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Appalachian geomorphology
Sedimentary Geology, 73 (1991) 329-332
329
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m
Book Reviews
Appalachian Geomorphology. T.W. Garner and W.D. Sevon (Editors). Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1989, 318 pp., ISBN 0-444-88326-6, US$97.50. From the late 1800's to at least the mid-1940's, a period of more than half-a-century, the Davisian theme of landscape analysis doininated the field of American geomorphology. Many of Davis' concepts, such as the cycle of erosion and the peneplain, were set forth a n d / o r described in minute detail in his classic 1889 paper, "The Rivers and Valleys of Pennsylvania" published in the National GeographicMagazine. The 100th anniversary of Davis' provocative paper occurred in 1989. During this 100-year period, our understanding of geologic and geomorphic processes has dramatically changed allowing for a re-evaluation of the Davisian paradigm of landform evolution. To attain that goal, the 1989 Binghamton symposium, held at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, addressed the long-term evolution of the Appalachians. Appalachian Geomorphology is a collection of 15 papers presented at the Binghamton symposium. Davis' 1889 paper focused primarily on the Valley and Ridge province, but Appalachian Geomorphology covers a significantly larger region ranging from the Appalachian Plateau to offshore basins. The papers cover a wide range of topics and implement a variety of techniques from disparate fields of study. For example, the spatial and temporal variations in crustal deformation and uplift are examined to determine the influence of tectonics and structure on the initial basic topography (width, height) of the Appalachian range as well as the development of water and wind gaps, erosional surfaces or "peneplains" and regional-scale landforms such as the Blue Ridge escarpment. Several papers focus on the temporal variations in the rates of denudation and provide arguments as to the relative influence of climatic
fluctuations and tectonic activity on long-term erosional processes. Related to these studies is a series of contributions that discuss the importance of glacial, periglacial, hillslope, and fluvial processes on the erosion and evolution of the Appalachian Mountains and the surrounding area. One of the more interesting papers, in my opinion, is about the use of cosmogenic ~°Be to examine the development of "peneplains" in terms of erosion rates, residence-times, and genesis of soil and saprolite on upland surfaces of the Appalachian Piedmont. Descriptions of the long-term evolution of the Appalachian landscape are also attempted using block diagrams or computer models. Appalachian Geomorphology is not, as recognized by its editors, a compendium of Appalachian geomorphology; with minor exceptions, contributions within this book are devoted to long-term landscape analysis. Nevertheless, the editors have done a superb job in obtaining contributions from a wide range of topical areas allowing Appalachian Geomorphology to be one of the first serious recent attempts to focus modern geologic paradigms from a number of disciplines onto the questions of long-term landscape evolution. In total, the book provides an excellent measure of the advances made during the past 100 years in our understanding of the long-term processes and events which shape the Earth's surface and should be on the bookshelf of every student concerned with long-term changes in landscape physiography. JERRY R. MILLER
(Reno, Nevada)
Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs. J.H. Barwis, J.G. Mc Pherson and J.R.J. Studlick (Editors). Springer-Verlag, New York-Berlin-Heidelberg, 1990, 583 pp., DM 180.-, ISBN 0-387-97217-X (hardcover).
003%0738/91/$03.50 © 1991 - ElsevierSciencePublishers B.V.All fights reserved
329
Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m
Book Reviews
Appalachian Geomorphology. T.W. Garner and W.D. Sevon (Editors). Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1989, 318 pp., ISBN 0-444-88326-6, US$97.50. From the late 1800's to at least the mid-1940's, a period of more than half-a-century, the Davisian theme of landscape analysis doininated the field of American geomorphology. Many of Davis' concepts, such as the cycle of erosion and the peneplain, were set forth a n d / o r described in minute detail in his classic 1889 paper, "The Rivers and Valleys of Pennsylvania" published in the National GeographicMagazine. The 100th anniversary of Davis' provocative paper occurred in 1989. During this 100-year period, our understanding of geologic and geomorphic processes has dramatically changed allowing for a re-evaluation of the Davisian paradigm of landform evolution. To attain that goal, the 1989 Binghamton symposium, held at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, addressed the long-term evolution of the Appalachians. Appalachian Geomorphology is a collection of 15 papers presented at the Binghamton symposium. Davis' 1889 paper focused primarily on the Valley and Ridge province, but Appalachian Geomorphology covers a significantly larger region ranging from the Appalachian Plateau to offshore basins. The papers cover a wide range of topics and implement a variety of techniques from disparate fields of study. For example, the spatial and temporal variations in crustal deformation and uplift are examined to determine the influence of tectonics and structure on the initial basic topography (width, height) of the Appalachian range as well as the development of water and wind gaps, erosional surfaces or "peneplains" and regional-scale landforms such as the Blue Ridge escarpment. Several papers focus on the temporal variations in the rates of denudation and provide arguments as to the relative influence of climatic
fluctuations and tectonic activity on long-term erosional processes. Related to these studies is a series of contributions that discuss the importance of glacial, periglacial, hillslope, and fluvial processes on the erosion and evolution of the Appalachian Mountains and the surrounding area. One of the more interesting papers, in my opinion, is about the use of cosmogenic ~°Be to examine the development of "peneplains" in terms of erosion rates, residence-times, and genesis of soil and saprolite on upland surfaces of the Appalachian Piedmont. Descriptions of the long-term evolution of the Appalachian landscape are also attempted using block diagrams or computer models. Appalachian Geomorphology is not, as recognized by its editors, a compendium of Appalachian geomorphology; with minor exceptions, contributions within this book are devoted to long-term landscape analysis. Nevertheless, the editors have done a superb job in obtaining contributions from a wide range of topical areas allowing Appalachian Geomorphology to be one of the first serious recent attempts to focus modern geologic paradigms from a number of disciplines onto the questions of long-term landscape evolution. In total, the book provides an excellent measure of the advances made during the past 100 years in our understanding of the long-term processes and events which shape the Earth's surface and should be on the bookshelf of every student concerned with long-term changes in landscape physiography. JERRY R. MILLER
(Reno, Nevada)
Sandstone Petroleum Reservoirs. J.H. Barwis, J.G. Mc Pherson and J.R.J. Studlick (Editors). Springer-Verlag, New York-Berlin-Heidelberg, 1990, 583 pp., DM 180.-, ISBN 0-387-97217-X (hardcover).
003%0738/91/$03.50 © 1991 - ElsevierSciencePublishers B.V.All fights reserved