This book deals with the relationship between geomorphology and society. This topic has had rather scant treatment in the literature except to some extent under the label "applied geomorphology". In this text the authors aim to bring together conceptual issues and case studies of how geomorphology influences society and, indeed, how society is in turn influenced by geomorphology. In an age in which the influence of human activities on global environments has become so paramount that it is increasingly common to refer to it geologically as the "anthropocene", the book aims to reflect on the geomorphological significance of widespread and diverse forms of human impact in a range of environmental settings.

Autorentext

Professor Mike Meadows is Head of the Department of Environmental & Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town and Secretary-General and Treasurer of the International Geographical Union

Professor J-C Lin is the Chair of the International Geographical Union Commission on Geomorphology and Society

Inhalt
Geomorphology and Society: an Introduction.- Geomorphology in the Anthropocene: Perspectives from the Past, Pointers for the Future.- Society and Geomorphology: Addressing the (Mis-)Use of Aggregate Resources.- Geomorphological Responses in a Dynamic Environment: How Landforms Interact with Human Activities in Taiwan.- The Impact of Typhoon Morakot in 2009 on Landslides, Debris Flows and Population in the Chishan River Catchment, Taiwan.- Delineation of Historical Fluvial Territories and the Implications for Flood Mitigation, with Reference to Four Selected Reaches in Taiwan.- The Political Ecology of Land Subsidence: a Case Study of the Solar Energy-Farming Scheme, Pingtung County, Taiwan.- Towards Long-lasting Disaster Mitigation following a Mega-landslide: High-definition Topographic Measurements of Sediment Production by Debris Flows in a Steep Headwater Channel.- Landslide Typology using a Morphological Approach and Establishment of an Inventory Map based on Aerial Photo Interpretation in Central Vietnam.- Vulnerability and Exposure to Geomorphic Hazards: Some Insights from the Europoean Alps.- Reclamation and Land Consolidation Effects on Organic Matter Sedimentation in Lake Giba-gata, Japan.- Impact of Short-term Flooding on Livelihoods in the Central Kenya Rife Valley Lakes.- Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in Tropical Island Environments: a Case Study of Mauritius.- Evolution of a coastal beach/barrier/marsh system in response to sea level rise, storm events and human impacts: a case study of Trunvel Marsh, Western Brittany.- Integrating estuarine, coastal and inner shelf sediment systems in a common conceptual framework as a basis for participatory shoreline management.