Geomorphology of Desert Environments

ISBN-13: 9781402057182 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 831 str.

Anthony J. Parsons; Athol D. Abrahams; A. J. Parsons

Opis

About one-third of the Earth s land surface experiences a desert climate, and this area supports approximately 15% of the planet s population. This percentage continues to grow, and with this growth comes the need to acquire and apply an understanding of desert geomorphology. Such an understanding is vital in managing scarce and fragile resources and in mitigating natural hazards. This authoritative reference book is comprehensive in its coverage of the geomorphology of desert environments, and is arranged thematically. It begins with an overview of global deserts, proceeds through treatments of weathering, hillslopes, rivers, piedmonts, lake basins, and aeolian surfaces, and concludes with a discussion of the role of climatic change. Written by a team of international authors, all of whom are active in the field, the chapters cover the spectrum of desert geomorphology."

Spis treści

Part One – Introduction. 1. Geomorphology of Desert Environments. 2. Global deserts: a geomorphic comparison.- Part Two – Weathering. 3. Weathering Processes and Forms. 4. Aridic Soils, patterned ground and desert pavements. 5. Duricrusts. 6. Rock varnish in deserts.- Part Three – Hillslopes. 7. Rock slopes. 8. Rock-mantled slopes. 9. Badlands. 10. The role of vegetation.- Part Four – Rivers. 11. Catchment and channel hydrology. 12. Channel processes and forms.- Part Five – Piedmonts. 13. Piedmonts in arid environments. 14. Alluvial fan processes and forms.- Part Six – Lake Basins. 15. Semi-arid lake basins: hydrographic patterns. 16. Semi-arid lake basins: geomorphic patterns.- Part Seven – Aeolian Surfaces. 17. Aeolian sand transport. 18. Dune morphology and dynamics. 19. The transport and deposition of dust. 20. Landforms of aeolian erosion.- Part Eight – Climatic change. 21. Rock varnish as evidence of climatic change. 22. Hillslopes as evidence of climatic change. 23. River landforms and sediments: evidence of climatic change. 24. The role of climatic change in alluvial fan development. 25. Geomorphic evidence of climatic change from desert-basin palaeolakes. 26. Palaeoclimatic interpretations from desert dunes and sediments. 27. Palaeoclimatic interpretations from archaeological sites. 28. Cenozoic climatic change in deserts: a synthesis.

Blurb

About one-third of the Earth’s land surface experiences a desert climate, and this area supports approximately 15% of the planet’s population. This percentage continues to grow, and with this growth comes the need to acquire and apply an understanding of desert geomorphology. Such an understanding is vital in managing scarce and fragile resources and in mitigating natural hazards.
This authoritative reference book is comprehensive in its coverage of the geomorphology of desert environments, and is arranged thematically. It begins with an overview of global deserts, proceeds through treatments of weathering, hillslopes, rivers, piedmonts, lake basins, and aeolian surfaces, and concludes with a discussion of the role of climatic change. Written by a team of international authors, all of whom are active in the field, the chapters cover the spectrum of desert geomorphology.

Geomorphology of Desert Environments – Second Edition is thoroughly revised and extended with six new chapters, many new illustrations and expanded and updated references in each chapter.

- The most comprehensive and up-to-date research-level treatment of desert geomorphology
- Presented from a global perspective
- Written by authoritative practitioners in the field

From the reviews of the previous edition:
"Geomorphology of Desert Environments is a worthy and desirable newcomer" Nature

"... up-to-date expert reviews that together represent a comprehensive treatment of the state of knowledge in desert geomorphology." SciTech Book News