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Physical geography
96
quality of the photographic illustrations of which there are few, and in this respect it is regretted that there is no micrograph of Loess micro-gtructure. The book is to be recommended to the busy researcher who can remedy many omissions by f o l l o w i n g up the comprehensive bibliographies. B. Grabowska-Olszewska, Warsaw
LAKE ECOSYSTEMS H.L. Gotterman, 1975. Physiological Limnology. An Approach to the Physiology of Lake Ecosystems. Developments in Water Science, 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, xiv + 490 pp., Dfl. 125.00. Prefaces can be a bit worrying. Was this really going to be " n o . . . complete coverage of all the fields discussed" illustrated by incidental examples culled f r o m the records of the author's lab and dealing ad nauseam with L. Vechten and Tjeukemeer? Subheading 3.2.2 of case studies in Chapter 3 (Chemical Composition) quickly reassured me that it was onty Dr. Golterman's natural modesty; 7 cases are cited, one is L. Vechten and the others are from Europe, Africa and Canada. Chapter 15 (Energy and Mass Transport through Food Chain) (=Webs?) makes good use o f I BP w o r k on L. Leven and L. George; Chapter 17 (Nutrient Budgets and Eutrophication) includes, in some detail, studies f r o m America, Alpine Europe and Israel; while Chapter 19 (Water Management Problems) deals with Russian, African, Spanish and American reservoirs, and Chapter 14 (Phytoplankton Periodicity) rightly draws heavily on the by now surely classical w o r k of Lund in the English Lake District. Reassurance complete! Indeed the broad-ranging choice of examples reflecting the author's well developed sense of the international nature of limnology (most understandable in one working at the receiving end of the R. Rhine) is one of the book's main strengths. There are many others, not least among them the ever present but by no means obtrusive theme of the value of fundamental studies to management, although only Chapters 17 and 19 are specifically management orientated. A t a
more obvious level it is good to see in an advanced t e x t book comment on practical matters, cautionary criticism of techniques and concepts such as bioassays, permissible Ioadings, and rate vs. yield (p. 255) and judgment passed on the merits of some published w o r k . Most of the book is taken up with basic topics such as the origin of lakes (Chapter 2); primary production -- almost exclusively of p h y t o p l a n k t o n (Chapter 4); cycles of phosphate (Chapter 5), nitrogen (Chapter 6) and silicon (Chapter 7); stratification (Chapter 9); organic matter and algal pigments (Chapters 12 and 13); bacteria (Chapter 16) and sediments (Chapter 18), in addition to those mentioned above. While the sequence of chapters vide supra seems a little bit capricious, the treatment of the topics is highly appropriate to the chosen audience (with Chapters 4 and 18 worth special commendation) and cross reference to related chapters is good so that the jumping about which I indulged in was no real problem. There are, of course a number of virtual omissions which some may think unjustified in a book with such a broad title. Macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish get very little attention although perhaps the reviewer, sitting with his lab w i n d o w darkened by swarms of Chironomus anthracinus, may be forgiven a personal sense of deprivation. The chapter on Bacteria is a welcome reminder that Cyanophytes are not the only Procaryotes in limnology although the treatment seemed a little pedestrian. But the book built on Dr. Golterman's sure foundations in aquatic chemistry is a w o r t h y addition to the literature, with something to say, succinctly said. Whether postgrads (or even Professors) will be able to afford it remains to be seen. Let us hope so far it will serve a wide audience well. R.B. Wood, Coleraine
INTRODUCTORY
PHYSICAL
GEO-
GRAPHY A.N. Strahler, 1976. Physical Geography. Wiley, Chichester, 4th ed., 700 pp., £ 8.60.
97
In 643 pages, this general t e x t on physical geography covers f o u r major areas. The first section examines the fundamental properties of the earth as a globe, including map projections and tides. Part 2 deals with global radiation and heat balances, air masses and ground and surface water, thus covering in approximately 100 pages many of the salient processes of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The f o l l o w i n g part of the text explores the climatic classifications and related soil forming processes and vegetation distribution. Part 4 concerns landforms and many aspects of geomorphology f r o m coastal features to urban hydrology. This then is the general scheme o f a t e x t which seeks to embrace all of physical geography, and as such caters for the introductory college courses. However, such texts must face a dilemma which is becoming ever more acute: h o w to present a cogent introduction to the w h o l e of physical geography whilst simultaneously ensuring that due regard is given to the complexities both of the relationships and the manner in which they are studied. In what is perhaps an attempt to satisfy the latter factor, an appendix is included on remote sensing, and there is also a five page appendix on quantitative analysis in geography. Perhaps now that geography is well into the 'quantitative revolution' one might have wished such appendix material to have been enhanced somewhat and incorporated into the t e x t itself. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss numerous geometrical properties of the globe, together with map projections -- all extensively illustrated. Then follows a chapter concerned with simple survey techniques and an introduction to the United States Land Survey. Chapters 4 and 5 introduce the pattern of earth rotation and the associated time zones, whilst the final chapter in this section examines the relationship between moon and tides. In these 100 pages, therefore, is a clear and very well illustrated account of the basic geographical facts relating to time and distance. The author argues in the introduction for inclusion of such material on the grounds that it is the earth's orbit which gives annual and daily energy cycles to the oceans and winds. Given the goal o f the text, then this clearly is an acceptable argu-
ment for this, perhaps somewhat lengthy, component on aspects of geodesy and astronomy. The atmosphere and hydrosphere are studied in seven chapters in Part 2, and it is here that the first major change with respect to previous editions occurs. Chapter 7 includes an overview of the oceans and atmosphere, whilst the following f o u r chapters have been revised to improve the coverage of radiation and heat balances. Also included are aspects of air pollution and inadvertent climatic modification. Instrumentation of climatic parameters is important here, and there are photographs of many such instruments. Nevertheless, it is a disappointment that in considering the global circulation (chapter 9) no mention is made of satellite imagery and the details of this method o f data acquisition (although a very brief mention is made in Appendix V). Following t w o chapters on atmospheric moisture and precipitation and air masses, are t w o chapters on the soil-moisture balance and ground and surface water. These latter t w o chapters discuss soil-moisture budgets, elementary hydrograph analysis, urban hydrology and thermal pollution. In discussing such items, and more, in a mere 35 pages (all of which are of significant interest, especially in regard to Parts 3 and 4 being climate, soils and geomorphotogy) I feel that this section could well have been larger (extended if necessary at the expense of the introduction). The first four chapters in Part 3 look at climatic classification, equatorial and tropical climates, middle latitude climates and polar, arctic and highland climates. All the latter three chapters give the conventional temperature and precipitation regimes but lack sufficient details of associated streamf l o w responses in the regions discussed. Only minor changes f r o m the previous edition have been undertaken in chapters 18--21 dealing with soils and natural vegetation. Included in this latter section of Part 3 are, however, t w o pages of excellent colour photographs of 16 soil profiles, with superimposed horizon annotation. Ore concentrations and rock forming processes are examined in the first chapter of Part 4, with emphasis on ore minerals and deposits. The content of the following final
98 11 chapters concerning geomorphology has been altered little since the previous edition, with the exception of a section on plate tectonics. Mass-movements, overland flow, meandering and coastal geomorphology are all included, together with a chapter on quantitative analysis of erosional landforms which incorporates only simple network analysis relationships. The book is intended as an introductory college text. The revisons made in this fourth edition in terms of changed content (in part following an environmental science approach) and much improved illustrative material will ensure a continuing wide readership of this text. However, the lack of detailed coverage of instrumentation which, with the help of electronics, has progressed rapidly in most specialist fields covered by the book must be regretted, together with the fragmentary coverage of statistical and mathematical approaches to the subject. It must be hoped that the omissions do not constrain too much the life of this otherwise much improved fourth edition. M.G. Anderson, Bristol
TIDAL
DEPOSITS
R.N. Ginsburg (Editor), 1975. Tidal Deposits: A Casebook o f Recent Examples and Fossil Counterparts. Springer, Berlin, xiii + 428 pp., D.M. 85.00. This volume, dedicated to the memory of Rudolf Richter for his pioneer work on tidal deposits, contains forty-five papers on sedimentation in the tidal zone. Examples of recent and ancient siliciclastic and carbonate tidal deposits have been assembled in six sections. The examples refer to areas in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere and therefore give the book an international flavour. Recent siliciclastic examples include the tidal flats and sediments of the North Sea, Mont Saint-Michel Bay, The Wash, the Colorado River delta and the Bay of Fundy; wind-tidal flats of Laguna Madre; inshore subtidal deposits in the Netherla,~ds; inlet sequences at Fire Island, New York: and
transgressive tidal deposits in the barrier sequences along the Delaware Coast. Twelve ancient analogues are described but the majority of the examples, more than 80%, are in North America. On the other hand, the four examples of subtidal, intertidal and supratidat carbonate deposits have been selected from areas as far afield as the Bahamas, Arabian Gulf and Shark Bay, Western Australia. Because of the small number of examples in Section III there is an imbalance between recent carbonate examples and the other sections in the book. The nineteen ancient carbonate examples are described and discussed in three sections with particular reference to the three tidal zones of accumulation; laminated, thin-bedded and stromatolitic facies; and recognition of tidal deposits on the basis of sedimentary features and facies patterns. All the papers are copiously illustrated with maps, sections and photographs, but probably to the detriment of the text which is extremely short in most cases. It is for this reason that the book probably has too many contributors, f if t y-t w o altogether! Instead of providing a reasonable number of key papers which comprehensively review and discuss the diagnostic sedimentary features and facies patterns of tidal deposits, the book contains several abridged editions of the contributor's earlier publications. A few of the twenty-five key papers on tidal sedimentation, which appear in an annotated bibliography at the end of the casebook, could have been included and discussed to advantage. Despite this major criticism, the casebook is a useful reference for specialist research workers and students of sedimentotogy. The editor is to be congratulated on his organization of the original workshop and his effort in collaboration with John Harms and Richard Boersma in getting several notable authorities to contribute to this volume. It is unfortunate, considering the price, that so many pages have not been utilized fully both of the text and illustrations. J.R. Hails, Adelaide, S.A.
quality of the photographic illustrations of which there are few, and in this respect it is regretted that there is no micrograph of Loess micro-gtructure. The book is to be recommended to the busy researcher who can remedy many omissions by f o l l o w i n g up the comprehensive bibliographies. B. Grabowska-Olszewska, Warsaw
LAKE ECOSYSTEMS H.L. Gotterman, 1975. Physiological Limnology. An Approach to the Physiology of Lake Ecosystems. Developments in Water Science, 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, xiv + 490 pp., Dfl. 125.00. Prefaces can be a bit worrying. Was this really going to be " n o . . . complete coverage of all the fields discussed" illustrated by incidental examples culled f r o m the records of the author's lab and dealing ad nauseam with L. Vechten and Tjeukemeer? Subheading 3.2.2 of case studies in Chapter 3 (Chemical Composition) quickly reassured me that it was onty Dr. Golterman's natural modesty; 7 cases are cited, one is L. Vechten and the others are from Europe, Africa and Canada. Chapter 15 (Energy and Mass Transport through Food Chain) (=Webs?) makes good use o f I BP w o r k on L. Leven and L. George; Chapter 17 (Nutrient Budgets and Eutrophication) includes, in some detail, studies f r o m America, Alpine Europe and Israel; while Chapter 19 (Water Management Problems) deals with Russian, African, Spanish and American reservoirs, and Chapter 14 (Phytoplankton Periodicity) rightly draws heavily on the by now surely classical w o r k of Lund in the English Lake District. Reassurance complete! Indeed the broad-ranging choice of examples reflecting the author's well developed sense of the international nature of limnology (most understandable in one working at the receiving end of the R. Rhine) is one of the book's main strengths. There are many others, not least among them the ever present but by no means obtrusive theme of the value of fundamental studies to management, although only Chapters 17 and 19 are specifically management orientated. A t a
more obvious level it is good to see in an advanced t e x t book comment on practical matters, cautionary criticism of techniques and concepts such as bioassays, permissible Ioadings, and rate vs. yield (p. 255) and judgment passed on the merits of some published w o r k . Most of the book is taken up with basic topics such as the origin of lakes (Chapter 2); primary production -- almost exclusively of p h y t o p l a n k t o n (Chapter 4); cycles of phosphate (Chapter 5), nitrogen (Chapter 6) and silicon (Chapter 7); stratification (Chapter 9); organic matter and algal pigments (Chapters 12 and 13); bacteria (Chapter 16) and sediments (Chapter 18), in addition to those mentioned above. While the sequence of chapters vide supra seems a little bit capricious, the treatment of the topics is highly appropriate to the chosen audience (with Chapters 4 and 18 worth special commendation) and cross reference to related chapters is good so that the jumping about which I indulged in was no real problem. There are, of course a number of virtual omissions which some may think unjustified in a book with such a broad title. Macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and fish get very little attention although perhaps the reviewer, sitting with his lab w i n d o w darkened by swarms of Chironomus anthracinus, may be forgiven a personal sense of deprivation. The chapter on Bacteria is a welcome reminder that Cyanophytes are not the only Procaryotes in limnology although the treatment seemed a little pedestrian. But the book built on Dr. Golterman's sure foundations in aquatic chemistry is a w o r t h y addition to the literature, with something to say, succinctly said. Whether postgrads (or even Professors) will be able to afford it remains to be seen. Let us hope so far it will serve a wide audience well. R.B. Wood, Coleraine
INTRODUCTORY
PHYSICAL
GEO-
GRAPHY A.N. Strahler, 1976. Physical Geography. Wiley, Chichester, 4th ed., 700 pp., £ 8.60.
97
In 643 pages, this general t e x t on physical geography covers f o u r major areas. The first section examines the fundamental properties of the earth as a globe, including map projections and tides. Part 2 deals with global radiation and heat balances, air masses and ground and surface water, thus covering in approximately 100 pages many of the salient processes of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. The f o l l o w i n g part of the text explores the climatic classifications and related soil forming processes and vegetation distribution. Part 4 concerns landforms and many aspects of geomorphology f r o m coastal features to urban hydrology. This then is the general scheme o f a t e x t which seeks to embrace all of physical geography, and as such caters for the introductory college courses. However, such texts must face a dilemma which is becoming ever more acute: h o w to present a cogent introduction to the w h o l e of physical geography whilst simultaneously ensuring that due regard is given to the complexities both of the relationships and the manner in which they are studied. In what is perhaps an attempt to satisfy the latter factor, an appendix is included on remote sensing, and there is also a five page appendix on quantitative analysis in geography. Perhaps now that geography is well into the 'quantitative revolution' one might have wished such appendix material to have been enhanced somewhat and incorporated into the t e x t itself. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss numerous geometrical properties of the globe, together with map projections -- all extensively illustrated. Then follows a chapter concerned with simple survey techniques and an introduction to the United States Land Survey. Chapters 4 and 5 introduce the pattern of earth rotation and the associated time zones, whilst the final chapter in this section examines the relationship between moon and tides. In these 100 pages, therefore, is a clear and very well illustrated account of the basic geographical facts relating to time and distance. The author argues in the introduction for inclusion of such material on the grounds that it is the earth's orbit which gives annual and daily energy cycles to the oceans and winds. Given the goal o f the text, then this clearly is an acceptable argu-
ment for this, perhaps somewhat lengthy, component on aspects of geodesy and astronomy. The atmosphere and hydrosphere are studied in seven chapters in Part 2, and it is here that the first major change with respect to previous editions occurs. Chapter 7 includes an overview of the oceans and atmosphere, whilst the following f o u r chapters have been revised to improve the coverage of radiation and heat balances. Also included are aspects of air pollution and inadvertent climatic modification. Instrumentation of climatic parameters is important here, and there are photographs of many such instruments. Nevertheless, it is a disappointment that in considering the global circulation (chapter 9) no mention is made of satellite imagery and the details of this method o f data acquisition (although a very brief mention is made in Appendix V). Following t w o chapters on atmospheric moisture and precipitation and air masses, are t w o chapters on the soil-moisture balance and ground and surface water. These latter t w o chapters discuss soil-moisture budgets, elementary hydrograph analysis, urban hydrology and thermal pollution. In discussing such items, and more, in a mere 35 pages (all of which are of significant interest, especially in regard to Parts 3 and 4 being climate, soils and geomorphotogy) I feel that this section could well have been larger (extended if necessary at the expense of the introduction). The first four chapters in Part 3 look at climatic classification, equatorial and tropical climates, middle latitude climates and polar, arctic and highland climates. All the latter three chapters give the conventional temperature and precipitation regimes but lack sufficient details of associated streamf l o w responses in the regions discussed. Only minor changes f r o m the previous edition have been undertaken in chapters 18--21 dealing with soils and natural vegetation. Included in this latter section of Part 3 are, however, t w o pages of excellent colour photographs of 16 soil profiles, with superimposed horizon annotation. Ore concentrations and rock forming processes are examined in the first chapter of Part 4, with emphasis on ore minerals and deposits. The content of the following final
98 11 chapters concerning geomorphology has been altered little since the previous edition, with the exception of a section on plate tectonics. Mass-movements, overland flow, meandering and coastal geomorphology are all included, together with a chapter on quantitative analysis of erosional landforms which incorporates only simple network analysis relationships. The book is intended as an introductory college text. The revisons made in this fourth edition in terms of changed content (in part following an environmental science approach) and much improved illustrative material will ensure a continuing wide readership of this text. However, the lack of detailed coverage of instrumentation which, with the help of electronics, has progressed rapidly in most specialist fields covered by the book must be regretted, together with the fragmentary coverage of statistical and mathematical approaches to the subject. It must be hoped that the omissions do not constrain too much the life of this otherwise much improved fourth edition. M.G. Anderson, Bristol
TIDAL
DEPOSITS
R.N. Ginsburg (Editor), 1975. Tidal Deposits: A Casebook o f Recent Examples and Fossil Counterparts. Springer, Berlin, xiii + 428 pp., D.M. 85.00. This volume, dedicated to the memory of Rudolf Richter for his pioneer work on tidal deposits, contains forty-five papers on sedimentation in the tidal zone. Examples of recent and ancient siliciclastic and carbonate tidal deposits have been assembled in six sections. The examples refer to areas in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere and therefore give the book an international flavour. Recent siliciclastic examples include the tidal flats and sediments of the North Sea, Mont Saint-Michel Bay, The Wash, the Colorado River delta and the Bay of Fundy; wind-tidal flats of Laguna Madre; inshore subtidal deposits in the Netherla,~ds; inlet sequences at Fire Island, New York: and
transgressive tidal deposits in the barrier sequences along the Delaware Coast. Twelve ancient analogues are described but the majority of the examples, more than 80%, are in North America. On the other hand, the four examples of subtidal, intertidal and supratidat carbonate deposits have been selected from areas as far afield as the Bahamas, Arabian Gulf and Shark Bay, Western Australia. Because of the small number of examples in Section III there is an imbalance between recent carbonate examples and the other sections in the book. The nineteen ancient carbonate examples are described and discussed in three sections with particular reference to the three tidal zones of accumulation; laminated, thin-bedded and stromatolitic facies; and recognition of tidal deposits on the basis of sedimentary features and facies patterns. All the papers are copiously illustrated with maps, sections and photographs, but probably to the detriment of the text which is extremely short in most cases. It is for this reason that the book probably has too many contributors, f if t y-t w o altogether! Instead of providing a reasonable number of key papers which comprehensively review and discuss the diagnostic sedimentary features and facies patterns of tidal deposits, the book contains several abridged editions of the contributor's earlier publications. A few of the twenty-five key papers on tidal sedimentation, which appear in an annotated bibliography at the end of the casebook, could have been included and discussed to advantage. Despite this major criticism, the casebook is a useful reference for specialist research workers and students of sedimentotogy. The editor is to be congratulated on his organization of the original workshop and his effort in collaboration with John Harms and Richard Boersma in getting several notable authorities to contribute to this volume. It is unfortunate, considering the price, that so many pages have not been utilized fully both of the text and illustrations. J.R. Hails, Adelaide, S.A.