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Thresholds in geomorphology
Sedimentary Geology, 30 (1981} 3 2 7 - - 3 2 8
327
Elsevier Scientific P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in T h e N e t h e r l a n d s
Book Review
Thresholds in Geomorphology. Donald R. Coates and John D. Vitek (Editors}. George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London, 1980, xii + 498 pp., £20.00. Twenty-nine authors have contributed to this b o o k which has 22 chapters grouped into five parts. The topic Geomorphology Thresholds was the central theme for the Ninth Annual Geomorphology Symposium conducted b y the Department of Geological Sciences, State University of New York, at Binghampton on October 19--21, 1978. The collection of papers presented at the meeting, and several additional papers contain what the editors "consider to be the cornerstones of a subject that is becoming increasingly important in geomorphology". The recognition of thresholds as a central and integral theme of geomorphology is reviewed in Part 1, Historical Background. Part 2, Fluvial Landforms, evaluates the role that thresholds play in landform development, while Part 3, Hydrogeologic Landforms, provides a mathematical framework that quantifies the threshold concept in surface hydrologic systems. Stochastic analysis, deterministic models and nonequilibrium theory are employed to illustrate the power of such a universal paradigm. Threshold conditions in coastal systems, glaciation, groundwater, mass movement and river ice are examined in Part 4, Thresholds in Other Geomorphic Processes. The final part, Thresholds and Man, emphasizes the importance of thresholds to man with regard to landslides, wind erosion, and nonpoint-source pollutants within the Great Lakes. The final chapter reviews some applications of the Concept of Geomorphic Thresholds. Inevitably, when there is a large number of contributors to a b o o k the approach to, and evaluation of, a theme or topic varies widely. This b o o k is no exception, although the editors have a t t e m p t e d to use thresholds "as a c o m m o n denominator to link and unite geomorphic processes and landforms". Even so, some chapters do not meet this objective and are out of context. For example, Chapter 7, although an excellent paper on the Mississippi River delta, is more appropriate for a text discussing sedimentary processes because it focusses on sediment deformation and transportation in subaqueous environments. The case studies on landslides in Chapters 18 and 19, Part V, could have been included in Chapter 13, Part IV, which examines the frequency, magnitude and spatial distribution of rockfalls and rockslides in the Highwood Pass Area, Alberta, Canada. In fact, Part V, which discusses the role of man as a geomorphic process, is somewhat superfluous because most of the subject
328 matter of the respective chapters is more appropriate for earlier sections, except the paper on human causes of accelerated wind erosion. It is difficult to understand why the editors omitted the study of aeolian processes and landforms from Part IV which, apart from fluvial and hydrogeologic regimes, deals with most process-landform relationships. Like, Chapter 7, Chapter 21 is outside the scope of the book because it concentrates on pollutants in the Great Lakes. It is interesting to note in the Preface that the editors claim an international flavour as providing an important dimension to the book. Although there are contributors from Canada {2), England (2) and New Zealand (1), the majority is American. For this reason, the book may not appeal to a wide audience as the editors originally envisaged. The editors have produced a high-quality book which is copiously illustrated with good figures (line drawings and plates). Perhaps some of the reproduced photographs could have been annonated, though. Thresholds in Geomorphology will be a useful reference for students and teachers, but it is doubtful whether it will be adopted as a standard t e x t because of its price. A cheaper soft-cover edition may well appeal to students in North America because of its many examples from that continent. J.R. HAILS (Adelaide, S.A.)
327
Elsevier Scientific P u b l i s h i n g C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in T h e N e t h e r l a n d s
Book Review
Thresholds in Geomorphology. Donald R. Coates and John D. Vitek (Editors}. George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London, 1980, xii + 498 pp., £20.00. Twenty-nine authors have contributed to this b o o k which has 22 chapters grouped into five parts. The topic Geomorphology Thresholds was the central theme for the Ninth Annual Geomorphology Symposium conducted b y the Department of Geological Sciences, State University of New York, at Binghampton on October 19--21, 1978. The collection of papers presented at the meeting, and several additional papers contain what the editors "consider to be the cornerstones of a subject that is becoming increasingly important in geomorphology". The recognition of thresholds as a central and integral theme of geomorphology is reviewed in Part 1, Historical Background. Part 2, Fluvial Landforms, evaluates the role that thresholds play in landform development, while Part 3, Hydrogeologic Landforms, provides a mathematical framework that quantifies the threshold concept in surface hydrologic systems. Stochastic analysis, deterministic models and nonequilibrium theory are employed to illustrate the power of such a universal paradigm. Threshold conditions in coastal systems, glaciation, groundwater, mass movement and river ice are examined in Part 4, Thresholds in Other Geomorphic Processes. The final part, Thresholds and Man, emphasizes the importance of thresholds to man with regard to landslides, wind erosion, and nonpoint-source pollutants within the Great Lakes. The final chapter reviews some applications of the Concept of Geomorphic Thresholds. Inevitably, when there is a large number of contributors to a b o o k the approach to, and evaluation of, a theme or topic varies widely. This b o o k is no exception, although the editors have a t t e m p t e d to use thresholds "as a c o m m o n denominator to link and unite geomorphic processes and landforms". Even so, some chapters do not meet this objective and are out of context. For example, Chapter 7, although an excellent paper on the Mississippi River delta, is more appropriate for a text discussing sedimentary processes because it focusses on sediment deformation and transportation in subaqueous environments. The case studies on landslides in Chapters 18 and 19, Part V, could have been included in Chapter 13, Part IV, which examines the frequency, magnitude and spatial distribution of rockfalls and rockslides in the Highwood Pass Area, Alberta, Canada. In fact, Part V, which discusses the role of man as a geomorphic process, is somewhat superfluous because most of the subject
328 matter of the respective chapters is more appropriate for earlier sections, except the paper on human causes of accelerated wind erosion. It is difficult to understand why the editors omitted the study of aeolian processes and landforms from Part IV which, apart from fluvial and hydrogeologic regimes, deals with most process-landform relationships. Like, Chapter 7, Chapter 21 is outside the scope of the book because it concentrates on pollutants in the Great Lakes. It is interesting to note in the Preface that the editors claim an international flavour as providing an important dimension to the book. Although there are contributors from Canada {2), England (2) and New Zealand (1), the majority is American. For this reason, the book may not appeal to a wide audience as the editors originally envisaged. The editors have produced a high-quality book which is copiously illustrated with good figures (line drawings and plates). Perhaps some of the reproduced photographs could have been annonated, though. Thresholds in Geomorphology will be a useful reference for students and teachers, but it is doubtful whether it will be adopted as a standard t e x t because of its price. A cheaper soft-cover edition may well appeal to students in North America because of its many examples from that continent. J.R. HAILS (Adelaide, S.A.)