Topography and the Environment

PART I - INTRODUCING TOPOGRAPHY 1. Topography, the Toposphere, and the Environment: What is Topography? What is the Role of Topography as an Environmental Factor? : Locational factors structural factors. What is the Toposphere? : The physical troposphere the biological troposphere. 2. Characterizing Topography Topographic Elements: Locating places Characterizing places Physical landscape units 'landform elements Ecological landscape units' landscape elements. Topographic Structures: Networks Mosaics and regions Measuring landscape elements and mosaics. Topographic Connections: Local and regional flows Global flows Isolation in a fully connected world. References PART 2 - TOPOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES 3. Climate Modelling Climatic Phenomena: Modelling precipitation Modelling temperature Solar Radiation Modelling Multi-climate parameter models. Altitude And Climate: Pressure and temperature Rain and snow. Local Climates (Topoclimates): Topoclimatic features Small-scale mechanical airflow modification Small-scale thermal airflow modification. Synoptic-Scale Climates: Synoptic-scale airflow modification Fall winds Compensating winds. Topography and Climate: Global Connections: Mountain-building and global climate Climate and the arrangement of land and sea. References. 4. Water the Hydrological Cycle. Hillslope Hydrology: Evapotranspiration Channel Runoff. The Drainage Basin: Catchment runoff Drainage basin morphometry. Channel Networks: Channel initiation Open channel flow. Automatic Derivation Of Catchment Characteristics: Catchment boundary and stream network delineation Derivation of the other hydrological parameters Accuracy of derived catchment attributes. The Global Cycle: Global hydrological change Hydrology and climatic change. References. 5. Soil and Sediments Soil and Altitude: Altitudinal soil sequences Altitudinal geomorphic zones. Soil and Aspect. Soil and Slopes: Soils and slope form: Soils and hillslope hydrology: current processes Soils and hillslope hydrology: reconstruction techniques Sediments and hillslopes. Soil Landscapes: Dynamic soil- landscape models Soil processes and soil types in landscapes Sediments in landscapes. Soil Erosion Modelling: Background to soil erosion models Empirical soil erosion models Non-spatial, physically based soil erosion models Spatial, physically based soil erosion models. References. 6. Animals and Plants Life andAltitude: Altitudinal floral zones Altitudinal faunal zones Tree-lines Plant species and altitude Animal species and altitude. Life and Land Form: Aspect and plants Aspect and animals Slopes Microtopographic influences of animals and plants Surfaces Integrated topographic effects. Landscape Patches: Patch size Patch shape Patch edges. Corridors: Roads and trails Powerlines Hedgerows and other wooded strips Stream and river corridors. Networks: Tree networks and life Corridor and circuit networks. Mosaics: Landscape structure and connectivity Landscape properties. References. 7. Humans Settlements: The nature of settlement Physical influences Cultural, social, and economic influences. Routes: Maintaining routes Environmental impacts of routes. Agriculture: Aspect Shelterbelts Land-use catenas Agricultural mosaics. Environmental Destruction And Conservation: Reserve distribution Reserve shape Conservation corridors Reserve edges Reserve functioning Regional reserve setting. Human Individuals and Populations: Terrain and Military History Topography, Climatic Change, And Tourism Agroforestry and Ecosystem Management. References.