Geomorphology is the study of the Earth's diverse physical land-surface features and the dynamic processes that shape these features. Examining natural and anthropogenic processes, The SAGE Handbook of Geomorphology is a comprehensive exposition of the fundamentals of geomorphology that examines form, process, and applications of the discipline.
Organized into five substantive sections, the Handbook is an overview of:
- Foundations and Relevance: including the nature and scope of geomorphology; the origins and development of geomorphology; the role and character of theory in geomorphology; geomorphology and environmental management; and geomorphology and society
- Techniques and Approaches: including observations and experiments; geomorphological mapping; the significance of models; process and form; dating surfaces and sediment; remote sensing in geomorphology; GIS in geomorphology; biogeomorphology; human activity
- Process and Environment: including the evolution of regolith; weathering; fluids, flows and fluxes; sediment transport and deposition; hill slopes; riverine environments; glacial geomorphology; periglacial environments; coastal environments; aeolian environments; tropical environments; karst and karst processes
- Environmental Change: including landscape evolution and tectonics; interpreting quaternary environments; environmental change; disturbance and responses to geomorphic systems
- Conclusion: including challenges and perspectives; and a concluding review
The Handbook has contributions from 48 international authors and was initially organized by the International Association of Geomorphologists. This will be a much-used and much-cited reference for researchers in Geomorphology, Physical Geography and the Environmental Sciences.
INTRODUCTION
1. Introduction to Branches of Geomorphology and Outline of Fields Not Covered in Chapters - Ken Gregory
FOUNDATIONS and RELEVANCE
2. The Nature and Scope of Geomorphology - Keith Richards and Nick Clifford
3. The Origins and Development of Geomorphology - Keith Tinkler
4. The Role and Character of Theory in Geomorphology - Bruce Rhoads and Colin Thorn
5. Geomorphology and Environmental Management - Peter Downs and Derek Booth
6. Geomorphology and Society - Matt Kondolf and Herve Piegay
TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES
7. Observations and Experiments - Michael Church
8. The Significance of Models in Geomorphology - Stuart Lane and Nick Odoni
9. Process and Form - Richard Huggett
10. Dating Surfaces and Sediments - Tony Brown
11. Remote Sensing in Seomorphology - Tom Farr
12. Geographic Information Systems in Geomorphology - Takashi Oguchi and Thad A Wasklewicz
13. Biogeomorphology - Heather Viles and Andrew Brooks
14. Human Activity and Geomorphology: Anthropogeomorphology - #Denes Loczy and Laszlo Suto
15. Extra Terrestrial Geomorphology - Alan Howard
PROCESS AND ENVIRONMENTS
16. Weathering - David Robinson and Cherith Moses
17. The Evolution of Regolith - Graham Taylor
18. Fluids, Flows and Fluxes - Andre Roy
19. Sediment Transport and Deposition - Jeff Warburton
20. Hillslopes - Dave Montgomery
21. Riverine Environments - Jim Pizzuto
22. Glacial Environments - John Menzies
23. Periglacial Environments - Bernard Hallet
24. Coastal Environments - Colin Woodruffe, Peter Cowell and Mark Dickson
25. Aeolian Environments - Jo Bullard
26. Tropical Geomorphology - Mike Thomas
27. Geomorphology Underground - Derek Ford and Paul Williams
28. Submarine Environments - David Mohrig
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
29. Patterns in Landscapes and Processes - Scott Peckham
30. Landscape Evolution and Tectonics - Paul Bishop
31. Interpreting Environments - Anne Mather
32. Environmental Change - Martin Williams
33. Landscape Change and Response - Jonathan Phillips
CONCLUSION
34. Challenges and Perspective - Mike Crozier, Andreas Lang, Alice Turkington & Vic Baker
35. Concluding statement - Ken Gregory, Basil Gomez and Andrew Goudie
Ken Gregory obtained his BSc, PhD and DSc from the University of London, was made CBE in 2007 for services to geography and higher education, and is currently President of the British Society for Geomorphology. Research interests include river channel change and management, palaeohydrology and the development of physical geography, and he has written more than 140 papers, authored and edited 30 books including The Earth's Land Surface (2010) and The SAGE Handbook of Geomorphology (2011). He has 3 Honorary degrees, and received the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1993), the Linton award of the BGRG (1999), and the Geographical medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (2000).
"Geomorphology has been substantially transformed over the past couple of decades and it is fitting that the peak international body should generate a comprehensive description at this time. The book provides an overview of the whole discipline, instructive to those insiders who may have become absorbed in one of its many branches as well as to those outside the discipline, bringing them up to date on the state of geomorphology in the early 21st century"
- Geographical Research
"[The SAGE Handbook of Geomorphology is] aimed primarily at academics, researchers and postgraduate students [...] The handbook considered here comprises 33 chapters written and co-written by 49 contributors from around the world, but predominantly from North America, the UK and Australia. It is edited by two eminent and committed British geomorphologists with long careers and impeccable credentials for the task [...] [The SAGE Handbook of Geomorphology] provides excellent up-to-date summaries of the current state of knowledge and reading lists for different areas of the subject, as well as succinct reviews of different stages of the historical development of the discipline."
- Richard A Shakesby, Swansea University