The importance of glacial deposits is continually increasing, not only for pure scientists, but also for applied geologists. In many parts of Europe, as well as North America, these deposits provide major sand and gravel reserves, groundwater reservoirs and the foundation on which houses, roads and bridges are built. They are thus fundamental to many environmental and engineering problems. In this volume forty six authors report on the current state of specialist research on various aspects of glacial deposits. The geographical coverage of their work — Norway, Sweden, Denmark, West Germany and the Netherlands — represents a transect from the centres of the major North European Quaternary glaciations to their margins. Among the topics covered are: drift prospecting, modern varve chronology, fine gravel analysis, internal structure of thrust moraines, stratigraphical interpretation of well-logs, echo-sounding of North Sea deposits, erratic pebbles as indicators, till fabrics, palaeontology of glacial deposits, multi-component analyses, glacial deposition on the continental shelf and the genetic interpretation of glacial landforms. In addition there are reviews of the regional stratigraphy and glacial chronology of each of the five countries represented and detailed discussion of the problems of genesis, reworking, transport and deposition of Quaternary glacial sediments. Much information is previously unpublished. The volume is intended to serve both as a text book for students and informed amateurs and as a guide for professional geoscientists. The 53 chapters are richly illustrated (409 black and white illustrations and 95 colour photos). In addition to a full and detailed index, the book contains one of the most up-to-date and complete lists of the most important literature on Quaternary problems in North-West Europe, with over 700 references, which serve as a guide for further studies.

Until now no overview of the Quaternary deposits of northeastern Europe has been available. This book fills the gap. It presents the state of research on Quaternary stratigraphy and geology, with emphasis on glacial deposits, discusses the general scientific ideas and gives an overview of the methods of investigation, some of which have rarely been applied elsewhere. It has become apparent that the region covered has many environmental problems, and a proper understanding of the Quaternary deposits is a basic requirement for dealing with them. The same is true for civil engineering. In the formerly glaciated areas almost all construction sites for roads and houses will encounter glacial deposits. This volume provides an authoritative and fascinating overview for anyone planning to venture into this field. In its 53 regional chapters the book covers Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic and eastern Germany. From the text it becomes clear that not all the stratigraphical schemes are yet fully compatible or comprehensible. There can be no doubt, however, that the east was subjected to very extensive ice advances during the earlier Pleistocene. Also, in contrast to western Europe, there was a significant Early Weichselian ice advance, although not as extensive as the last, Late Weichselian event. The book is illustrated by 421 figures and 74 colour plates (mostly photographs). There are 23 tables, a detailed index and a list of over 1000 references, providing a unique collection of northeastern European geoscience literature, much of which has so far escaped the attention of western scientists. The volume, composed of contributions by 60 scientists, completes the trilogy on glacial deposits of northern Europe. Together with its two companion volumes, the Glacial deposits in North-West Europe and the Glacial Deposits in Great Britain and Ireland, it represents an invaluable source of information for the geoscientist, the advanced student or the amateur.

This book aims primarily at providing those involved in fundamental or applied research in the fields of geology, geomorphology and hydrology with a systematic overview of glacigenic sediments. A generally applicable terminology is proposed which should facilitate communication between scientists from several fields. Also it should form a bridge between western and eastern "schools" dealing with Quaternary geology. Because the book is mainly devoted to depositional processes and the resulting deposits, the approach and the terminology followed in this book are obviously founded strongly on sedimentology, the geological discipline that deals specifically with these phenomena.The book will be helpful in describing the sediments involved, interpreting their genesis, establishing their extent and their mutual relationships, and thus in the reconstruction of the palaeogeographic development.The large list of references reflects the author's extensive search of the literature.

European Glacial Landscapes: Last Deglaciation brings together relevant experts on the history of glaciers and their impact on the landscape of the main European regions. Soon after the Last Glacial Maximum, a rapid process of the glacial retreat began throughout Europe. This was interrupted several times by abrupt climate cooling, which caused rapid, although moderate, re-advance of the glaciers, until the beginning of the Holocene when the climate became relatively stable and warm. These successive glacial advances and retreats during the Last Deglaciation have shaped much of the European landscape, reflecting abrupt climatic fluctuations. As our knowledge of abrupt climate changes since the Last Glacial Maximum progresses, new uncertainties arise. These are critical for understanding how climate changes disseminate through Europe, such as the lag between climate changes and the expansion or contraction of glaciers as well as the role of the large continental ice sheets on the European climate. All these contributions are included in the book, which is an invaluable resource for geographers, geologists, environmental scientists, paleoclimatologists, as well as researchers in physics and earth sciences. - Provides a synthesis that highlights the main similarities or differences, through both space and time, during the Last Deglaciation of Europe - Features research from experts in quaternary, geomorphology, palaeoclimatology, palaeoceanography and palaeoglaciology on the Last Deglaciation in Europe during Termination 1 and the important Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition - Includes detailed colour figures and maps, providing a comprehensive overview of the glacial landscapes of Europe during the last deglaciation

This book is a comprehensive overview of the ever-captivating field of glaciation from the perspective of glacial landsystems. This approach models the many processes, forms and interactions that can be found in glaciated landscapes throughout the world. Landsystems models allow the glacial geologist and geomorphologist to evaluate these landscapes in relation to the dynamics of glaciation and to climate and geology. Glacial Landsystems brings together the expertise of an international range of specialists to provide an up-to-date summary of landsystems relevant to both modern and ancient glacier systems and also in the reconstruction and interpretation of former glacial environments. The models are applicable at all scales from ice sheets to small valley glaciers. This book is an essential reference for anyone embarking upon research or engineering surveys in glaciated basins and provides a wide-ranging handbook of glacial landsystem types for students of glaciation.

A distinguished team of Western European scholars has written an advanced, full-length physical geography designed to be a state-of -the-art evaluation of the physical environment of Western Europe, being both retrospective and prospective in its perception of environmental change. The unique natural and regional environments of Western Europe are discussed, as well as the physical geographic framework of the region. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact and responses of human society on the physical environment of the region which is characterized by a very high population density. As an enhanced reference work it will be of enduring value.