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  • Reference work
  • © 1997

Encyclopedia of Geomorphology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series (EESS)

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Table of contents (412 entries)

  1. Front Matter

  2. A

    1. Ablation moraine, ablation till

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 1-1
    2. Abrasion

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 1-2
    3. Aggradation

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 2-3
    4. Algal reefs

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 3-5
    5. Algal rims, terraces and ledges

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 5-7
    6. Alluvial fan, cone

      • W. B. Bull
      Pages 7-10
    7. Alluvium

      • James Thorp
      Pages 10-11
    8. Altimetric frequency curve

      • John I. Clarke
      Pages 11-14
    9. Altiplanation, equiplanation, cryoplanation

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 14-14
    10. Amphitheater valley heads

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 14-15
    11. Anthropogenic influences in geomorphology

      • C. R. Twidale
      Pages 15-18
    12. Aral sea

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 18-21
    13. Arctic beaches

      • George W. Moore
      Pages 21-22
    14. Arctic regions

      • John E. Sater
      Pages 22-28
    15. Arid cycle

      • John H. Maxson
      Pages 28-30
    16. Asymmetric valleys

      • Lee Wilson
      Pages 30-33
    17. Atlantic and pacific type coasts

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 34-35
    18. Atolls ∗

      • F. Stearns Macneil
      Pages 35-40
    19. Attrition

      • Rhodes W. Fairbridge
      Pages 40-41

About this book

This volume in the Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series appears as the first alphabetic, encyclopedic treatment of the science of Geomorphology -- the study of landscape and the geologic forces that produce it or, phrased another way, the dynamic geology of the face of the Earth. There are numerous definitions, but the book is far more than a glossary. There are 410 articles in all, and their authors include many specialists of international reputation. The hundreds of illustrations are an exceptional feature of the book.

While covering the usual scope of Geomorphology, this volume includes several features which are particularly noteworthy. One of these is an individual description of each of the world's more important lakes emphasizing their geographic unity. Stress has also been placed on the stratigraphy and climate of the Holocene, or Recent Epoch, and of the Quaternary Period in general, on the grounds that a historical understanding of those periods explains the inheritance aspect of landforms. The editor has recognized the need for balancing the presentation between the more classical or descriptive methodology and the more recent quantitative and dynamic approach.

Also, the significance of the Langbein-Schumm Rule in erosion-fluvial and terrace studies is repeatedly brought out. While a general reader will need no more background than a high school course in physical geography, specialists such as civil engineers, photogrammetrists, military geologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, limnologists, and ecologists will all find abundant reference value in this book. Both teachers and students of geomorphology and physical geography will find this Encylopedia an indispensable aid in their research and studies.

The extensive cross-reference system, which will be of great value to the researcher, has five components which refer the reader to related disciplines in another volume; from the alphabetical listing to a specific article; from the body of an article to a subject taken up in detail elsewhere in the volume; to related articles, and the literature citations at the end of each article.

Editors and Affiliations

  • New York, USA

    Rhodes W. Fairbridge

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Encyclopedia of Geomorphology

  • Editors: Rhodes W. Fairbridge

  • Series Title: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31060-6

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1997

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-540-31060-0Published: 21 September 2006

  • Series ISSN: 1388-4360

  • Series E-ISSN: 1871-756X

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Topics: Earth Sciences, general

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 519.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access