Fundamentals of the physical environment / by Peter Smithson, Ken Addison, and Ken Atkinson.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Fundamentals of the Physical Environment has established itself as anbsp;well-respected core introductory book for students of physical geography and the environmental sciences. Taking anbsp;systems approach, it demonstrates how the various factors operating at Earth's surface can and do interact, and how landscape can be used to decipher them. The nature of the earth, its atmospherenbsp;and its oceans, the main processes of geomorphology and key elements of ecosystems are also all explained. The final section on specific environments usefully sets in context the physical processes and human impacts.

This fourth edition has been extensively revised to incorporate current thinking and knowledge and includes:

a new section on the history and study of physical geography an updated and strengthened chapter on climate change (9)nbsp;and anbsp;strengthened section on the work of the wind a revised chapter (15) on crysosphere systems - glaciers, ice and permafrost anbsp;new chapter (23) on the principles of environmental reconstruction a new joint chapter (24) on polar and alpine environments a keynbsp;new joint chapter (28) on currentnbsp;environmental change and future environments new material on the Earth System and cycling of carbon and nutrients themed boxes highlighting processes, systems, applications, new developments and human impacts a support website at www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415395168 with discussion and essaynbsp;questions, chapter summaries and extended case studies.

Clearly written, well-structured and with over 450 informative colour diagrams and 150 colour photographs, this text provides students with the necessary grounding in fundamental processes whilst linking these to their impact on human society and their application to the science of the environment.

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Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Part 1 Fundamentals
• 1 The Physical Environment: Scientific Concepts and Methods
• 2 Energy and Earth
• Part 2 Atmosphere
• 3 Heat and Energy in the Atmosphere
• 4 Moisture in the Atmosphere
• 5 Precipitation and evapotranspiration
• 6 The Atmosphere inAction
• 7 Weather-Forming Systems
• 8 Micro and Local Climates
• 9 Climate Change
• Part 3 Geosphere
• 10 Earth's Geological Structure and Processes
• 11 The Global Ocean
• 12 Rock Formation and Deformation
• 13 Denudation, Weathering and Mass Wasting
• 14 Fluvial Systems: Catchments and Rivers
• 15 Cryosphere Systems: Glaciers, Ice and Permafrost
• 16 Aeolian Systems 17.Global Coastlines
• Part 4 Biosphere
• 18 Soils in their Environment
• 19 Soil Fertility and Sustainability
• 20 Principles of Biogeography
• 21 The Earth System and the Cycling of Carbon and Nutrients
• 22 Biodiversity in Ecosystems
• Part 5 Environments
• 23 Environmental Reconstruction: Principles and Practice
• 24 Polar and Alpine: Environments
• 25 Mediterranean Environments
• 26 Tropical Deserts and Semi-AridEnvironments
• 27 Humid Tropical Environments
• 28 Current and Future Environmental Change
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index

Author notes provided by Syndetics

The British architect Peter Simpson has produced one of the most significant and influential bodies of work of the second half of the 20th century. His books include Urban Structuring, Ordinariness and Light, Without Rhetoric, The Shift, and the influential Team X Primer.

(Bowker Author Biography)