This textbook is "intended [mainly] for advanced undergraduates taking courses in earth science, environmental science and geography". It consists of two parts: the first part deals with fundamentals of the earth surface systems (concepts of physical geography, meteorology, climatology, oceanography, weathering and soil science), and the second with physical sedimentation processes (some fluid mechanics, sediment transport, mass flows, coastal processes, ocean currents and storms, wind, glaciers). The first part is shorter (three chapters compared to eight) and serves as an introduction to the second and puts the second in context. The first part is useful because it gives the reader a compact and clear presentation of subjects which are usually included in textbooks on physical geography. Although the emphasis is on the physical aspects, some basic information on geochemistry and ecology is also provided in this part. The second part, with some differences in content and style, basically covers the subject matter of John Allen's book Physical Processes of Sedimentation.
A quantitative, model-based approach is dominant throughout the volume. Attention is also paid to experimental observations in the second part, but description and illustration of real objects (geomorphic forms, sedimentary textures, structures, and bedding) is almost lacking. The book contains only three pictures of outcrop features, one in tidal and two in eolian deposits. Instead, drawings and diagrams are abundant. This is author's choice, clearly; you can like it or not depending on what you are looking for. If you already know sediments or are satisfied with illustrations that you can find elsewhere, and are more interested in the why and how things happen, this book is very helpful. The mathematics is not too difficult, though not all passages and variables are well explained or defined, however, some of them, in spite of the author's intention, seem to be "pulled out of a hat". Moreover, some diagrams are more appropriate for a technical article and not essential, or too complicated for a textbook (see, for example, pages 104, 121, 133, 135, 141). Rigor is important, but the presentation should also be understandable to a student. In this respect, the book is a little "tough". Its theory-based approach is partly compensated by concise, talkative chapter summaries and some exercises. A glossary would have also been helpful because several terms which are not necessarily familiar, are not defined or explained.
On the whole, Earth Surface Processes is well organized and clearly written. Its graphics are light and very neat. There are few misprints (curiously, some are repetitive: see bouyant, bouyancy, aesthenosphere). As for the contents and arrangement of subjects, some biases and imbalances can be noticed. Here are some examples. In Chapter 1, where general features of both the fluid and solid earth are introduced, the in-depth treatment of isostasy seems excessive and more complicated than other issues. On the other hand, types of basin-forming and basin-filling mechanisms are ignored. In Chapter 3, a systemic approach is taken to explain weathering, denudation, delivery and routing of sediment, solid and solute fluxes, bed
and suspension loads etc., but, strangely, the final steps (basin supply, sedimentation rates, temporary storage, remobilization, etc.) are neglected. And what have mantle plumes to do with "physical aspects of fluids and sediment in the environment"? On the other hand, physical aspects of organic activity on both deposition and disturbance of sediments are not mentioned.
In my opinion, the main limitation of this book does not lie in its contents or style per se, but in some discrepancy between the author's objectives, as claimed in the Preface, and the resulting product. More simply stated, I do not find, particularly in the second part, what Allen promises to give me, i.e. a "multidisciplinary picture of how complex systems work as a whole" and an integrated vision of the "global" and the "local". Several hints of a "systemic" or "holistic" approach can be found in the first part, but this vision does not really pervade the book. The chapters on sedimentary processes, based on hydraulics and fluid mechanics, are quite traditionally reductionist and "mechanistic" (these terms are by no means insulting, anyway; they only indicate a different philosophy). Rather than a fusion or an integration between sedimentary and other surface processes, I see here a body of sedimentology with the addition of some physical geography, climatology, oceanography and so on. Moreover, I do not agree with the global versus local character of the two parts, and even less with associating the former to "thinking" and the latter to "acting". The distinction is more in terms of general versus specific processes, or different physical constraints. The scale factor is involved in some cases, but not in all, without considering that some intermediate, or regional scale exists, too. And there are also overlaps: concepts of fluid mechanics could stay as well in the general part, for instance.
The above objections do not obscure the merits of the book, on which my overall judgment is largely positive. Earth Surface Processes is a little too ambitious in its aims, but very useful for a serious and rigorous understanding of physical sedimentary processes. Minor pitfalls could be amended in a next edition (for example, check the index where the item sediment does not appear!), which I wish was coming soon. My criticism is not intended to discourage geologists from taking a systemic approach and connecting sedimentology to the broader field and scope of environmental science, which is a new frontier indeed for the next century, but to insist in this direction. Efforts are worthwile, and more attempts are welcomed.
FRANCO RICCI-LUCCHI
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geologico-Ambientali
Universita di Bologna
Via Zamboni, 67
40127 BOLOGNA--ITALY
Source
http://archives.datapages.com/data/sepm/journals/v66-67/data/068/068004/0710.HTM