Developments in Earth Surface Processes, 8

CLIMATIC GEOMORPHOLOGY

MATEO GUTIERREZ PROFESSOR OF GEOMORPHOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF ZARAGOZA, SPAIN

Translated by G. Benito, G. Desir, J.M. Garcia-Ruiz, J. Gracia, F. Gutierrez, J. Lopez-Martinez, C. Marti, J. Remondo, P. Silva and B. Valero

ELSEVIER Amsterdam - Boston - Heidelberg - London - New York - Oxford Paris - San Diego - San Francisco - Singapore - Sydney - Tokyo Contents

Preface ix Preface to the English language edition xiii

FIRST PART Introduction and concepts 1

1 Climatic geomorphology 3

SECOND PART

Geomorphology of glacial zones 33

2 Glaciers - 35

3 Glacial erosion 61

4 Glacial transport and sedimentation 91

5 Fluvioglacial erosion and sedimentation 105

6 Geomorphology applied to glacial regions 125

THIRD PART Geomorphology of periglacial zones 143

7 The periglacial environment 145

8 Periglacial landforms 171

9 Some aspects on applied geomorphology in periglacial regions 209

FOURTH PART Geomorphology of arid regions 227

10 The arid zones 229

11 Weathering processes and resulting forms 241 viii Contents

12 Desert surfaces: pavements, patterned ground, varnishes and crusts 259

13 The action of water in arid regions 285

14 Slopes in arid zones 317

15 The arid region piedmonts: glacis and alluvial fans 343

16 Desert lakes: playa lakes and sebkhas 383

FIFTH PART

Aeolian geomorphology 407

17 Aeolian processes and erosive landforms 409

18 Aeolian accumulations 429

SIXTH PART Applied geomorphology and arid regions 459

19 Applied geomorphology and arid regions 461

SEVENTH PART

Geomorphology of tropical zones 499

20 The humid tropics: weathering and laterites 501

21 Tropical landforms 533 22 Applied geomorphology in tropical regions 583

EIGHTH PART

Geomorphology and climate change 599

23 Environmental change 601

24 Climate change in glacial and periglacial regions 615

25 Climate change in arid and tropical humid regions 643

References 697

Subject Index 753