Geomorphology of the Tropics

ISBN-13: 9783540635833 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 314 str.

Alfred Wirthmann; D. Busche

Opis

Geomorphological research in the humid to seasonal tropics has primarily concentrated on the most characteristic landform assemblage of this zone, namely that of stepped, largely undissected etchplains, often dotted with inselbergs and cutting across ancient basement rocks. Although the author discusses extensively this subject, he puts particular emphasis on the differences of chemical weathering and land-forming processes on rocks of various lithology and structure. This contrast becomes most evident, when comparing the highly resistant quartzitic sediments often covering the basement rocks with the easily weathered volcanics, e.g. the Deccan traps of India.
The book was first published in German in 1987. However, the present version is much more than a translation, encompassing a range of new ideas and findings in the field of tropical geomorphology. The number of maps and illustrations has also been increased.

Spis treści

1 The Special Nature of Tropical Geomorphology.- 2 On the History of Tropical Geomorphology.- 3 The Determining Factors of Landform Development.- 4 Tropical Climates and Exogenic Morphodynamics.- 5 Paleoclimate, Soil and Landforms.- 6 Tectonic Movements and Structures.- 7 The Cycle of Denudation in the Tropics — Rocks, Structures and Age.- 8 Two Islands in Comparison.- 9 Landforms, Soils and Man in the Tropics.- References.

Blurb

Geomorphological research in the humid to seasonal tropics has primarily concentrated on the most characteristic landform assemblage of this zone, namely that of stepped, largely undissected etchplains, often dotted with inselbergs and cutting across ancient basement rocks. Although the author discusses extensively this subject, he puts particular emphasis on the differences of chemical weathering and land-forming processes on rocks of various lithology and structure. This contrast becomes most evident, when comparing the highly resistant quartzitic sediments often covering the basement rocks, e.g. the Roraima series on the Guiana shield, with the easily weathered volcanics, e.g. the Deccan traps of India.
The book was first published in German in 1987. However, the present version is much more than a translation, encompassing a range of new ideas and findings in the field of tropical geomorphology. The number of maps and illustrations has also been increased.