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Hillslope materials and process
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Book Reviews~Engineering Geology 39 (1995) 113 -119
one worked out examples have been used to illustrate the fundamental concepts as needed. In each chapter attempts have been made to incorporate real field observations to compare with the theories. There is a liberal list of references at the end of the book. The text is well suited for researchers and consulting engineers as an excellent source of reference. BRAYA M. DAS (Sacramento, Calif.)
Hillslope Materials and Processes, 2nd ed., by M.J. Selby. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1993, 451 pp., £48, ISBN 0-19-874165-0. This second edition is a model of clarity, production and explanation. The study of hillslopes is shared as an interest by a wide constituency of scientists. It is a feature of the period between editions of this text, as the author observes, that there has been considerably increased interchange between researchers of different disciplines sharing the common interest of hillslopes. This interdisciplinary factor makes the authorship requirements and levels of approach potentially conflicting. It is a positive testimony to the author that not only is this issue observed by the author in the preface, but that the text reads coherently and equally comfortably in areas one is more and less knowledgeable of. To achieve the goal of integrating the
understanding of weathering, cohesion and stress there are chapters on chemical bonds, fabrics and rheology. In all there are 19 chapters covering properties of rocks and soil, weathering, hillslope form, hydrology of slopes, mass wasting and flow failures, rock slopes, models of hillslope development, amongst other topics. Throughout, the photographs and illustrations are excellent and there are some 33 pages of references. All of this serves to make the text not only attractive to those with some knowledge of the area, but stimulating to those gaining familiarity with this area for perhaps the first time. The book has a clear plan to its structure (fully explained on page 5), six chapters on soils and rock properties, two on alteration by weathering, two on deposits and water within hillslopes, four on processes modifying slopes. The final four chapters review hillslope models, magnitude and frequency, hazards, denudation rate implications. By any standards this is a thorough scope. There are imbalances perhaps in the representation of current research in each of these chapters but that observation should not detract from this excellent volume. A clear improvement on a timely and encompassing first edition is not easy to achieve - - Selby is to be congratulated on the quality of this second edition. M.G. A N D E R S O N ( Bristol, U K )
Book Reviews~Engineering Geology 39 (1995) 113 -119
one worked out examples have been used to illustrate the fundamental concepts as needed. In each chapter attempts have been made to incorporate real field observations to compare with the theories. There is a liberal list of references at the end of the book. The text is well suited for researchers and consulting engineers as an excellent source of reference. BRAYA M. DAS (Sacramento, Calif.)
Hillslope Materials and Processes, 2nd ed., by M.J. Selby. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1993, 451 pp., £48, ISBN 0-19-874165-0. This second edition is a model of clarity, production and explanation. The study of hillslopes is shared as an interest by a wide constituency of scientists. It is a feature of the period between editions of this text, as the author observes, that there has been considerably increased interchange between researchers of different disciplines sharing the common interest of hillslopes. This interdisciplinary factor makes the authorship requirements and levels of approach potentially conflicting. It is a positive testimony to the author that not only is this issue observed by the author in the preface, but that the text reads coherently and equally comfortably in areas one is more and less knowledgeable of. To achieve the goal of integrating the
understanding of weathering, cohesion and stress there are chapters on chemical bonds, fabrics and rheology. In all there are 19 chapters covering properties of rocks and soil, weathering, hillslope form, hydrology of slopes, mass wasting and flow failures, rock slopes, models of hillslope development, amongst other topics. Throughout, the photographs and illustrations are excellent and there are some 33 pages of references. All of this serves to make the text not only attractive to those with some knowledge of the area, but stimulating to those gaining familiarity with this area for perhaps the first time. The book has a clear plan to its structure (fully explained on page 5), six chapters on soils and rock properties, two on alteration by weathering, two on deposits and water within hillslopes, four on processes modifying slopes. The final four chapters review hillslope models, magnitude and frequency, hazards, denudation rate implications. By any standards this is a thorough scope. There are imbalances perhaps in the representation of current research in each of these chapters but that observation should not detract from this excellent volume. A clear improvement on a timely and encompassing first edition is not easy to achieve - - Selby is to be congratulated on the quality of this second edition. M.G. A N D E R S O N ( Bristol, U K )