Deserts and Desert Environments

Front Cover
Wiley, Nov 10, 2008 - Nature - 342 pages
Taking a global perspective, this book provides a concise overview of drylands, including their physical, biological, temporal, and human components.

  • Examines the physical systems occurring in desert environments, including climate, hydrology, past and present lakes, weathering, hillslopes, geomorphic surfaces, water as a geomorphic agent, and aeolian processes
  • Offers an accessible introduction to the physical, biological, temporal, and human components of drylands
  • Investigates the nature, environmental requirements, and essential geomorphic roles of plants and animals in this stressful biological environment
  • Highlights the impact of human population growth on climate, desertification, water resources, and dust storm activity
  • Includes an examination of surface/atmosphere interactions and the impact of ENSO events.

From inside the book

Contents

1
9
122244
15
The climatic framework
48
Copyright

19 other sections not shown

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2008)

Julie Laity is a Professor at California State University, Northridge, USA. Her work has focused on deserts, looking at aeolian, fluvial, and groundwater systems, and the impact of environmental degradation on wind-blown sand and dust events. Her research on groundwater-sapping systems and wind erosion has been used to aid our understanding of Martian environments.

Bibliographic information