Landscape Evolution in the United States : An Introduction to the Geography, Geology, and Natural History

Landscape Evolution in the United States is an accessible text that balances interdisciplinary theory and application within the physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States. 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. The book is divided into three main parts covering landscape components and how they are affected by climactic, tectonic and ocean systems; varying structural provinces including the Cascadia Volcanic Arc and California Transpressional System; and the formation and collapse of mountain systems. 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. Presents the complexities of physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States through an interdisciplinary, highly accessible approach Offers more than 250 full-color figures, maps and photographs that capture the systematic interaction of land, rock, rivers, glaciers, global wind patterns and climate Provides a thorough assessment of the logic, rationale, and tools required to understand how to interpret landscape and the geological history of the Earth Features exercises that conclude each chapter, aiding in the retention of key concepts Content: Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv Preface , Pages ix-x Chapter 1 - The Tortoise and the Hare , Pages 3-14 Chapter 2 - Component: The Rock/Sediment Type , Pages 15-27 Chapter 3 - Component: The Structural Form , Pages 29-40 Chapter 4 - Mechanisms That Impart Change to Landscapes , Pages 41-48 Chapter 5 - Forcing Variable: The Tectonic System , Pages 49-58 Chapter 6 - Forcing Variable: The Climatic System , Pages 59-75 Chapter 7 - Forcing Variables: Sea Level and Isostasy , Pages 77-85 Chapter 8 - Interaction of Tectonics, Climate, and Time , Pages 87-95 Chapter 9 - Unconsolidated Sediment , Pages 99-115 Chapter 10 - Nearly Flat-Lying Sedimentary Layers , Pages 117-159 Chapter 11 - Crystalline-Cored Mid-Continent Anticlines and Domes , Pages 161-180 Chapter 12 - Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belts , Pages 181-196 Chapter 13 - Crystalline Deformation Belts , Pages 197-217 Chapter 14 - Young Volcanic Rocks of the Cordillera , Pages 219-237 Chapter 15 - Normal Fault-Dominated Landscapes , Pages 239-263 Chapter 16 - Cascadia Volcanic Arc System , Pages 265-280 Chapter 17 - California Transpressional System , Pages 281-305 Chapter 18 - The Story of the Grand Canyon , Pages 307-318 Chapter 19 - Early Theories on the Origin of Mountain Belts , Pages 321-325 Chapter 20 - Keys to the Interpretation of Geological History , Pages 327-344 Chapter 21 - Tectonic Style, Rock Successions, and Tectonic Provinces , Pages 345-363 Chapter 22 - Formation, Collapse, and Erosonal Decay of Mountain Systems , Pages 365-373 Chapter 23 - The Appalachian Orogenic Belt: An Example of Compressional Mountain Building , Pages 375-408 Chapter 24 - The Cordilleran Orogenic Belt , Pages 409-421 Appendix , Pages 423-439 Bibliography , Pages 441-451 Index , Pages 453-463

Landscape Evolution in the United States is an accessible text that balances interdisciplinary theory and application within the physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States. 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. The book is divided into three main parts covering landscape components and how they are affected by climactic, tectonic and ocean systems; varying structural provinces including the Cascadia Volcanic Arc and California Transpressional System; and the formation and collapse of mountain systems.

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.

• Presents the complexities of physical geography, geology, geomorphology, and climatology of the United States through an interdisciplinary, highly accessible approach
• Offers more than 250 full-color figures, maps and photographs that capture the systematic interaction of land, rock, rivers, glaciers, global wind patterns and climate
• Provides a thorough assessment of the logic, rationale, and tools required to understand how to interpret landscape and the geological history of the Earth
• Features exercises that conclude each chapter, aiding in the retention of key concepts