Fundamentals of the physical environment PDF
Preview Fundamentals of the physical environment
Fundamentals of the Physical Environment Third Edition Fundamentals of the Physical Environment has established itself as a highly respected core introductory textbook for students of physical geography and environmental sciences. The third edition of this popular textbook has been extensively revised to incorporate current thinking and knowledge in the field of physical geography and the environment, whilst retaining its basic structure. A new example – Upper Wharfedale – has been taken as the theme of Chapter 1 to illustrate new ideas and concepts that can be used in the study of the environment. A systems approach is taken to demonstrate how the various factors operating at Earth’s surface can and do interact, and how landscape can be used to decipher them. The nature of Earth and its oceans, the main processes of geomorphology and key elements of ecosystems (soils and vegetation) are all explained. Since the second edition was published, uncertainties about the nature and extent of global climate and environmental change have become clarified. Scientific evidence now points more reliably to patterns and rates of change exceeding earlier forecasts. There is now a more urgent need to understand the nature of global physical environments and their interaction with human societies. The chapter on climate change has been largely rewritten to reflect these rapidly changing ideas and the information available. The potential impacts on all other aspects of the natural environment are considered in other chapters, including the final part involving chapters on particularly sensitive environments such as polar regions, mountains and dry lands. The structure of the book follows that of previous editions but chapters are arranged within new parts entitled Fundamentals, Atmosphere, Geosphere, Biosphere and Environments. New illustrations and diagrams have been added in most chapters. Colour has been included in the diagrams to enhance the information displayed. This is particularly useful in maps, where tonal variations give a clearer idea of the patterns indicated. Boxes are used extensively to indicate areas of special interest and illustrate key processes, new concepts, developments, applications, or human impacts. Specific features include: • A clearly structured and accessibly written text • Superb illustrations: 437 figures, 153 black-and-white photos, 24 colour plates • Glossary of terms and key words highlighted throughout the text • Global case studies with key linked research references • Annotated and updated further reading lists • Chapter summaries and key points boxes • Relevant web resources • Online diagrams importable into PowerPoint for overheads Peter Smithson is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Sheffield. Ken Addison is Senior Lecturer at the School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, and Fellow and Tutor in Physical Geography at St Peter’s College, University of Oxford. Ken Atkinson is Senior Lecturer in Geography at the University of Leeds. What readers said about the second edition of Fundamentals of the Physical Environment The best text for my first-year physical geography courses for over ten years…The authors are to be complimented on their clear and easy style. Chris Young, Canterbury, Christchurch University College Like all the best texts, it covers the topics in just a bit more detail than the courses strictly require – ideal for the enthusiastic student. Allan Cheshire, University of Hertfordshire An excellent introductory text…well illustrated with very clear figures which support the text very well. It provides a good cross-section of physical geography and should remain very popular with students. David Evans, University of Glasgow Comprehensive and well written…The illustrations are excellent, clear and easily understood. It succeeds in linking the physical processes to the human experience. Marilyn Raphael, University of California, Los Angeles An extensively revised edition of a popular undergraduate text in physical geography. An interesting narrative style develops environmental themes by working from a simple description of a local landscale to the scale of the entire planet. Text boxes provide more detailed description of key points and the work is well illustrated…Fundamentals… provides foundation studies in most sub-disciplines of physical geography and would be appropriate for first-year units in environmental studies. Peter Mitchell, Macquarie University We value the text because it is up to date and includes the three major branches of physical geography, treated rather more evenly than is usual. Simon Jones, University of Glasgow Essential reading to support first-year geography practical sessions. Also recommended for basic information to support second-year modules as well. It provides enough information for a basic introductory course on the physical environment. It has a logical structure overall and is well illustrated with clear diagrams and very appropriate photographs, as well as good global case study examples. I liked the key-point summaries. Susan Marriott, University of the West of England A lucid, user-friendly style, which helps the understanding of complex concepts and processes…Good value because it covers most of the first-year material in a Physical Geography course, has a wide-ranging coverage of the concepts and processes involved… has good, clear and comprehensive figures (well explained) and a nice collection of plates. Russell D. Thompson, University of Reading A well written and well illustrated book. The figures are a plus point because they convey very useful information in a straightforward manner…Fine for first-year undergraduates and our second-year students refer to it as well. Nigel Richardson, Edge Hill College, Ormskirk Extensively rewritten and expanded. American Meteorological Society Fundamentals of the Physical Environment Third Edition Peter Smithson, Ken Addison and Ken Atkinson London and New York To Gwen, for her long-standing encouragement and support To Lena, for her early inspiration and Lyn, for her continuing support To Jake and Charlotte Website Links to relevant websites and downloadable diagrams can be found on the website specially designed to accompany this book at: http://www.routledge.com/textbooks/fundamentals First edition published by Hutchinson Education 1985 Fifth impression 1989 published by the Academic Division of Unwin Hyman Second edition published 1997 by Routledge Third edition published 2002 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to http://www.ebookstore.tandf.co.uk/. © 2002 Peter Smithson, Ken Addison and Ken Atkinson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN 0-203-99519-8 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-415-23293-7 (hbk) ISBN 0-415-23294-5 (pbk) Contents Website resources xi Preface to the third edition xv Acknowledgements xvi Part one FUNDAMENTALS 1 1 THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: INTRODUCTORY IDEAS AND 3 CONCEPTS 2 ENERGY AND EARTH 23 Part two ATMOSPHERE 53 3 HEAT AND ENERGY IN THE ATMOSPHERE 55 4 MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE 80 5 PRECIPITATION AND EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION 105 6 THE ATMOSPHERE IN MOTION 146 7 WEATHER-FORMING SYSTEMS 176 8 MICRO AND LOCAL CLIMATES 205 9 CLIMATE CHANGE 235 Part three GEOSPHERE 267 10 EARTH’S GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES 269 11 THE GLOBAL OCEAN 306 12 ROCK FORMATION AND DEFORMATION 332 13 DENUDATION, WEATHERING AND MASS WASTING 372 14 FLOWING WATER AT THE LAND SURFACE 415 15 ICE AT THE LAND SURFACE 464 16 THE WORK OF THE WIND 511 17 THE WORK OF THE SEA 529 565 Part four BIOSPHERE 18 SOIL PROPERTIES 567 19 SOIL FORMATION 596 20 VEGETATION SYSTEMS 626 21 VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSION 638 22 ENERGY FLOWS AND NUTRIENT CYCLES IN ECOSYSTEMS 660 23 DIVERSITY AND STABILITY IN ECOSYSTEMS 689 715 Part five ENVIRONMENTS 24 POLAR ENVIRONMENTS 717 25 MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS 744 26 MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENTS 782 27 DRYLAND ENVIRONMENTS 813 28 HUMID TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS 842
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