastal deserts; Part V. Life and Change in the Dryland Regions: 21. Drought and other hazards; 22. Desertification; 23. People in the dryland environments; 24. Plant and animal life in the desert; 25. Climatic variability and climatic change; Index.