Geomorphology is the study of earth-surface processes and forms. As a component of the fields of geology and geography, geomorphology is particularly concerned with change: progressive changes through time or changing spatial distributions at the earth’s surface. Geomorphology as a science views the objects of its study as collections of elements in complex systems that are groupings of forms and related processes. Because these groupings have regional manifestations strongly controlled by geologic materials and structures, the geomorphic systems of North America have a definable regional expression that serves as a method of organizing knowledge. The Geological Society of America’s publication series celebrating the Decade of North American Geology and the Centennial of the founding of the organization is generally organized according to geographic regions, so it is appropriate that this companion volume to the series also adopts a regional framework (Figs. 1 and 2).

The geomorphologic divisions of the continent depicted in Figure 2 are broad generalizations. Discussions in subsequent chapters that more specifically define the extent of each division use boundaries suggested by workers several decades ago.

Here is an examination of the nature of landforms, soil and geomorphological processes in deserts. It is the first volume in English to attempt a review of the many important geomorphological aspects of dry lands - areas which cover almost a third of the Earth's land surface. The field is vast and contributions to its study are enormously varied. The authors provide some valuable generalizations, illuminate certain long-standing problems and establish baselines from which future research can proceed.

Geodiversity and biodiversity are the two fundamental components of Nature that must be analyzed simultaneously for good management of the natural environment. Geodiversity, including geomorphodiversity, has values that make it possible to define the geosystem services on the basis of which it is possible to establish protocols for the sustainable development of the territory analyzed. Both the values of geodiversity and the geosystem services they provide are key elements for the definition of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs). Furthermore, it is also necessary to consider the assessment of the geodiversity and geomorphodiversity of the territory under consideration, so that a zoning can be established in terms of the geodiversity index (geodiversity/geomorphodiversity gradient) that favors the establishment of specific geoconservation protocols according to the value of these indices. In addition, NPAs should be considered as elements belonging to a network in which the different natural systems of the territory in which the network is defined are represented. In the case of geodiversity or geomorphodiversity, the network must be supported by the definition of geological contexts, representative of the major geological units that are observable in the territory. <...>

A primary goal of geomorphological enquiry is to make genetic associations between process and form. In rock breakdown studies, the links between process, inheritance and lithology are not well constrained. In particular, there is a need to establish an understanding of feature persistence. That is, to determine the extent to which in situ rock breakdown (e.g., aeolian abrasion or salt weathering) masks signatures of earlier geomorphic transport processes (e.g., fluvial transport or crater ejecta). Equally important is the extent to which breakdown during geomorphic transport masks the imprint of past weathering (Viles et al., 2005). <...>

В книге члена-корреспондента АН СССР Н.А. Флоренсова рассказывается о типичных формах земной поверхности, их роли в жизни человека, о их происхождении, связи с внутренним строением и вещественным составом Земли, о содержании геоморфологии как одной из важных наук о Земле. Формы земной поверхности сравниваются с искусственными (художественными) скульптурами, что дозволяет лучше выразить простую мысль об огромном значении формы вещей для понимания их внутреннего содержания. В общей, но доступной форме описываются основные черты рельефа суши, выясняется роль отдельных геоморфологических процессов — «скульпторов», создающих, изменяющих и уничтожающих формы рельефа. Показано, что формы рельефа земной поверхности сами по себе весьма информативны, т. е. многое могут рассказать о себе и недрах. Большое внимание уделено происхождению гор. Подчеркивается глубокая и постоянная связь жизни на Земле с особенностями форм земной поверхности, т. е. соотношение «биосфера — рельеф Земли».

Topography is at once a fundamental and a subtle environmental factor. It wields large and small influences over all other factors of the ecosphere -climate, water storage and movement, soils, animals and plants, and human activities. Several conspicuous topographic influences are well known. Most readers will be aware that a hike up a mountain is the climatic equivalent of a trek from a lower to a higher latitude. They will also be familiar with the stark climatic and botanical contrasts between northfacing and south-facing slopes in the European Alps. Subtle influences are not so well known but are equally significant.

Our purpose in writing this book is to examine time, one of the central themes of geomorphology, in an attempt to provide an overall framework within which to consider and compare old and new approaches to the subject. We include, therefore, in the discussion reviews of the qualitative model-building approach of the pre-1950s, the empirical, observation, process measurement and field measurement technique of the 1960s, and currently fashionable analytical modelling.

В монографии рассматриваются состояние и возможности применения морфологического анализа обломочных частиц, методика сбора материала и его обработки в условиях Забайкалья. На базе полученных связей между морфометрическими параметрами обломков и природными условиями проведено расчленение грубообломочных рыхлых толш.

This latest volume on Remote Sensing of Geomorphology edited by Paolo Tarolli and Simon Mudd gives a refreshing new look at a group of topics and processes that have greatly intrigued quite a number of scientists most interested in using new technologies to investigate the landforms of our home planet.