Arid Zone Geomorphology: Process, Form and Change in Drylands

The new edition of Arid Zone Geomorphology encapsulates the advances that have been made in recent years in the investigation and explanation of landforms and geomorphological processes in drylands. Building on the success of the previous two editions, the Third Edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest developments in the field. Whilst this latest edition will remain a comprehensive reference to the subject, the book has been restructured to include regional case studies throughout to enhance student understanding and is clearly defined into five distinct sections; Firstly, the book introduces the reader to Large Scale Controls and Variability in Drylands and then moves on to consider Surface Processes and Characteristics; The Work of Water and The Work of the Wind. The book concludes with a section on Living with Dryland Geomorphology that includes a chapter on geomorphological hazards and the human impact on these environments.
Once again, recognized world experts in the field contributed chapters in order to present a comprehensive and up–to–date overview of current knowledge about the processes shaping the landscape of deserts and arid regions.Includes global contribution from leading experts in the field providing the reader with a selective but balanced overview of this developing subject.Divided clearly into five distinct sections to ensure clear, comprehensive coverage of the subject.Includes key regional case studies throughout to enhance student understanding.Key references now included at the end of the book for ease of use.    New chapters on Climate Framework; Desert System Variability; Pavements and Mantles; Desert Dune Processes and Histories; Geomorphological Hazards in Drylands and Arid Zone Geomorphology and 21st Century Global Warming.

Spis treści:

List of contributors.
Preface to the first edition.
Preface to the second e dition.
Preface to the third edition.
I Large–scale controls and variability in drylands.
1 Arid environments: their nature and extent (David S.G. Thomas).
1.1 Geomorphology in arid environments.
1.2 Arid zone distinctiveness and the quest for explanation.
1.3 Arid zones: terminology and definitions.
1.4 The age of aridity on Earth.
1.5 The distribution of arid zones.
1.6 Causes of aridity.
1.7 Climate variability.
1.8 Dryland ecosystems.
1.9 Arid zone geomorphology and people.
1.10 Organisation of this book.
2 Tectonic frameworks (Helen Rendell).
2.1 Introduction.
2.2 Tectonic setting of drylands.
2.3 Uplift and erosion, subsidence and sedimentation.
2.4 Lengths of record.
2.5 Existing erosional and depositional records in arid environments.
2.6 Selected examples of the geomorphological impact of active tectonics in arid environments.
2.7 Conclusions.
3 Climatic frameworks: legacies from the past (David S.G. Thomas and Sallie L. Burrough).
3.1 Introduction.
3.2 The significance of arid zone fluctuations in the past.
3.3 Dating arid zone fluctuations.
3.4 Climatic interpretations and issues.
3.5 Conclusions.
4 Dryland system variability (David S. G. Thomas).
4.1 A framework for dryland diversity.
4.2 Geomonotony: how unvarying are the ‘flat’ drylands of the world?
4.3 Within–dryland diversity.
4.4 Summary issues.
5 Extraterrestrial arid surface processes (Jonathan Clarke).
5.1 Introduction.
5.2 What does ‘aridity’ mean beyond Earth?
5.3 Why should planetary scientists understand terrestrial arid geomorphology?
5.4 What can terrestrial geomorphologists learn from a solar system perspective?
5.5 Mars: water–based aridity.
5.6 Titan: methane–based aridity?
5.7 Venus: extreme aridity.
5.8 Future Directions.
II Surface processes and characteristics.6 Weathering systems (Heather A. Viles).
6.1 Introduction.
6.2 What makes arid environments unusual in terms of weathering systems?
6.3 Theoretical underpinnings of weathering systems research.
6.4 Current weathering study methods.
6.5 Linking processes to form in arid weathering systems.
6.6 Explaining the development of weathering landforms in arid environments.
6.7 Weathering rates in arid environments.
6.8 Arid weathering and landscape evolution.
6.9 Scale and arid weathering systems.
7 Desert soils (David L. Dunkerley).
7.1 Introduction: the nature and significance of desert soils.
7.2 Taxonomy of desert soils.
7.3 Some distinctive aspects of desert soil development.
7.4 Stone–mantled surfaces and desert pavements.
7.5 Inorganic seals at the soil surface.
7.6 Vesicular soil structures.
7.7 Conclusions.
8 Desert crusts and rock coatings (David J. Nash).
8.1 Introduction.
8.2 Sodium nitrate deposits.
8.3 Halite crusts.
8.4 Gypsum crusts.
8.5 Calcrete.
8.6 Silcrete.
8.7 Desert rock coatings.
8.8 Palaeoenvironmental significance of crusts.
9 Pavements and stone mantles (Julie E. Laity).
9.1 Introduction.
9.2 Surface types: hamadas and stony surfaces.
9.3 General theories concerning stony surface formation.
9.4 Stone pavement characteristics.
9.5 Processes of pavement formation.
9.6 Processes of clast size reduction in pavements.
9.7 Secondary characteristics of pavement surfaces and regional differences in pavement formation.
9.8 Secondary modifications to pavement surfaces.
9.9 Ecohydrology of pavement surfaces.
9.10 Relative and absolute dating of geomorphic surfaces based on pavement development.
9.11 Conclusions.
10 Slope systems (John Wainwright and Richard E. Brazier).
10.1 Introduction.
10.2 Badlands.
10.3 Rock slopes.
10.4 Conclusion.
III The work of water.
11 Runoff generat ion, overland flow and erosion on hillslopes (John Wainwright and Louise J. Bracken).
11.1 Introduction.
11.2 Infiltration processes.
11.3 Factors affecting infiltration.
11.4 Runoff generation.
11.5 Erosion processes on hillslopes.
11.6 Conclusions.
12 Distinctiveness and diversity of arid zone river systems (Stephen Tooth and Gerald C. Nanson).
12.1 Introduction.
12.2 Distinctiveness of dryland rivers.
12.3 Diversity of dryland rivers.
12.4 Reassessing distinctiveness and diversity.
12.5 Conclusions.
13 Channel form, flows and sediments of endogenous ephemeral rivers in deserts (Ian Reid and Lynne E. Frostick).
13.1 Introduction.
13.2 Rainfall and river discharge.
13.3 Ephemeral river channel geometry.
13.4 Fluvial sediment transport.
13.5 Desert river deposits.
13.6 Conclusions.
14 Dryland alluvial fans (Adrian Harvey).
14.1 Introduction: dryland alluvial fans – an overview.
14.2 Process and form on dryland alluvial fans.
14.3 Factors controlling alluvial fan dynamics.
14.4 Alluvial fan dynamics.
14.5 Discussion: significance of dry–region alluvial fans.
15 Pans, playas and salt lakes (Paul A. Shaw and Rob G. Bryant).
15.1 The nature and occurrence of pans, playas and salt lakes.
15.2 Pan hydrology and hydrochemistry.
15.3 Influences of pan hydrology and hydrochemistry on surface morphology.
15.4 Aeolian processes in pan environments.
15.5 Pans and playas as palaeoenvironmental indicators.
16 Groundwater controls and processes (David J. Nash).
16.1 Introduction.
16.2 Groundwater processes in valley and scarp development.
16.3 Groundwater and pan/playa development.
16.4 Groundwater and aeolian processes.
IV The work of the wind.
17 Aeolian landscapes and bedforms (David S.G. Thomas).
17.1 Introduction.
17.2 Aeolian bedforms: scales and relationships.
17.3 The global distribut ion of sand seas.
17.4 The global distribution of loess.
17.5 Dynamic aeolian landscapes in the Quaternary period.
17.6 Conclusions.
18 Sediment mobilisation by the wind (Giles F. S. Wiggs).
18.1 Introduction.
18.2 The nature of windflow in deserts.ess elements on velocity profiles.
18.3 Sediment in air.
18.4 Determining the threshold of grain entrainment.
18.5 Surface modifications to entrainment thresholds and transport flux.
18.6 Modes of sediment transport.
18.7 Ripples.
18.8 Prediction and measurement of sediment flux.
18.9 The role of turbulence in aeolian sediment transport.
18.10 Conclusions.
19 Desert dune processes and dynamics (Nick Lancaster).
19.1 Introduction.
19.2 Desert dune morphology.
19.3 Dune types and environments.
19.4 Airflow over dunes.
19.5 Dune dynamics.
19.6 Dune development.
19.7 Controls of dune morphology.
19.8 Dune patterns.
19.9 Conclusions.
20 Desert dust (Richard Washington and Giles S. F. Wiggs).
20.1 Introduction.
20.2 Key source areas.
20.3 Temporal changes in dust.
20.4 Future climate change.
20.5 Conclusions.
21 Wind erosion in drylands (Julie E. Laity).
21.1 Introduction.
21.2 The physical setting: conditions for wind erosion.
21.3 Conclusions.
V Living with dryland geomorphology.
22 The human impact (Nick Middleton).
22.1 Introduction.
22.2 Human impacts on soils.
22.3 Human impacts on sand dunes.
22.4 Human impacts on rivers.
22.5 Cause and effect: the arroyo debate continues.
22.6 Conclusions.
23 Geomorphological hazards in drylands (Giles F. S. Wiggs).
23.1 Introduction.
23.2 Aeolian hazards.
23.3 The aeolian dust hazard.
23.4 Agricultural wind erosion.
23.5 Drainage of inland water bodies.
23.6 Fluvial hazards.
23.7 Conclusions.
24 Future climate change and arid zone geomorphology (Richard Washington and David S. G. Tho mas).
24.1 Introduction.
24.2 Climate change projections: basis and uncertainties.
24.3 Overview of global climate change projections in the context of arid zones.
24.3.1 Methods of establishing climate change impacts in arid zones.
24.4 Climate change and dunes.
24.5 Climate change and dust.
24.6 Climate change and fluvial systems.
24.7 Conclusions.
Index.

Nota biograficzna:
Alan Bonham: Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, most of Alan’s time has been spent training others. He was a Director at Anderson’s Tutors Limited where he prepared students for ICAEW exams. From there, he joined Neville Russell where he became Training Manager. He then spent 16 years as a freelance lecturer and training consultant specialising in audit and accounting topics.
Most recently, Alan was Director of Training for SWAT Ltd. As part of his role, he was responsible for the development of SWAT’s national programme of CPD training as well as presenting a number of courses himself. Alan had been Managing Director of Pentagon Training Ltd until the company was acquired by SWAT in October 2005.
Alan is now working again as a freelance lecturer – he is one of the few lecturers who can make auditing interesting. He also advises firms on their audit procedures and offers practical help in achieving compliance in a cost–effective manner. He has also worked with non–accountants, and is the co–author with Ken Langdon of Smart Things to Know about Business Finance which also demystifies the language of finance.
Ken Langdon: With a background in technology, Ken has been a trainer and consultant to many of the computer majors around the world. He has lectured in the USA, Australia, and all over the Far East and Europe.
In particular he has taught finance for non–financial managers and worked hard on explaining how the slightly esoteric world of finance reflects th e real life world of businesses.
He is the author of a number of books on this and related topics.
Lita Epstein ran the financial accounting lab when she worked as a teaching assistant as she completed her MBA programme at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. After receiving her MBA, she managed finances for a small, non–profit organisation, and the facilities management section of a large medical clinic.
Now she enjoys helping people develop good financial, investing, and tax planning skills. She designs and teaches online courses on topics such as investing for retirement, getting ready for tax time, and finance and investing for women. She is the author of Streetwise Crash Course MBA and Streetwise Retirement Planning (Adams Media Corporation). Lita is the co–author of Trading For Dummies (Wiley), and Teach Yourself Retirement Planning in 24 Hours (Penguin Putnam).

Okładka tylna:
The new edition of Arid Zone Geomorphology encapsulates the advances that have been made in recent years in the investigation and explanation of landforms and geomorphological processes in drylands. Building on the success of the previous two editions, the Third Edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest developments in the field. Whilst this latest edition will remain a comprehensive reference to the subject, the book has been restructured to include regional case studies throughout to enhance student understanding and is clearly defined into five distinct sections; Firstly, the book introduces the reader to Large Scale Controls and Variability in Drylands and then moves on to consider Surface Processes and Characteristics; The Work of Water and The Work of the Wind. The book concludes with a section on Living with Dryland Geomorphology that includes a chapter on geomorphological hazards and the human impact on these environments.
Once again, recognized world experts in the field contributed chapters in order to present a comprehensive and up–to–date overview of current knowledge about the processes shaping the landscape of deserts and arid regions.Includes global contribution from leading experts in the field providing the reader with a selective but balanced overview of this developing subject.Divided clearly into five distinct sections to ensure clear, comprehensive coverage of the subject.Includes key regional case studies throughout to enhance student understanding.Key references now included at the end of the book for ease of use.    New chapters on Climate Framework; Desert System Variability; Pavements and Mantles; Desert Dune Processes and Histories; Geomorphological Hazards in Drylands and Arid Zone Geomorphology and 21st Century Global Warming.