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Landscape Evolution in the United States

An Introduction to the Geography, Geology, and Natural History

By
  • Joseph DiPietro, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, USA

Landscape evolution refers to the changing terrain of any given area of the Earth’s crust over time. Common causes of evolution (or geomorphology-land morphing into a different size or shape over time) are glacial erosion and deposition, volcanism, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, sediment transport into rivers, landslides, climate change, and other surface processes. Landscape Evolution in the United States makes understanding these processes accessible by balancing interdisciplinary theory and application within the physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States. The vast diversity of terrain and landscapes across the United States makes this an ideal tool for geoscientists worldwide who are researching the country’s geological evolution over the past several billion years.

Audience
primary- Geologists, Exploration Geologists, Geographers, Geomorphologists, Climatologists, and Land Managers conducting research and working in industry, particularly with U.S. Geological Surveys nationwide, GPS/GIS companies as well as Oil & Gas companies. secondary- undergraduate students in the Geosciences, particularly those taking coursework in geomorphology/physical geology and landscape evolution

Hardbound, 480 Pages

Published: February 2013

Imprint: Elsevier

ISBN: 978-0-12-397799-1

Contents

  • Part I - Keys to Understanding Landscape Evolution

    1. The Tortoise and the Hare
    2. Component: The Rock/Sediment Type
    3. Component: The Structural Form
    4. Mechanisms That Impart Change to Landscape
    5. Forcing Variable: The Tectonic System
    6. Forcing Variable: The Climatic System
    7. Forcing Variables: Sea Level and Isostasy
    8. Interaction of Tectonics, Climate, and Time

      Part II - Structural Provinces

    9. Unconsolidated Sediment
    10. Nearly Flat-Lying Sedimentary Layers
    11. Crystalline-Cored Mid-Continent Anticlines and Domes
    12. Foreland Fold and Thrust Belts
    13. Crystalline Deformation Belts
    14. Young Volcanic Rocks of the Cordillera
    15. Normal Fault-Dominated Landscapes
    16. Cascadia Volcanic Arc System
    17. California Transpressional System
    18. The Story of the Grand Canyon

      19. Part III - Mountain Building

    19. Early Theories on the Origin of Mountain Belts
    20. Keys to the Interpretation of Geological History
    21. Tectonic Style, Rock Successions, and Tectonic Provinces
    22. Formation, Collapse, and Erosional Decay of Mountain Systems
    23. The Appalachian Orogenic Belt: An Example of Compressional Mountain Building
    24. The Cordilleran Orogenic Belt

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