Landscape Evolution in the United States: An Introduction to the Geography, Geology, and Natural History

Landscape Evolution in the United States is an accessible text that balances interdisciplinary theory and application within the physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States. Landscape evolution refers to the changing terrain of any given area of the Earth's crust over time. Common causes of evolution (or geomorphology—land morphing into a different size or shape over time) are glacial erosion and deposition, volcanism, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, sediment transport into rivers, landslides, climate change, and other surface processes. The book is divided into three main parts covering landscape components and how they are affected by climactic, tectonic and ocean systems; varying structural provinces including the Cascadia Volcanic Arc and California Transpressional System; and the formation and collapse of mountain systems.

The vast diversity of terrain and landscapes across the United States makes this an ideal tool for geoscientists worldwide who are researching the country’s geological evolution over the past several billion years.

Presents the complexities of physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States through an interdisciplinary, highly accessible approachOffers more than 250 full-color figures, maps and photographs that capture the systematic interaction of land, rock, rivers, glaciers, global wind patterns and climateProvides a thorough assessment of the logic, rationale, and tools required to understand how to interpret landscape and the geological history of the EarthFeatures exercises that conclude each chapter, aiding in the retention of key concepts

Part I – Keys to Understanding Landscape Evolution

1. The Tortoise and the Hare
2. Component: The Rock/Sediment Type
3. Component: The Structural Form
4. Mechanisms That Impart Change to Landscape
5. Forcing Variable: The Tectonic System
6. Forcing Variable: The Climatic System
7. Forcing Variables: Sea Level and Isostasy
8. Interaction of Tectonics, Climate, and Time Part II – Structural Provinces
9. Unconsolidated Sediment
10. Nearly Flat-Lying Sedimentary Layers
11. Crystalline-Cored Mid-Continent Anticlines and Domes
12. Foreland Fold and Thrust Belts
13. Crystalline Deformation Belts
14. Young Volcanic Rocks of the Cordillera
15. Normal Fault-Dominated Landscapes
16. Cascadia Volcanic Arc System
17. California Transpressional System
18. The Story of the Grand Canyon

Part III – Mountain Building

19. Early Theories on the Origin of Mountain Belts
20. Keys to the Interpretation of Geological History
21. Tectonic Style, Rock Successions, and Tectonic Provinces
22. Formation, Collapse, and Erosional Decay of Mountain Systems
23. The Appalachian Orogenic Belt: An Example of Compressional Mountain Building
24. The Cordilleran Orogenic Belt