The Basics of Geomorphology

Ken Gregory obtained his BSc, PhD and DSc from the University of London, was made CBE in 2007 for services to geography and higher education, and is currently President of the British Society for Geomorphology. Research interests include river channel change and management, palaeohydrology and the development of physical geography, and he has written more than 140 papers, authored and edited 30 books including The Earth’s Land Surface (2010) and The SAGE Handbook of Geomorphology (2011). He has 3 Honorary degrees, and received the Founder’s Medal of the Royal Geographical Society (1993), the Linton award of the BGRG (1999), and the Geographical medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (2000).John Lewin graduated with a BA and PhD from the University of Southampton. He was Professor of Physical Geography at Aberystwyth University, where he also served as Dean of the Science Faculty and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. His major research interest lies in fluvial geomorphology, especially floodplains, and the development of landforms over a full range of timescales. He is a former chairman of the British Society for Geomorphology and received the Society’s Linton Award in 2011.

Although there are many introductory geomorphology books, this latest contribution from Professors Gregory and Lewin is an excellent addition to the genre. They ask fundamental questions on the nature of scientific enquiry in geomorphology, on the burgeoning field of complexity studies and its interface with traditional geomorphological questions, and on the ways in which geomorphic processes relate to real world problems. The chapter on the Anthropocene illustrates well the variety of perspectives that geomorphologists have on this latest theme in geomorphology. The book is replete with boxes, web sites and recommendations for further reading. I would have appreciated having a copy of this book when I taught the introductory and follow-up geomorphology courses.

• Introduction: Concepts and GeomorphologySECTION A System contextsThe Systems ApproachUniformitarianismLandformForm, Process and MaterialsEquilibriumComplexity and non linear dynamical systemsSECTION B System FunctioningCyclesForce-ResistanceGeomorphic workProcess form modelsSECTION C System AdjustmentsTimescalesForcingsChange trajectoriesInheritanceThe ‘Anthropocene’SECTION D Drivers for the FutureGeomorphic HazardsGeomorphic EngineeringPrediction and DesignCONCLUSIONThe Concept of Geomorphology