Badlands Dynamics in the Context of Global Change presents the newest ideas concerning badland formation and relates them to the larger context of global change. The book provides an overview of badland landforms and covers a variety of interdisciplinary topics, such as runoff generation, erosion processes and rates, the potential for modeling badland systems, and emerging technologies in research. It is an ideal resource for geomorphologists, physical geographers and soil scientists interested in this terrain and how it relates to land degradation in other environments. - Provides a global understanding of the complex dynamics of badlands through geology, geomorphology and soil science - Covers critical material properties for badlands development based on current knowledge and new data - Includes vegetation dynamics in different badlands systems and their relationship with geomorphology dynamics

Over the last twenty years there has been a major expansion of knowledge in the field of landforms and landforming processes of deserts. This advanced-level book provides a benchmark for the current state of science, and is written by an international team of authors who are acknowledged experts in their fields.

Examines the processes operating in the headwaters and main channels of ephemeral rivers in semi-arid environments and includes coverage of current fieldwork investigations, modeling approaches, and management issues. focuses on dryland channel networks and processes presents a historical framework for research discusses examples of current studies and evaluates contemporary modelling approaches Emphasis is on the Mediterranean region, with comparisons to other dryland regimes eg California, Australia, Chile.

About one-third of the Earth’s land surface experiences a desert climate, and this area supports approximately 15% of the planet’s population. This percentage continues to grow, and with this growth comes the need to acquire and apply an understanding of desert geomorphology. Such an understanding is vital in managing scarce and fragile resources and in mitigating natural hazards. This authoritative reference book is comprehensive in its coverage of the geomorphology of desert environments, and is arranged thematically. It begins with an overview of global deserts, proceeds through treatments of weathering, hillslopes, rivers, piedmonts, lake basins, and aeolian surfaces, and concludes with a discussion of the role of climatic change. Written by a team of international authors, all of whom are active in the field, the chapters cover the spectrum of desert geomorphology.

Based on four decades of research by Professor Andrew Goudie, this volume provides a state-of-the-art synthesis of our understanding of desert geomorphology. It presents a truly international perspective, with examples from all over the world. Extensively referenced and illustrated, it covers such topics as the importance of past climatic changes, the variability of different desert environments, rock breakdown, wind erosion and dust storm generation, sand dunes, fluvial and slope forms and processes, the role of the applied geomorphologist in desert development and conservation, and the Earth as an analogue for other planetary bodies. This book is destined to become the classic volume on arid and semi-arid geomorphology for advanced students and researchers in physical geography, geomorphology, Earth science, sedimentology, environmental science and archaeology.