Physical Geography of the Global Environment

by De Blij, Harm J.; Muller, Peter O.

• ISBN13: 9780471540618
• ISBN10: 0471540617
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-09-01
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Summary

Devoted to our planet's natural surroundings, emphasizing the growing concern for environmental issues especially in the area of human/environment interactions. Relates physical geography to other natural and physical sciences, introducing system and modeling approaches. Topics run the gamut from clouds, ocean waves, soils and forests to rocks, minerals, deserts and barren wastes. Material is organized into 52 focused units approximately 10-15 pages each. Features a copious amount of photographs and illustrations.

Table of Contents

A Global Perspective	p. 1
Introducing Physical Geography	p. 3
The Planet Earth	p. 12
Mapping the Earth's Surface	p. 23
Earth-Sun Relationships	p. 39
Atmosphere and Hydrosphere	p. 50
Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere	p. 53
Radiation and the Heat Balance of the Atmosphere	p. 62
Atmospheric and Surface Temperatures	p. 72
Air Pressure and Winds	p. 84
Circulation Patterns of the Atmosphere	p. 94
Hydrosphere: Circulation of the World Ocean	p. 103
Atmospheric Moisture and the Water Budget	p. 115
Precipitation, Air Masses, and Fronts	p. 127
Weather Systems	p. 138
Weather Tracking and Forecasting	p. 149
Climate Classification and Regionalization	p. 163
Tropical (A) and Arid (B) Climates	p. 173
Humid Mesothermal (C) Climates	p. 185
Higher latitude (D, E) and High-Altitude (H) Climates	p. 196
Dynamics of Climate Change	p. 207
Human - Climate Interactions and Impacts	p. 216
The Biosphere	p. 226
Climate, Soil, Plants, and Animals	p. 229
Formation of Soils	p. 237
Physical Properties of Soil	p. 246
Classification and Mapping of Soils	p. 254
Biogeographic Processes	p. 266
The Global Distribution of Plants	p. 277
Zoogeography: Spatial Aspects of Animal Populations	p. 286
The Restless Crust	p. 296
The Earth in Profile: The Layered Interior	p. 298
Minerals and Igneous Rocks	p. 309
Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks	p. 316
Plates of the Lithosphere	p. 324
Plate Movement: Causes and Effects	p. 334
Volcanism and Its Landforms	p. 341
Earthquakes and Landscapes	p. 352
Structures Beneath the Surface	p. 360
Sculpting the Surface	p. 370
The Formation of Landscapes and Landforms	p. 372
Weathering Processes	p. 379
Mass Movements	p. 385
Water in the Lithosphere	p. 393
Slopes and Streams	p. 402
Degradational Landforms of Stream Erosion	p. 413
Aggradational Landforms of Stream Erosion	p. 424
Karst Processes and Landforms	p. 433
Glacial Degradation and Aggradation	p. 442
Landforms and Landscapes of Continental Glaciers	p. 451
Landforms and Landscapes of Mountain Glaciers	p. 464
Periglacial Environments and Landscapes	p. 472
Wind as a Geomorphic Agent	p. 480
Coastal Processes	p. 488
Coastal Landforms and Landscapes	p. 498
Physiographic Realms: The Spatial Variation of Landscapes	p. 508
Physiographic Regions of the United States	p. 517
Appendix A SI Units and Their Conversions	p. 526
Appendix B World Political Map	p. 528
Pronunciation Guide	p. 530
Glossary of Terms	p. 534
Credits	p. 562
Index	p. 566
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.