The Nature of the Environment

by Goudie, Andrew S.

• ISBN13: 9780631224631
• ISBN10: 0631224637
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-06-29
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

The fourth edition of this highly acclaimed text provides an up-dated examination of the natural environment of the earth at various levels, from the global to the local. Integrating the study of geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, pedology and biogeography, it considers the ways in which we both mould and are moulded by our landscape and environment. The book also presents an historical perspective, and investigates natural climatic changes, hazardous events and human impacts.This new edition follows the same successful framework of earlier editions, with extra material, including an extra chapter on The Organic World. In addition, a list of key concepts has been added at the end of each chapter and the book now also includes points for review. With substantially more "windows", updated and expanded guides to reading, new plates, diagrams, and tables, and up-to-date examples and case studies, this fourth edition of Nature of the Environment will be welcomed by students and teachers alike.Please visit the accompanying website at: http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk/goudie to view sample material from both the new edition and forthcoming instructor's manual online.

Author Biography

Andrew Goudie is Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford and a former Pro-Vice Chancellor. He is holder of the Royal Geographical Society's Founder's Medal and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society's Mungo Park Medal. He is a Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford.
His previous books include The Human Impact 5e (Blackwell, 1999), The Human Impact Reader (Blackwell,1997) , The Earth Transformed (Blackwell, 1997), and The Changing Earth (Blackwell, 1995). He is co-editor of The Students Companion to Geography (Blackwell, 1992) and The Dictionary of Physical Geography 3e (Blackwell, 2000)

Table of Contents

List of windows	ix
Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xii
PART I THE GLOBAL FRAMEWORK	1	(116)
Global Geological Background	3	(42)
The Ancient Earth	3	(1)
Core, Mantle and Crust	3	(1)
The Nature of the Ocean Floors	4	(2)
The Surface of the Land	6	(2)
Earthquakes	8	(1)
The Shape of the Continents	8	(6)
The Question of Plates	14	(17)
Microplates and Exotic Terrantes	31	(1)
The Earth's Rock Types	31	(8)
The Subdivisions of the Earth's History	39	(4)
Conclusions	43	(2)
Key Terms and Concepts	43	(1)
Points for Review	43	(1)
Further Reading	44	(1)
Global Climatic Background	45	(45)
A Vertical Profile through the Atmosphere	45	(1)
Global Climate	46	(5)
World Patterns of Precipitation	51	(3)
World Patterns of Temperature	54	(1)
The Major Climatic Zones	55	(2)
The Hydrological Cycle	57	(1)
Ocean Currents	57	(6)
Ocean-atmosphere Interactions	63	(1)
Climatic Change	63	(14)
Causes of Long-term Climatic Change	77	(4)
Sea-level Changes	81	(1)
Future Climates	82	(6)
Conclusions	88	(2)
Key Terms and Concepts	88	(1)
Points for Review	88	(1)
Further Reading	89	(1)
The Organic World	90	(27)
Major Vegetation Types	90	(5)
Human Modification of Major Vegetation Types	95	(7)
Floral Realms	102	(4)
Faunal Realms	106	(2)
The World's Great Soil Orders	108	(4)
Human Modifications of Soil	112	(2)
Climatic Geomorphology: The Influence of Climate, Soil and Vegetation	114	(3)
Key Terms and Concepts	115	(1)
Points for Review	115	(1)
Further Reading	115	(2)
PART II MAJOR WORLD ZONES	117	(156)
Cold Environments	119	(39)
Polar Climates	119	(1)
Vegetation and Wildlife	120	(2)
Glacier Types	122	(3)
The Formation of Glacier Ice	125	(1)
How Glaciers Move	126	(2)
Glacial Erosion	128	(9)
Glacial Deposits	137	(3)
Glacier Ice and Sea-level Change	140	(1)
Permafrost	141	(4)
Ground Ice	145	(1)
Thermokarst	146	(1)
Ice Segregation and Frost Heaving	146	(3)
Frost Shattering and Soil Formation	149	(2)
Slope Processes, Avalanches and River Regimes	151	(4)
Environmental Problems and Hazards for Tundra Development	155	(3)
Key Terms and Concepts	156	(1)
Points for Review	157	(1)
Further Reading	157	(1)
The Mid-latitudes	158	(37)
The Westerlies	158	(1)
Cyclones and Anticyclones	158	(2)
Air Masses	160	(2)
Cool Temperate Climates	162	(3)
Western Margin Warm Temperate Climates (the Mediterranean Type)	165	(2)
Eastern Margin Warm Temperate Climates	167	(2)
Boreal Forest	169	(2)
Deciduous Forest	171	(1)
Mid-latitude Grassland	171	(1)
Mediterranean Evergreen Woodland	172	(1)
Soils of Cool Temperate Climates	172	(1)
Soils of Warm Temperate Climates	172	(2)
The Impact of Climatic Change on the Landscape	174	(3)
Loess Sheets	177	(1)
Dry Valleys and Mis-fit Streams	177	(4)
Tors	181	(2)
Natural Hazards in Western Europe	183	(12)
Key Terms and Concepts	193	(1)
Points for Review	194	(1)
Further Reading	194	(1)
Deserts	195	(46)
Introduction	195	(4)
What Causes Aridity?	199	(1)
Desert Rainfall	199	(2)
Desert Temperatures	201	(1)
Past Climates in Deserts	202	(3)
Desert Vegetation and Animals	205	(3)
Soils and Surface Materials	208	(2)
Insolation and Salt Weathering	210	(3)
Wind Action in Deserts	213	(2)
Sand Deposition - Dunes	215	(8)
The Work of Rivers	223	(6)
Desert Slopes	229	(1)
Groundwater	230	(1)
Dams, Reservoirs and Inter-basin Water Transfer	231	(7)
Land Degradation	238	(1)
Problems of the Desert Realm	239	(2)
Key Terms and Concepts	239	(1)
Points for Review	239	(1)
Further Reading	240	(1)
The Tropics	241	(32)
The General Atmospheric Circulation	241	(1)
The Wet Tropics	242	(1)
Tropical Seasonal Climates	243	(1)
Monsoons	243	(2)
Tropical Disturbances	245	(5)
Tropical Rainforest	250	(9)
Secondary Forest	259	(1)
Tropical Seasonal Forest and Savanna	260	(2)
Mangrove Swamps	262	(2)
Coral Reefs	264	(4)
Weathering of Rocks	268	(3)
Slope Movements	271	(1)
Some Problems of the Humid Tropics	271	(2)
Key Terms and Concepts	272	(1)
Points for Review	272	(1)
Further Reading	272	(1)
PART III MOUNTAIN AND MARITIME ENVIRONMENTS	273	(46)
Mountains	275	(19)
Introduction	275	(1)
Mountain Climates	275	(6)
Snow and the Snow-line	281	(1)
Mountain Vegetation	282	(3)
The Timber-line	285	(1)
Alpine Tundra	286	(1)
Mountain Hazards	287	(3)
Changing Climates	290	(4)
Key Terms and Concepts	292	(1)
Points for Review	292	(1)
Further Reading	293	(1)
Coasts	294	(25)
Coastlines	294	(1)
Waves	295	(5)
Barrier Beaches and Related Forms	300	(3)
Tides	303	(1)
Storm Surges	304	(1)
Estuaries	305	(1)
Coastal Dunes	305	(3)
Salt Marshes	308	(2)
Coast Erosion	310	(2)
The Human Impact on the Coastline	312	(7)
Key Terms and Concepts	317	(1)
Points for Review	318	(1)
Further Reading	318	(1)
PART IV LANDSCAPES AND ECOSYSTEMS	319	(182)
Plants and Animals	321	(34)
Ecology and Ecosystems	321	(5)
Plants and their Habitats	326	(3)
Life in the Oceans	329	(1)
Community	330	(1)
Succession	331	(2)
Dispersal and Migration of Plants	333	(1)
Dispersal and Migration of Animals	334	(1)
The Importance of Area	335	(1)
Human Impact on Plants and Animals	336	(1)
Domestication	336	(2)
Introductions	338	(2)
Pollution	340	(7)
Habitat Change	347	(1)
Extinction	348	(4)
Conservation	352	(3)
Key Terms and Concepts	353	(1)
Points for Review	354	(1)
Further Reading	354	(1)
Tectonic Features	355	(32)
Introduction	355	(1)
Volcanoes	355	(14)
Intrusive Igneous Rocks	369	(2)
Earthquakes	371	(6)
Man-made Seismic Activity	377	(2)
Faults	379	(4)
Folding	383	(4)
Key Terms and Concepts	385	(1)
Points for Review	385	(1)
Further Reading	386	(1)
Slopes	387	(17)
Mass Movements	387	(5)
Slope Instability	392	(3)
Other Processes Operating on Slopes	395	(1)
Slope Forms	396	(3)
Slope Development through Time	399	(5)
Key Terms and Concepts	403	(1)
Points for Review	403	(1)
Further Reading	403	(1)
Soils and Weathering	404	(23)
Factors of Soil Formation	404	(4)
Soil Profiles	408	(1)
Types of Weathering	409	(1)
Mechanical Weathering	409	(1)
Chemical Weathering	410	(9)
Accelerated Soil Erosion	419	(8)
Key Terms and Concepts	425	(1)
Points for Review	426	(1)
Further Reading	426	(1)
The Hydrological Cycle	427	(29)
Introduction	427	(1)
Precipitation	427	(5)
Interception	432	(1)
Evapotranspiration	433	(1)
Infiltration	434	(1)
Surface Runoff	435	(4)
Groundwater	439	(4)
Streamflow and the Hydrograph	443	(5)
Annual River Regimes	448	(1)
Lakes	449	(7)
Key Terms and Concepts	454	(1)
Points for Review	454	(1)
Further Reading	454	(2)
Rivers	456	(29)
Introduction	456	(1)
Morphometry of Drainage Basins	456	(1)
Drainage Basin Patterns	457	(1)
Concave Long Profiles	458	(2)
Channel Cross-section and Hydraulic Geometry	460	(1)
Channel Patterns	461	(3)
Floodplains	464	(1)
Terraces	464	(1)
Deltas	465	(3)
Stream Transport	468	(7)
Rates of Fluvial Denudation	475	(2)
Floods	477	(4)
The Human Impact on Rivers	481	(4)
Key Terms and Concepts	483	(1)
Points for Review	484	(1)
Further Reading	484	(1)
Cities	485	(16)
Introduction	485	(1)
The Climate of Cities	485	(5)
Air Pollution and its Problems	490	(5)
Urbanisation and River Flow	495	(1)
Thermal Pollution of River Water	496	(1)
Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield Associated with Construction and Urbanisation	497	(1)
Animals in Cities	497	(4)
Key Terms and Concepts	498	(1)
Points for Review	499	(1)
Further Reading	499	(2)
PART V CONCLUSION	501	(10)
Nature, Humans and the Environment	503	(8)
Introduction	503	(1)
Environmental Complexity	503	(1)
Environmental Interactions	503	(1)
The Importance of Scale	504	(1)
The Influence of Environment on Humans	504	(1)
The Human Impact	504	(1)
The Ever-changing Environment	505	(1)
Humans or Nature?	506	(1)
Equifinality	507	(1)
The Relevance and Application of Physical Geography	508	(2)
Global Environmental Change	510	(1)
Index	511