This unusual encyclopedia brings together in-depth information on more than 450 natural geographic features from around the world and offers an array of creative tools to promote critical thinking and classroom discussion. With Earth undergoing rapid environmental change, students and the general public alike should be knowledgeable about the world's geographic features. This authoritative, two-volume reference enables readers do just that. It describes continents and oceans; individual mountains, islands, caves, and rivers; and ecological entities such as wildlife refuges and national parks. Each entry provides a geographic overview of the feature's significance, location, description, geologic history, biota, protected areas, and environmental issues. But the coverage goes even deeper so that entries also discuss the cultural importance of each natural place, covering everything from indigenous beliefs to traditional folklore to contemporary legends. The encyclopedia stands apart from other works not only in the depth of its coverage but also in its range. It discusses lesser known as well as prominent geographical features and offers critical thinking aids that will help students see how the natural world relates to their daily lives. Teaching and learning tools include an appendix called "Opposing Viewpoints" that allows students to understand landforms involved in current conflicts and disputes as well as an "Activities/Discussion Questions" appendix.

Remote Sensing of Geomorphology, Volume 23, discusses the new range of remote-sensing techniques (lidar, structure from motion photogrammetry, advanced satellite platforms) that has led to a dramatic increase in terrain information, and as such provided new opportunities for a better understanding of surface morphology and related Earth surface processes. As several papers have been published (including paper reviews and special issues) on this topic, this book summarizes the major advances in remote sensing techniques for the analysis of Earth surface morphology and processes, also highlighting future challenges. Useful for MSc and PhD students, this book is also ideal for any scientists that want to have a single volume guideline to help them develop new ideas. In addition, technicians and private and public sectors working on remote sensing will find the information useful to their initiatives.

Earth System: History and Natural Variability theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Natural Resources Policy and Management, in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on Earth System: History and Natural Variability with contributions from distinguished experts in the field, presents a description of the cosmic environment around our planet influencing the Earth in a number of ways through variation of solar energy or meteorite impacts. The structure of the Earth and its rocks, waters and atmosphere is described. The Theme focuses on geological and evolutionary processes through the history of Earth's epochs and biomes since the Early Earth to the Quaternary. The unifying processes between the Earth's life and its rocks, waters and atmosphere are global natural cycles of carbon, sulfur and other elements that connect and influence the rate of geological processes, climate change, biological evolution and human economy. These five volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Geomorphological Mapping: a professional handbook of techniques and applications is a new book targeted at academics and practitioners who use, or wish to utilise, geomorphological mapping within their work. Synthesising for the first time an historical perspective to geomorphological mapping, field based and digital tools and techniques for mapping and an extensive array of case studies from academics and professionals active in the area. Those active in geomorphology, engineering geology, reinsurance, Environmental Impact Assessors, and allied areas, will find the text of immense value. - Growth of interest in geomorphological mapping and currently no texts comprehensively cover this topic - Extensive case studies that will appeal to professionals, academics and students (with extensive use of diagrams, potentially colour plates) - Brings together material on digital mapping (GIS and remote sensing), cartography and data sources with a focus on modern technologies (including GIS, remote sensing and digital terrain analysis) - Provides readers with summaries of current advances in methodological/technical aspects - Accompanied by electronic resources for digital mapping

Geology is the Component of Encyclopedia of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS)), which is an integrated compendium of twenty Encyclopedias. The theme on geology in the Encyclopedia of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, presents many aspects of geology under the following nine different topics: The Organized Earth.; Tectonics and Geodynamics; Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology; Sedimentary Geology and Paleontology; Overview of the Mineralogical Sciences; Geology of Metallic and Non-Metallic Mineral Resources; Regional Geology; Geology of Petroleum, Gas, and Coal; Environmental and Engineering Geology.

A Complutense International Seminar on "Earth Sciences and Mathematics" was organised and held in Madrid at the Facultad de Ciencias Matemáticas of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in September 2006. Scientists from both fields, Mathematics and Earth Sciences, took part in this International Seminar, addressing scientific problems related to our planet from clearly complementary approaches, seeking to gain and learn from this dual approach and proposing a closer collaboration in the near future. This volume is the second one of a Topical Issue on "Earth Sciences and Mathematics" and contains papers addressing different topics as analysis of InSAR time series, fuzzy classification for remote sensing, modelling gravitational instabilities, geodynamical evolution of the Alboran Sea, statistical warning systems for volcanic hazards, analysis of solutions for the hydrological cycle, study of the ice flow, magma intrusion in elastic layered media, river channel formation, Hartley transform filters for continuous GPS, and deformation modeling.

During geologic spans of time, Earth's shifting tectonic plates, atmosphere, freezing water, thawing ice, flowing rivers, and evolving life have shaped Earth's surface features. The resulting hills, mountains, valleys, and plains shelter ecosystems that interact with all life and provide a record of Earth surface processes that extend back through Earth's history. Despite rapidly growing scientific knowledge of Earth surface interactions, and the increasing availability of new monitoring technologies, there is still little understanding of how these processes generate and degrade landscapes. Landscapes on the Edge identifies nine grand challenges in this emerging field of study and proposes four high-priority research initiatives. The book poses questions about how our planet's past can tell us about its future, how landscapes record climate and tectonics, and how Earth surface science can contribute to developing a sustainable living surface for future generations.