Mountain Environments: An Examination of the Physical Geography of MountainsUsing examples chosen from a variety of geographical settings and scales, A. J. Gerrard presents a novel approach to the study of mountain environments. He provides a framework in which mountains as special environments can be studied and shows how, no matter what their location or origin all mountain regions share common characteristics and undergo similar shaping processes. Gerrard's integrated approach combines ecological, climatological, hydrological, volcanic, and environmental management concerns in a systematic treatment of mountain geomorphology. He begins by examining the special nature of mountains, including a new classification of mountain types. He discusses mountain ecosystems, stressing the interaction between biota, soil, climate, relief, and geology, examines the high-energy systems of weathering and mass movement, and analyzes the role of rivers and hydrology and the processes of slope evolution. Two chapters are devoted to the particular characteristics of glaciation and vulcanism in mountain formation. The book concludes with a discussion of the special problems that human use of mountain regions create, including engineering, natural hazards, soil erosion, and the concept of integrated development. A. J. Gerrard is Lecturer in Geography at the University of Birmingham, England |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Mountain geoecology | 36 |
Weathering and mass movement | 67 |
Mountain hydrology and river processes | 93 |
Slope form and evolution | 132 |
Glaciation of mountains | 162 |
Other editions - View all
Mountain Environments: An Examination of the Physical Geography of Mountains John Gerrard No preview available - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
accumulation activity alluvial alluvial fans alpine Alps altitude basins bed load bedrock belt catchment cent channel characteristics cirques climatic Colorado Colorado Front Range components cones Cordillera debris avalanches debris flows deforestation denudation deposits developed discharge dissected dominated drainage equilibrium eruption fans Figure flood forest frost Geological geomorphological glacial erosion gullies hazard high mountains Himalayas Hunza River Hydrology increase joints Karakoram km² lahars lakes landforms landscape landslides lava lower major mass movement material meltwater moun Mount mountain areas mountain systems mudflows North occur orogeny particles periglacial permafrost possess processes produce profiles pyroclastic flows rainfall rates regions regolith relief ridges rivers rock glaciers rockfall Rocky runoff scree sediment transport slides slope form soil solifluction steep streams subalpine surface suspended sediment Table talus tectonic temperature terraces timber line tion tropical troughs upper valley glaciers vegetation volcanic mountains volcanoes weathering yr¹ Zealand zonation zone