Fundamentals of the Physical Environment: Fourth EditionFundamentals of the Physical Environment has established itself as a well-respected core introductory book for students of physical geography and the environmental sciences. Taking a 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 atmosphere 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:
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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Contents
scientific concepts | |
Energy and Earth | |
PART | |
Moisture in the atmosphere | |
Conclusion | |
The atmosphere in action | |
Weatherforming systems | |
Microclimates and local climates | |
The global coastline | |
PART FOUR | |
classification and nomenclature | |
Soil fertility and sustainability | |
Principles of biogeography | |
The Earth system and the cycling of carbon | |
Biodiversity in ecosystems | |
principles and practice | |
Climate change | |
PART THREE | |
The global ocean | |
Rock formation and deformation | |
Denudation weathering and mass wasting | |
catchments and rivers | |
glaciers ice sheets | |
Aeolian systems | |
Polar and alpine environments | |
Mediterranean environments | |
Tropical deserts and semiarid environments | |
Humid tropical environments | |
Glossary | |
Other editions - View all
Fundamentals of the Physical Environment: Fourth Edition Peter Smithson,Ken Addison,Ken Atkinson Limited preview - 2013 |
Fundamentals of the Physical Environment Peter Smithson,Kenneth Addison,Kenneth Atkinson No preview available - 2008 |
Fundamentals of the Physical Environment Peter Smithson,Kenneth Addison,Kenneth Atkinson No preview available - 2008 |