The Earth′s Land Surface

The Earth′s Land Surface PDF Author: Kenneth J Gregory
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 144620376X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Book Description
"Given the sheer scale of the topic under consideration here, Professor Gregory does well to condense it into bite-size pieces for the reader. I recommend this text to all undergraduate students of physical geography and earth sciences, particularly to those in their first and second years... This book is a comprehensive and (crucially) inexpensive text that will provide students with a useful source on geomorphology." - Lynda York, The Geographical Journal "I would highly recommend this to anyone doing geology or geography at university as a ′go to′ book for geomorphology and landform." - Sara Falcone, Teaching Earth Science "An excellent source of information for anyone who needs a well-informed, easy to use reference volume to introduce them to the fascinating complexities of the earth’s land surface, past, present and future." - Angela Gurnell, Queen Mary, University of London This introductory text details the land surface of the earth in a readable style covering the major issues, key themes and sensitivities of the environments/landscape. Emphasising the major ideas and their development, each chapter includes case studies and details of influential scientists (not necessarily geomorphologists) who have contributed to the progress of understanding. Providing a very clear explanation of the understanding achieved and of the debates that have arisen, the book is comprised of 12 chapters in four sections: Visualising the land surface explains and explores the composition of the land surface and outlines how it has been studied. Dynamics of the land surface considers the dynamics affecting the earth′s land surface including its influences, processes and the changes that have occurred. Environments of the land surface looks to understand the land surface in major world regions highlighting differences between the areas. Management of the land surface is an examination of the current and future prospects of the management of the earth′s land surface. With pedagogical features including further reading, questions for discussion and a glossary, this original, lively text is authored by one of the leading experts in the field and will be core reading for first and second year undergraduates on all physical geography courses.

Land Surface Remote Sensing

Land Surface Remote Sensing PDF Author: Mehrez Zribi
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0081012659
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 384

Book Description
Land Surface Remote Sensing: Environment and Risks explores the use of remote sensing in applications concerning the environment, including desertification and monitoring deforestation and forest fires. The first chapter covers the characterization of aerosols and gases by passive remote sensing. The next chapter presents the correlation of optical images for quantifying the deformation of the Earth's surface and geomorphological processes. The third chapter is examines remote sensing applications in the mining environment. The fourth chapter depicts the strong potential of radar imagery for volcanology and urban and mining subsidence studies. The next two chapters deal respectively with the use of remote sensing in locust control and the contribution of remote sensing to the epidemiology of infectious diseases. In the last ten years, spatial observation of the Earth—particularly continental surfaces—has expanded considerably with the launch of increasing numbers of satellites covering various applications (hydrology, biosphere, flow of surface, snow, ice, landslide, floods). This has paved the way for an explosion in the use of remote sensing data. This book offers essential coverage of space-based observation techniques for continental surfaces. The authors explore major applications and provide a corresponding detailed chapter for the physical principles, physics of measurement, and data processing requirements for each technique, bringing you up-to-date descriptions of techniques used by leading scientists in the field of remote sensing and Earth observation. Provides clear and concise descriptions of modern remote sensing methods Explores the most current remote sensing techniques with physical aspects of the measurement (theory) and their applications Provides chapters on physical principles, measurement, and data processing for each technique described Describes optical remote sensing technology, including a description of acquisition systems and measurement corrections to be made

Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sediment Deposits

Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sediment Deposits PDF Author: John Bridge
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521857805
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
A unique, advanced textbook combining sedimentology and geomorphology in a comprehensive and integrated way.

The Earth's Land Surface

The Earth's Land Surface PDF Author: Kenneth J Gregory
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1848606206
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 361

Book Description
This introductory text details the land surface of the earth in a readable style covering the major issues, key themes and sensitivities of the environments/landscape. Emphasizing the major ideas and their development, each chapter includes case studies and details of influential scientists (not necessarily geomorphologists) who have contributed to the progress of understanding. Providing a very clear explanation of the understanding achieved and of the debates that have arisen, the book is comprised of 12 chapters in four sections: Visualizing the land surface explains and explores the composition of the land surface and outlines how it has been studied Dynamics of the land surface considers the dynamics affecting the earth’s land surface including its influences, processes and the changes that have occurred Environments of the land surface looks to understand the land surface in major world regions highlighting differences between the areas Management of the land surface is an examination of the current and future prospects of the management of the earth’s land surface

Taking the Temperature of the Earth

Taking the Temperature of the Earth PDF Author: Glynn Hulley
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128144599
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Book Description
Taking the Temperature of the Earth: Steps towards Integrated Understanding of Variability and Change presents an integrated, collaborative approach to observing and understanding various surface temperatures from a whole-Earth perspective. The book describes the progress in improving the quality of surface temperatures across different domains of the Earth’s surface (air, land, sea, lakes and ice), assessing variability and long-term trends, and providing applications of surface temperature data to detect and better understand Earth system behavior. As cooperation is essential between scientific communities, whose focus on particular domains of Earth’s surface and on different components of the observing system help to accelerate scientific understanding and multiply the benefits for society, this book bridges the gap between domains. Includes sections on data validation and uncertainty, data availability and applications Integrates remote sensing and in situ data sources Presents a whole earth perspective on surface temperature datasets, delving into all domains to build and understand relationships between the datasets

Quantitative Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces

Quantitative Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces PDF Author: Shunlin Liang
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0471723711
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 562

Book Description
Processing the vast amounts of data on the Earth's land surface environment generated by NASA's and other international satellite programs is a significant challenge. Filling a gap between the theoretical, physically-based modelling and specific applications, this in-depth study presents practical quantitative algorithms for estimating various land surface variables from remotely sensed observations. A concise review of the basic principles of optical remote sensing as well as practical algorithms for estimating land surface variables quantitatively from remotely sensed observations. Emphasizes both the basic principles of optical remote sensing and practical algorithms for estimating land surface variables quantitatively from remotely sensed observations Presents the current physical understanding of remote sensing as a system with a focus on radiative transfer modelling of the atmosphere, canopy, soil and snow Gathers the state of the art quantitative algorithms for sensor calibration, atmospheric and topographic correction, estimation of a variety of biophysical and geoph ysical variables, and four-dimensional data assimilation

Landscapes on the Edge

Landscapes on the Edge PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309152682
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Book 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.

The Earth's Land Surface

The Earth's Land Surface PDF Author: Kenneth J. Gregory
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781446251621
Category : Earth (Planet)
Languages : en
Pages : 361

Book Description
An excellent source of information for anyone who needs a well-informed, easy to use reference volume to introduce them to the fascinating complexities of the earth s land surface, past, present and future' - Professor Angela Gurnell, Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London. 'A concise but comprehensive guide to geomorphology which is characterised by a very clear text, superbly useful tables, and some mini-biographies of some of the leading figures in the discipline. It is particularly strong on the different types of geomorphological environments, including those of cities'

Land Surface Observation, Modeling and Data Assimilation

Land Surface Observation, Modeling and Data Assimilation PDF Author: Shunlin Liang
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 981447262X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 492

Book Description
This book is unique in its ambitious and comprehensive coverage of earth system land surface characterization, from observation and modeling to data assimilation, including recent developments in theory and techniques, and novel application cases. The contributing authors are active research scientists, and many of them are internationally known leading experts in their areas, ensuring that the text is authoritative. This book comprises four parts that are logically connected from data, modeling, data assimilation integrating data and models to applications. Land data assimilation is the key focus of the book, which encompasses both theoretical and applied aspects with various novel methodologies and applications to the water cycle, carbon cycle, crop monitoring, and yield estimation. Readers can benefit from a state-of-the-art presentation of the latest tools and their usage for understanding earth system processes. Discussions in the book present and stimulate new challenges and questions facing today's earth science and modeling communities. Contents:Observation:Remote Sensing Data Products for Land Surface Data Assimilation System Application (Yunjun Yao, Shunlin Liang and Tongren Xu)Second-Generation Polar-Orbiting Meteorological Satellites of China: The Fengyun 3 Series and Its Applications in Global Monitoring (Peng Zhang)NASA Satellite and Model Land Data Services: Data Access Tutorial (Suhung Shen, Gregory Leptoukh and Hongliang Fang)Modeling:Land Surface Process Study and Modeling in Drylands and High-Elevation Regions (Yingying Chen and Kun Yang)Review of Parameterization and Parameter Estimation for Hydrologic Models (Soroosh Sorooshian and Wei Chu)Data Assimilation:Assimilating Remote Sensing Data into Land Surface Models: Theory and Methods (Xin Li and Yulong Bai)Estimating Model and Observation Error Covariance Information for Land Data Assimilation Systems (Wade T Crow)Inflation Adjustment on Error Covariance Matrices for Ensemble Kalman Filter Assimilation (Xiaogu Zheng, Guocan Wu, Xiao Liang and Shupeng Zhang)A Review of Error Estimation in Land Data Assimilation Systems (Yulong Bai, Xin Li and Qianlong Chai)An Introduction to Multi-scale Kalman Smoother-Based Framework and Its Application to Data Assimilation (Daniel E Salas and Xu Liang)Application:Overview of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) (Youlong Xia, Brian A Cosgrove, Michael B Ek, Justin Sheffield, Lifeng Luo, Eric F Wood, Kingtse Mo and the NLDAS team)Soil Moisture Data Assimilation for State Initialization of Seasonal Climate Prediction (Wenge Ni-Meister)Assimilation of Remote Sensing Data and Crop Simulation Models for Agricultural Study: Recent Advances and Future Directions (Hongliang Fang, Shunlin Liang and Gerrit Hoogenboom)Simultaneous State-Parameter Estimation for Hydrologic Modeling Using Ensemble Kalman Filter (Xianhong Xie) Readership: Graduate students and scientists in remote sensing, hydrology, ecology, environment and other earth sciences. Keywords:Data Assimilation;Uncertainties;Land Surface Processes;Satellite Data;Dynamic ModelsKey Features:The contribution authors are a group of leading experts international in those areasIt elaborates on the state-of-the-art land data assimilation, from theoretical derivations to current application problemsIt provides the latest development of satellite data and products, and presents novel applications of data assimilation for water cycle, crop monitoring and yield estimation

Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space

Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309492432
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 29

Book Description
We live on a dynamic Earth shaped by both natural processes and the impacts of humans on their environment. It is in our collective interest to observe and understand our planet, and to predict future behavior to the extent possible, in order to effectively manage resources, successfully respond to threats from natural and human-induced environmental change, and capitalize on the opportunities â€" social, economic, security, and more â€" that such knowledge can bring. By continuously monitoring and exploring Earth, developing a deep understanding of its evolving behavior, and characterizing the processes that shape and reshape the environment in which we live, we not only advance knowledge and basic discovery about our planet, but we further develop the foundation upon which benefits to society are built. Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space (National Academies Press, 2018) provides detailed guidance on how relevant federal agencies can ensure that the United States receives the maximum benefit from its investments in Earth observations from space, while operating within realistic cost constraints. This short booklet, designed to be accessible to the general public, provides a summary of the key ideas and recommendations from the full decadal survey report.