Environmental Geomorphology and Landscape Conservation


Book Description

This book, first published in 1973, focuses on non-urban terrain, and presents a uniquely balanced historical treatment of both the land degradation induced by man and his efforts at conservation, preservation and reclamation.
















Urban Geomorphology


Book Description

Urban Geomorphology: Landforms and Processes in Cities addresses the human impacts on landscapes through occupation (urbanization) and development as a contribution to anthropogenic geomorphology or "anthropogeomorphology." This includes a focus on land clearance, conservation issues, pollution, decay and erosion, urban climate, and anthropogenic climate change. These topics, as well as others, are considered to shed more light on the human transformation of natural landscapes and the environmental impacts and geomorphological hazards that environmental change can encompass. Its multidisciplinary approach is appropriate for audiences from a range of disciplines and professions, from geologists, conservationists, and land-use planners to architects and developers. Urban Geomorphology not only transcends disciplines, but also covers varied spatial-temporal frameworks and presents a diverse set of approaches and solutions to human impacts and geomorphological hazards within urban landscapes. - Features a cross-disciplinary perspective, highlighting the importance of the geosciences to environmental science, engineering, and public policy - Focuses on the built environment as the location of concentrated human impacts and change - Provides an international scope, including case studies from urban areas around the world




Anthropogenic Geomorphology


Book Description

Anthropogenic geomorphology studies society’s impact on the geographical environment, and especially on the Earth’s surface. This volume provides guidance to students discussing the basic topics of anthropogenic geomorphology. The chapters cover both its system, and its connections with other sciences, as well as the way the subject can contribute to tackling today’s practical problems. The book represents all fields of geomorphology, giving an introduction to the diversity of the discipline through examples taken from a range of contexts and periods, and focusing on examples from Europe. It is no accident that anthropogenic geomorphology has been gaining ground within geomorphology itself. Its results advance not only the theoretical development of the science but can be applied directly to social and economic issues. Worldwide, anthropogenic geomorphology is an integral and expanding part of earth sciences curricula in higher education, making this a timely and relevant text.




Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction


Book Description

Examining what landscape is, and how we use a range of ideas and techniques to study it, Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles demonstrate how geomorphologists have built on classic methods pioneered by some great 19th century scientists to examine our Earth.




Environmental Geomorphology


Book Description

Geomorphology has now reached a certain level where the methodology, scientific content and resultsbeing published in the field make it worthy of being considered as a major environmental researcharea.In preparing Environmental Geomorphology, the author has given priority to methodology and illustrative case-histories. Schemes and classifications that would be ill-suited fora naturalistic, empirical and non-systematic discipline like geomorphology have been avoided.The concepts outlined in the text are based on a subdivision of geomorphological resources andhazards (as well as their links with man) together with the consequent risk and impactproblems.Each investigation, study or intervention concerning the environment, cannot ignoreeither the human context in which it occurs or man's history and prospects. It is necessary to have theright dialogue and relationship with the other disciplines making up this system so as to apply the mostsuitable methodologies and offer the most valid solutions.For some subjects covered in the book, specialists concerned with a particular section of environmental geomorphology were consulted. The text of eachchapter is accompanied by several illustrative schemes, figures and photographs, derived from realresearch and professional experiences.The volume is addressed both to university students studying topics of geomorphology as part of their syllabus, and to researchers and consultants(geologists, geographers, engineers, naturalists, etc.) working in the field.




Landscapes and Landforms of Namibia


Book Description

The landscapes of Namibia are of world-class quality in beauty, diversity and interest. This book provides the first ever overview of the most important of these landscapes, explains why they look as they do, and evaluates why they are of note. Writing from a geomorphological perspective, the authors introduce the key processes and controls which influence landscape and landform development in Namibia. Geological and tectonic background, climate now and in the past, vegetation and animals (including humans) are all identified as crucial factors influencing the landscape of Namibia today. The book presents twenty one richly-illustrated case studies of the most significant landscapes of Namibia, ranging from the iconic Etosha Pan at the heart of the biggest wildlife conservation area in the north, to the famous dunes and ephemeral river at Sossus Vlei in the heart of the Namib desert. Each case study also contains a full list of the key references to the scientific work on that landscape. The authors provide an assessment of the current state of conservation of these landscapes, and their importance to tourism. The book is recommended reading for anyone with a professional or amateur interest in the spectacular and intriguing landscapes of this part of southern Africa. It provides a useful handbook for those travelling around Namibia, and an invaluable reference guide for those interested in how landscapes develop and change.