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About this book
Contents
Biography
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About this book
A magnificently illustrated introduction to glaciers, including their creation and movement, as well as the dramatic upland landscape features left in their aftermath. The first edition of this book won the `Outstanding Publication Award' 1995 Earth Science Editors' Association.
Contents
1. Earth, the icy planet; 2. The glacier family; 3. Birth, growth and decay of glaciers; 4. Fluctuating glaciers; 5. Ice on the move; 6. Nature's conveyer belt; 7. Ice and water; 8. Antarctica: the icy continent; 9. Glaciers and volcanoes; 10. Shaping the landscape; 11. Glaciers and wildlife; 12. Benefits of glaciers; 13. Glacier hazards; 14. Living and travelling on glaciers; 15. Earth's glacial record; 16. Postscript: future prospects of glaciers; Glossary; Subject index; Location index.
Customer Reviews
Biography
Awarded the Polar Medal for outstanding work on various expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica. Director of the Centre for Glaciology, University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Teaches geography at the Kantonsschule Zurcher Unterland in Switzerland from where he regularly leads glaciological field camps for students.
Out of Print
By: Michael J Hambrey and Jürg Alean
376 pages, 200 col illus
'The book is a fine introduction to the world of glaciers. It is authoritative and yet written in an appealingly straightforward manner ! This is a book that will appeal to all interested in glaciers. The specialist will dwell on the marvellous pictures. The general reader will enjoy the introduction to the realm of glacier ice.' review of first edition David Sugden, Times Higher Education Supplement 'Hambrey and Alean are both well known glaciologists. They have carried out fieldwork in glaciers all over the world ! it is a book that expresses their love for glaciers; it will attract attention particularly because of the many beautiful photographs !'. review of first edition A. J. van Loon, Sedimentary Geology 'This book convincingly justifies the authors' convictions [that glaciers are among the most beautiful and fascinating elements of nature] and should appeal to outdoor enthusiasts happy with the depth such subjects attract when investigated in television documentaries. One could almost imagine the book was planned to accompany a television series! ! This popular and enjoyable account of Glaciers is a credit to the authors and to the Cambridge University Press.' Julian Paren, Polar Record 'This work is first of all an extraordinary fine collection of photographs of glaciers and glacial landscapes ! Glaciologists should buy the book to look at the pictures, laymen to look and read ! The authors love glaciers, and it shows. I can only recommend this book.' Johannes Oerlemans, Antarctic Science 'As an introduction to an important and interesting subject which has had a huge influence on the development of earth science since the early decades of the 19th century, Glaciers provides an excellent readable and authoritative account.' Geological Magazine 'The narrative of the book is concise and easy to follow; useful diagrams that are clear and illustrate points in the text unambiguously are provided as needed making for a coherent read but the feature of this book is surely the photography it contains. So,me of the photographs are feast for the eyes and inspire awe in the natural world and its processes ! This is one book that would grace any bookcase and give enjoyment to the reader.' Open University Geological Society Glaciers, one of the greatest wonders of the world, deserve a monograph showing their beauty and appraising their global importance. And this is certainly the case with Hambrey's and Alean's book. Written and ably illustrated by the world-renown specialists in the matter of glaciology and palaeoglaciology, and carefully edited by Cambridge University Press, this book will be very useful for both laymen and professionals.' Earth-Science Reviews 'The authors skilfully balance the text between the accessible and the informative, offering insight into the wide variety of glacial forms and processes without the need for previous knowledge in this facet of the earth sciences ! Through both text and photographs this book provides an excellent introduction to the variety, physical properties and significance of glaciers on a global scale. This is an excellent present for those friends and acquaintances who pose the question 'why study glaciers?' review of the first edition Giles H. Brown, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 'The book reads like a greatly expanded entry on glaciers that one would expect to find in an encyclopaedia. Most of the pictures were taken by the authors during thier extensive travels around the world. Nothing seems to have been overlooked as Hambrey and Alean systematically owrk their way through 12 interesting ad superbly illustrated chapters. Alternativing nicely with 85 colour pictures of National Geographic quality are about 75 black-and-white photographs and diagrams. Thus, it is a highly illustrated book. This fact and the well-written and not too technical text make this book suitable for a wide readership ! Overall this attractively priced book is both a very enjoyable read and a superbly illustrated 'travelogue'. I highly recommend it to all those interested in glaciers, professional glaciologists included.' Arctic