Geocryology: a Survey of Periglacial Processes and Environments

The publication of Washburn's original A Study of Periglacial Processes and Environments in 1973 was a milestone in periglacial studies as it was the first really thorough synthesis of the large amount of literature then available. This second edition originally published in 1980, titled Geocryology: A study of Periglacial Processes and Environments, contains a large amount of new information. It provides a comprehensive overview of frost-action and mass-wasting processes and their effects, present and past. As warming of permafrost is becoming an increasingly important component of global climate change research, this text is also of increasing relevance. Geocryology is included in the title to emphasize the pervasive influence of ice and its phase changes in these processes. This book is neither a formal text nor a reference manual but something of both and a guide to the enormous literature. The text is illustrated with over 200 photographs and diagrams. The following topics are covered: Environmental factors, frozen ground, general frost-action processes, some periglacial forms, mass-wasting processes and forms, nivation, slopewash, fluvial action, lacrustine and marine action, wind action, thermokarst, environmental overview and environmental reconstructions.