Arid zone geomorphology. Process, form and change in drylands / Геоморфология засушливых зон. Процессы, формы и изменения в засушливых районах

Arid environments may not be the most hospitable places n Earth, but the 30 % or more of the global land surface that they cover does support an ever-growing human population and has fascinated travellers, explorers and scientists for centuries. Early geomorphological studies were frequently carried out indirectly, sometimes even unwittingly, by those whose main purpose and motives lay elsewhere: inevitably, but with some notable exceptions, their accounts were descriptive and unscientific. Some would even argue that these traits persisted and dominated desert geomorphological studies well into the second half of this century. Recent years have, however, seen an enhanced rigour in the investigation and explanation of landforms and geomorphological processes in arid lands. New data have been gathered by techniques ranging in scale from the detailed monitoring of processes in the field to remote sensing from space; old theories have been questioned and new ones, based on evidence rather than surmise, have been proposed.
The idea for this volume grew out of these advances and the absence of a recent book which encapsules them (Cooke and Warren’s Geomorphology in Deserts is 15 years old and Mabbutt’s Desert Landforms is 11 years old). There have been valuable volumes produced in recent years that deal with specific topics of interest to desert geomorphologists, but none (to my knowledge) that attempts a broader view of arid zone geomorphology. It is hoped that this book fills this gap. The decision to invite others to contribute chapters was made easily. The geomorphology of arid environments is a huge topic, embracing much of the subject matter of geomorphology as a whole: desert landforms consist of much more than piles of unvegetated sand. Arid and semi-arid environments are very varied, too; involving the expertise of others has therefore inevitably broadened and deepened the basis of the text. While there are inevitably gaps, these have hopefully been kept to a minimum. Many people have provided the help and inspiration needed to turn Arid Zone Geomorphology from an idea to a book. Andrew Goudie introduced me to deserts, since which time many people and funding bodies have enabled me to visit them and to conduct research in them: I would particularly like to thank the Shaws in Botswana and Sleaze and Val for showing me Death Valley and other Californian hotspots. During the production of the book the contributors have efficiently met the tasks I have set them, including refereeing other people’s chapters; Rod Brown provided additional help in this respect, too, while Chapter 12 also passed through refereeing within the US Geological Survey. The cartographers of many institutions, but especially Paul Coles of the Geography Department, University of Sheffield, produced the diagrams. At the publishers, Iaian Stevenson and Sally Kilmister gave me valuable advice and logistical help. Steve Trudgill inspired me to put a book together in the first place. Lastly, but most importantly, Liz Thomas not only suffered me during the book’s gestation, but helped in a multitude of practical ways and provided a valuable, independent, geomorphological viewpoint. To all of the above, my parents and any I have forgotten to mention, my sincere thanks <...>