Landscapes on the edge
Subtitle: new horizons for research on Earth's surface
By: Committee on Challenges and Opportunities in Earth Surface Processes, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 163
ISBN-13: 9780309104249; 9780309140249
Description: "During geologic spans of time, Earth's shifting tectonic plates, atmosphere, freezing water, thawing ice, flowing rivers, and evolving life have shaped Earth's surface features. The resulting hills, mountains, valleys, and plains shelter ecosystems that interact with all life and provide a record of Earth surface processes that extend back through Earth's history. Despite rapidly growing scientific knowledge of Earth surface interactions, and the increasing availability of new monitoring technologies, there is still little understanding of how these processes generate and degrade landscapes. Landscapes on the Edge identifies nine grand challenges in this emerging field of study and proposes four high-priority research initiatives. The book poses questions about how our planet's past can tell us about its future, how landscapes record climate and tectonics, and how Earth surface science can contribute to developing a sustainable living surface for future generations."--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-135).

Also available online.
Table of contents: title: The importance of Earth surface processes; title: Grand challenges in Earth surface processes; title: Four high-priority research initiatives in Earth surface processes; title: Mechanisms for developing initiatives and sustaining growth in Earth surface processes.