Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sediment Deposits

A unique, advanced textbook combining sedimentology and geomorphology in a comprehensive and integrated way.

John Bridge (Author), Robert Demicco (Author)

9780521857802, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 May 2008

832 pages, 717 b/w illus. 8 colour illus.
25.2 x 19.6 x 4.2 cm, 1.99 kg

'… the writing is authoritative, up-to-date references enable the reader to access source material with ease, the diagrams are excellent, the scope is novel and illuminating, the content is wide-ranging, and there is an invigorating focus on processes as the key to understanding … this … advanced-level textbook is a must-have for sedimentologists, Holocene or otherwise …' The Holocene

Earth surface processes, landforms and sediment deposits are intimately related - involving erosion of rocks, generation of sediment, and transport and deposition of sediment through various Earth surface environments. These processes, and the landforms and deposits that they generate, have a fundamental bearing on engineering, environmental and public safety issues; on recovery of economic resources; and on our understanding of Earth history. This textbook brings together the traditional disciplines of sedimentology and geomorphology to explain Earth surface processes, landforms and sediment deposits in a comprehensive and integrated way. It is the ideal resource for a two-semester course in sedimentology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and Earth surface processes from the intermediate undergraduate to beginning graduate level. The book is also accompanied by a website hosting illustrations and material on field and laboratory methods for measuring, describing and analyzing Earth surface processes, landforms and sediments.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Definitions, rationale and scope of the book
2. Overview of the Earth
Part II. Production of Sediment at the Earth's Surface: 3. Weathering of rocks, production of terrigenous sediment, and soils
4. Biogenic and chemogenic sediment production
Part III. Fundamentals of Fluid Flow, Sediment Transport, Erosion and Deposition: 5. Unidirectional turbulent water flow, sediment transport, erosion and deposition
6. Air flow, sediment transport, erosion and deposition
7. Multidirectional water flow, sediment transport, erosion and deposition
8. Movement of sediment by gravity
9. Generation and movement of volcaniclastic sediment
10. Ice flow, sediment transport, erosion and deposition
11. Biogenic and chemogenic depositional structures
12. Post-depositional deformation of soft sediment
Part IV. Environments of Erosion and Deposition: 13. Rivers, alluvial plains and fans
14. Lakes
15. Coasts and shallow seas
16. Arid environments
17. Glacial and periglacial environments
18. Deep seas and oceans
Part V. Sediment into Rock: Diagenesis: 19. Diagenesis
Part VI. Long-term, Large-Scale Processes: Mountains and Sedimentary Basins: 20. Tectonic, climatic and eustatic controls on long-term, large-scale erosion and deposition
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Stratigraphy [RBGH], Geological surface processes [geomorphology RBGD], Soil science, sedimentology [RBGB], Earth sciences [RB], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]