McKnight's Physical Geography : A Landscape Appreciation

by Hess, Darrel; Tasa, Dennis G

• ISBN13: 9780321677341
• ISBN10: 032167734X
• Edition: 10th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-02-03
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Carrying forth Tom L. McKnight's well-known thematic focus on landscape appreciation, this best-seller fosters a solid understanding of Earth and its physical geography. Its clear writing style, superior art program, and abundant pedagogy appeal to a wide variety of readers. This edition includes thoroughly updated content and introduces renowned illustrator Dennis Tasa - yet it maintains the proven approach first presented by McKnight more than two decades ago. Introduction to Earth; Portraying Earth; Introduction to the Atmosphere; Insolation and Temperature; Atmospheric Pressure and Wind; Atmospheric Moisture; Atmospheric Disturbances; Climate and Climate Change; The Hydrosphere; Cycles and Patterns in the Biosphere; Terrestrial Flora and Fauna; Soils; Introduction to Landform Study; The Internal Processes; Preliminaries to Erosion: Weathering and Mass Wasting; Fluvial Processes; Solution Processes and Karst Topography; The Topography of Arid Lands; Glacial Modification of Terrain; Coastal Processes and Terrain. A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about physical geography.

Author Biography

Darrel Hess began teaching geography at City College of San Francisco in 1990 and served as chair of the Earth Sciences Department from 1995 to 2009. After earning his bachelor’s degree in geography at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1978, he served for two years as a teacher in the Peace Corps on the Korean island of Chejudo. Upon returning to the United States, he worked as a writer, photographer, and audiovisual producer. His association with Tom McKnight began as a graduate student at UCLA, where he served as one of Tom’s teaching assistants. Their professional collaboration developed after Darrel graduated from UCLA with a master’s degree in geography in 1990. He first wrote the Study Guide that accompanied the fourth edition of Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, and then the Laboratory Manual that accompanied the fifth edition. Darrel has been authoring both works ever since. In 1999 Tom asked Darrel to join him as coauthor of the textbook. As did Tom, Darrel greatly enjoys the outdoor world. Darrel and his wife Nora, are avid hikers, campers, and scuba divers.

Tom L. McKnight taught geography at UCLA from 1956 to 1993. He received his bachelor’s degree in geology from Southern Methodist University in 1949, his master’s degree in geography from the University of Colorado in 1951, and his Ph.D. in geography and meteorology from the University of Wisconsin in 1955. During his long academic career, Tom served as chair of the UCLA Department of Geography from 1978 to 1983, and was director of the University of California, Education Abroad Program in Australia from 1984 to 1985. Passionate about furthering the discipline of geography, he helped establish the UCLA/Community College Geography Alliance and generously funded awards for both undergraduate and graduate geography students. His many honors include the California Geographical Society’s Outstanding Educator Award in 1988, and the honorary rank of Professor Emeritus upon his retirement from UCLA. In addition to Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation, his other college textbooks include The Regional Geography of the United States and Canada; Oceania: The Geography of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands; and Introduction to Geography, with Edward F. Bergman. Tom passed away in 2004—the geographic community misses him enormously.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Earth

 2. Portraying Earth

 3. Introduction to the Atmosphere

 4. Insolation and Temperature

 5. Atmospheric Pressure and Wind

 6. Atmospheric Moisture

 7. Atmospheric Disturbances

 8. Climate and Climate Change

 9. The Hydrosphere

10. Cycles and Patterns in the Biosphere

11. Terrestrial Flora and Fauna

12. Soils

13. Introduction to Landform Study

14. The Internal Processes

15. Preliminaries to Erosion: Weathering and Mass Wasting

16. Fluvial Processes

17. Solution Processes and Karst Topography

18. The Topography of Arid Lands

19. Glacial Modification of Terrain

20. Coastal Processes and Terrain