Hugh M. French

The Periglacial Environment (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

The Periglacial Environment, Fourth Edition, is an authoritative overview of the world's cold, non-glacial environments. First published in 1976 and subsequently revised in 1996 and 2007, the text has been the international standard for nearly 40 years. The Fourth Edition continues to be a personal interpretation of the frost-induced conditions, geomorphic processes and landforms that characterize periglacial environments. Part One discusses the periglacial concept and describes the typical climates and ecosystems that are involved. Part Two describes the geocryology (permafrost science) associated with frozen ground. Part Three outlines the weathering and geomorphic processes associated with cold-climate conditions. Part Four provides insight into the periglacial environments of the Quaternary, especially the Late Pleistocene. Part Five describes some of the problems associated with human occupancy in regions that experience frozen ground and cold-climate conditions. * Extensively revised and updated * Written by an expert with over 50 years of field research * Draws upon the author's personal experience from Northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Tibet, Antarctica, Svalbard, Scandinavia, southern South America, Western Europe and eastern North America This book is an invaluable reference for advanced undergraduates in geography, geology, earth sciences and environmental sciences programs, and to resource managers and geotechnical engineers interested in cold regions.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Erscheinungstermin: 27. Oktober 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781119132813
• Artikelnr.: 52560618

Autorenporträt

HUGH M. FRENCH is now Professor Emeritus, University of Ottawa, and an Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria. He lives on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface to Fourth Edition xv

Preface to Third Edition xvii

Preface to Second Edition xix

Preface to First Edition xxi

Acknowledgments xxiii

Part I The Periglacial Domain 1

1 Introduction 3

1.1 The Periglacial Concept 3

1.2 Diagnostic Criteria 4

1.3 Periglacial Environments 5

1.4 The Periglacial Domain 6

1.5 The Periglacial Domain and the Cryosphere 9

1.6 Disciplinary Considerations 10

1.6.1 The Growth of Geocryology 10

1.6.2 The Challenge of Quaternary Science 11

1.6.3 Periglacial Geomorphology or Cold-Region Geomorphology? 12

1.7 Societal Considerations 12

1.8 The Growth of Periglacial Knowledge 13

2 Periglacial Climates 17

2.1 Boundary Conditions 17

2.2 Cold Deserts 17

2.3 Regional Climates 19

2.3.1 High Arctic Climates 22

2.3.2 Continental Climates 24

2.3.3 Alpine Climates 24

2.3.4 Montane Climates 25

2.3.5 Climates of Low Annual Temperature Range 25

2.3.6 Antarctica: A Special Case 26

2.4 Snow and Ice 26

2.5 Wind 28

2.6 Ground Climates 28

2.6.1 The 'n'-Factor 28

2.6.2 TheThermal Offset 29

2.6.3 The Ground Temperature Regime 31

2.7 Periglacial Climates and Global Climate Change 35

2.7.1 Basic Facts 37

2.7.2 Why Climate-Cryosphere Interactions Accelerate ClimateWarming 38

3 Periglacial Ecosystems 41

3.1 General Statement 41

3.2 Biogeographic Zonation and Major Vegetation Types 41

3.3 Adaptations to Cold, Snow,Wind and Aridity 44

3.4 The Effect of Vegetation 44

3.5 The Polar Deserts 47

3.5.1 High Polar Deserts 47

3.5.2 The Polar Semi-Deserts 47

3.6 The Polar Desert-Tundra Transition 49

3.7 The Low-Arctic Tundra 49

3.8 The Forest-Tundra Bioclimatic Boundary (The Tree Line) 53

3.9 The Boreal Forest 56

3.10 The Alpine and Montane Ecosystems 58

3.11 Antarctica - A Special Case 60

3.12 Periglacial Ecosystems and Climate Change 61

Part II Frozen Ground and Permafrost 63

4 Ground Freezing, Permafrost and the Active Layer 65

4.1 Introduction 65

4.2 Ground Freezing 65

4.2.1 Basic Concepts 65

4.2.2 Ice Segregation 67

4.2.3 'The Frozen Fringe' 69

4.2.4 Frost Heave 69

4.3 Perennially-Frozen Ground (Permafrost) 70

4.4 Moisture and IceWithin Permafrost 72

4.5 Thermal and Physical Properties 73

4.5.1 The Geothermal Regime 73

4.5.2 The TTOP Model 76

4.5.3 Physical Properties 77

4.5.4 Thermal Properties 78

4.6 Permafrost Hydrology 78

4.6.1 Aquifers 79

4.6.2 Hydrochemistry 80

4.6.3 Groundwater Icings 81

4.7 The Active Layer 82

4.7.1 Terminology 82

4.7.2 The Active-LayerThermal Regime 83

4.7.3 The Transient Layer 83

4.7.4 The Stefan Equation 84

5 Permafrost Distribution and Stability 87

5.1 Introduction 87

5.2 Controls over Permafrost Distribution 87

5.2.1 Relief and Aspect 87

5.2.2 Rock Type 88

5.2.3 Vegetation 90

5.2.4 Snow Cover 90

5.2.5 Fire 92

5.2.6 Lakes and SurfaceWater Bodies 92

5.3 Spatial Extent of Permafrost and Frozen Ground 93

5.3.1 Latitudinal Permafrost 93

5.3.2 Alpine (Mountain) Permafrost 95

5.3.3 Montane