Overview
- The only comprehensive book about Icelandic soils available
- Provides unique insights into Icelandic landscapes and natural history with numerous color photographs, maps and illustrations
- Offers a guideline for better understanding the unique natural characteristics of Icelandic
- Written by a professor in soil science, who is a specialist in Icelandic soils, at the Agricultural University of Iceland
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: World Soils Book Series (WSBS)
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Table of contents(12 chapters)
About this book
In this new volume in the World Soil series, the various types of Icelandic soils, their different characteristics, their formation, degradation and erosion are reviewed. At the same time, the book also deals with the agriculture and land use in general to give a complete view of Icelandic soils. The first part details the natural parameters such as the climate and the geography of Iceland. It also explains Icelandic geology, which is the major parameter controlling the soil formation in this country. The author describes the formation of Iceland, the main volcanic systems, central volcanoes, tephra production and its influence on the soils. Explanations on rocks, glaciers, rivers and other main geologic features are also given. The book continues with a description of the Icelandic geomorphology, giving insights on the main surface types, frost, cryoturbation and other cryogenic features. Then it details the different types of soils, their formation and main features, comparing the Icelandic soils to other soils elsewhere in the world. Erosion and land degradation are then reviewed, including the exceptionally active wind erosion and dust production. Finally, it gives an insight on land use, agriculture and vegetation types. All this accompanied by the most amazing photos to illustrate the great diversity of Icelandic Soil.
Authors and Affiliations
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Environmental Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarnes, Iceland
Olafur Arnalds
About the author
Dr. Olafur Arnalds is a professor in soil science at the Agricultural University of Iceland. He is specialized in Icelandic soils, in volcanic soil resources, cryosols and remote sensing and GIS applications for land use decisions and policymakers.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Soils of Iceland
Authors: Olafur Arnalds
Series Title: World Soils Book Series
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9621-7
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental Science, Earth and Environmental Science (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-94-017-9620-0Published: 20 March 2015
Softcover ISBN: 978-94-024-0001-4Published: 12 October 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-94-017-9621-7Published: 06 January 2015
Series ISSN: 2211-1255
Series E-ISSN: 2211-1263
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVII, 183
Number of Illustrations: 17 b/w illustrations, 169 illustrations in colour
Topics: Soil Science & Conservation, Geomorphology, Agriculture