Sand dunes are a globally important depositional landform and sedimentary system. Their origins and dynamics are important in understanding how deserts have evolved in response to climate change and changes in sand supply and mobility, and how they will continue to evolve in the future. This book provides a state-of-the-art review of the characteristics of desert dunes and their sediments, and explores their dynamics on timescales from days to millennia as they respond to changes in wind speed and direction, precipitation and sand supply. This extensively revised edition reflects the advances in our understanding of desert dunes, their dynamics and history; and covers recent developments including the luminescence dating revolution, ground penetrating radar and advances in numerical modeling. Also covering dunes on Mars and Titan, this authoritative reference is a must-have for researchers and graduate students working on desert dunes and aeolian geomorphology.
- Contains a state-of-the-art review of the latest research and concepts in the field
- Extensively illustrated with images and graphs, providing access to original data and analyses
- Includes many examples from deserts in all continents, largely drawn from the author's extensive field experience, as well as a discussion of dunes on Mars and Titan
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Reviews & endorsements
'Studying desert dunes continues to be essential to our understanding of the geomorphology and climate of Earth and other worlds in the solar system. The update to this anchoring text seamlessly merges the significant advancements in aeolian science over the past few decades with core concepts from decades prior. This book will serve as the go-to source for any scientist needing a reference for wind-blown sand dunes and as the textbook for training the next generation of aeolian scientists.' Ryan Ewing, Texas A&M University
'Nick Lancaster's fifty-plus years of field research on desert dunes and his keen insights on the 'big-picture' of dune formation and change make him the best qualified person to write the definitive book on the subject. This thoroughly revised and updated second edition is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand desert sand dunes.' Jeff Lee, Department of Economics and Geography, Texas Tech University
'This fully updated new edition provides a masterly synthesis of the burgeoning research into desert dunes worldwide. Whether it is current dune processes, the evolution of dune systems in the past or extra-terrestrial aeolian features, this book has it all. It is an excellent testimony to Nick Lancaster's five decades of desert dune analysis, and will be the definitive 'go-to' text for a long time.' David Thomas, University of Oxford
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Product details
- Edition: 2nd Edition
- Date Published: March 2023
- format: Hardback
- isbn: 9781108420884
- length: 350 pages
- dimensions: 250 x 175 x 22 mm
- weight: 0.82kg
- availability: In stock
Table of Contents
Part I. Introduction and Fundamental Concepts:
1. Desert Dune Systems
Part II. Dune Morphology and Sediments
2. Dune Morphology
3. Dune Sediments
Part III. Dune Processes and Dynamics
4: Sand Transport By Wind
5. Airflow and Sand Transport on Dunes
6. Dune Dynamics
Part IV. Boundary Conditions for Dune Formation and Development:
7. Controls of Dune Morphology
8. Controls on Dune Orientation
9. Controls of Dune Size and Spacing
10. Response of Dune Systems to Changing Boundary Conditions
Part V. Sand Seas and Dunefields
11. Characteristics and Distribution of Sand Seas and Dunefields
12. Dune Patterns in Sand Seas
13. Formation of Sand Seas and Dune Fields
Part VI. Dune Systems in Time and Space
14. Ancient Dune Systems – The Rock Record
15. Quaternary Paleo Dune Systems
16. Planetary Dune Systems
Part VI. Conclusions
17. Review and Prospects
References
Index.
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Author
Nicholas Lancaster, Desert Research Institute, Nevada
Nicholas Lancaster is a leading expert on desert sand dunes, and Emeritus Research Professor from the Desert Research Institute, USA. He has worked on desert dunes in Africa (Namib, Kalahari, northern and western Sahara), Arabia, Antarctica, and the western United States (Mojave and Sonoran Deserts). His research focuses on dune dynamics and morphology, the application of remote sensing, ground penetaring radar and optical dating, and the impacts of climate change on desert regions. He has won multiple awards including the Farouk El-Baz Award from the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division of the Geological Society of America (2001), the NSHE Regent's Researcher Award (2007), and the Liu Tungshen Medal from the International Quaternary Association (INQUA, 2019).

This title is available for institutional purchase via Cambridge Core

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Geomorphology of Desert Dunes

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