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This volume, also available as part of the collection
"Geomorphology: Critical Concepts in Geography" [set ISBN
0-415-27608-X], constitutes an instant archive of esential
benchmark papers and makes available in one place key published
material on its area.
Mountains represent one of the most inspiring and attractive
natural features on the surface of the earth. Visually, they
dominate the landscape. However, the increasing realization of the
fragility of mountain areas because of changes in land use,
management and climate, combined with an understanding of their
importance for water and other natural resources, has resulted in a
growing interest in mountain environments.;Written by a team of
international experts, this book is divided into three sections,
which consider historical, functional and applied mountain
geomorphology from both global and local perspectives. Historical
mountain geomorphology focuses on the evolution of landforms.
Functional mountain geomorphology emphasises the interacation
between processes and landforms, while applied mountain
geomorphology concerns the interrelationships between
geomorphological processes and society.
"Changing Cold Environments; Implications for Global Climate
Change" is a comprehensive overview of the changing nature of the
physical attributes of Canada's cold environments and the
implications of these changes to cold environments on a global
scale. The book places particular emphasis on the broader
environmental science and sustainability issues that are of
increasing concern to all cold regions if present global climate
trends continue. Clearly structured throughout, the book focuses on
those elements of Canada's cold environments that will be most
affected by global climate change - namely, the tundra, sub-arctic
and boreal forest regions of northern Canada, and the high
mid-latitude mountains of western Canada. Implications are
considered for similar environments around the world resulting in a
timely text suitable for second and third year undergraduates in
the environmental or earth sciences courses.
Mountains represent one of the most inspiring and attractive
natural features on the surface of the earth. Visually, they
dominate the landscape. However, the increasing realization of the
fragility of mountain areas because of changes in land use,
management and climate, combined with an understanding of their
importance for water and other natural resources, has resulted in a
growing interest in mountain environments in recent years. Hence,
Mountain Geomorphology represents a timely and unique contribution
to the literature. Written by a team of international experts, this
book is divided into three sections, which consider historical,
functional and applied mountain geomorphology from both global and
local perspectives. Historical mountain geomorphology focuses on
the evolution of landforms. Functional mountain geomorphology
emphasises the interaction between processes and landforms, while
applied mountain geomorphology concerns the interrelationships
between geomorphological processes and society. Mountain
Geomorphology is a valuable source of information for students
studying mountain geomorphology, and also for academics and
research scientists interested in mountain environments.
This critical book focuses on the geomorphological landscapes of
eastern Canada and provides a companion volume to "Landscapes and
Landforms of Western Canada" (2017). There are a number of unique
characteristics of eastern Canada's landscapes, notably its
magnificent coastlines, the extraordinary variety and extent of
wetlands, the huge Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin, the high
incidence of meteorite craters, the spectacular Niagara Falls,
urban karst in Montreal and Ottawa, youthful, glaciated karst in
Ontario, Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia, the ubiquitous
permafrost terrain of Nunavut, Labrador and northern Quebec and the
magnificent arctic fjords and glaciers. Looking at coastlines, the
tidal extremes of the Bay of Fundy are world renowned; the
structural complexity of the island of Newfoundland is less well
known, but produces an astounding variety of coastlines in close
succession; the arctic fjordlands of Baffin and Ellesmere islands
and the extravagant raised beaches of Hudson Bay bear comparison
with the classic fjords of Norway and the Baltic Sea raised
beaches. As for wetlands, there are distinctive Arctic, Subarctic,
Boreal, Eastern Temperate and Atlantic wetlands, and their extent
is second only to those of Russia. In the Hudson and James Bay
regions, between 75-100% of the terrestrial surface is comprised of
wetlands. One of North America's largest river basins, the Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence basin, has its source in Minnesota, straddles
the USA-Canada border and debouches into Quebec as the St. Lawrence
River and evolves through its estuary into the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, a journey of almost 5,000 km. As far as meteorite craters
are concerned, 10% of the world's total are located in eastern
Canada, including some of the largest and most complex landforms.
They are preserved preferentially in the ancient Shield terrain of
Quebec. Finally, the three million km(2) of permafrost controlled
relief in eastern Canada serves as a reminder of the vulnerability
of eastern Canada's landscapes to climate change. Effects of
warming are expressed through thawing of the permafrost, disruption
of transportation corridors and urban construction problems,
ever-present geomorphic hazards.
How will global environmental change affect the landscape and our
interaction with it? Apart from climate change, there are other
important catalysts of landscape change, including relief,
hydroclimate and runoff, sea level variations and human activity.
This volume summarizes the state-of-the-art concerning the
geomorphic implications of global environmental change, analyzing
such effects on lakes, rivers, coasts, reefs, rainforests,
savannas, deserts, glacial features, and mountains. Providing a
benchmark statement from the world s leading geomorphologists on
the current state of, and potential changes to, the environment,
this book is invaluable for advanced courses on geomorphology and
environmental science, and as a reference for research scientists.
Interdisciplinary in scope, with a primary audience of Earth and
environmental scientists, geographers, geomorphologists and
ecologists, it also has a wider reach to those concerned with the
social, economic and political issues raised by global
environmental change, and is useful to policy makers and
environmental managers.
Low temperatures, wind-chill, snow, sea ice, and permafrost have
been primary characteristics of Canada's northern and alpine
environments during the past two million years. The evolution of
Canada's cultural landscapes, the processes of settlement of rural
areas, and the present interaction of Canadian industrial society
with its biophysical environment are all deeply influenced,
directly or indirectly, by the frigidity of the greater part of the
country. The phenomenon of global warming, if it occurs, will
lessen this coldness, but its impact on temperature extremes, sea
ice regimes, vegetation, snow distribution, permafrost, glaciers,
lakes, rivers, and mountain hazards are all the subject of
intensive research -- the highlights of which are reviewed in
Canada's Cold Environments. Eleven of Canada's leading geographers,
geologists, and ecologists provide an authoritative yet readable
scientific statement about the physical nature of Canada's
coldness. They focus on the distinctive attributes of Canada's cold
environments, their temporal and spatial variability, and the
constraints that coldness places on human activity. The book is
aimed at environmental scientists at all levels who need informed
overviews of the substantive findings on a range of cold-related
topics.
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