An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment (3e)

This highly respected and best-selling textbook provides an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the major topics within physical geography. It focuses on understanding the inter-linkages between processes, places and environments and is fully illustrated to demonstrate how the physical environment works.

An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment is accompanied by a rich and extensive range of electronic support resources including updated weblinks relevant for each chapter, multiple choice questions, fieldwork exercises, interactive models and video clips.

The text is suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate study in the field of physical geography.

PART I - The role of physical geography
Chapter 1: Approaching physical geography  

PART II - Continents and oceans
Chapter 2: Earth geology and tectonics         
Chapter 3: Oceans  

PART III - Climate and weather
Chapter 4: Atmospheric processes
Chapter 5: Global climate and weather
Chapter 6: Regional and local climates

PART IV - Geomorphology and Hydrology
Chapter 7: Weathering and geochemistry
Chapter 8: Hillslopes and landform evolution
Chapter 9: Sediments and sedimentation
Chapter 10: Soils
Chapter 11: Catchment hydrology
Chapter 12: Fluvial geomorphology and river management
Chapter 13: Solutes
Chapter 14: Dryland processes and environments
Chapter 15: Coasts
Chapter 16: Glaciers and ice sheets
Chapter 17: Permafrost and periglaciation

PART V - Biogeography and ecology
Chapter 18: The biosphere
Chapter 19: Biogeographical concepts
Chapter 20: Ecological processes
Chapter 21: Freshwater ecology

PART VI - Environmental change
Chapter 22: The Pleistocene
Chapter 23: The Holocene
Chapter 24: Contemporary climate change: an unprecedented environmental challenge
Chapter 25: Vegetation and environmental change
Chapter 26: Remote sensing of environmental change
Chapter 27: Managing environmental change

Now in its third edition, the book has been thoroughly updated throughout to contain the latest research, and includes some entirely new chapters:

• New chapter on weathering
• New chapter on aquatic ecosystems  
• New chapter on the Holocene

• Each chapter is written by a leading specialist in the field to provide informative, expert and practical coverage.
• A range of in-text features aids independent study including case studies, reflective questions, highlighted glossary terms and annotated further reading.
• Boxed features, including Techniques, Hazards, Environmental Change and New Directions help apply knowledge to the real world of physical geography.
• An impressively wide range of examples from around the world illustrates the physical environment with truly global scope.

Joseph Holden is Professor of Physical Geography and Director of Research at the School of Geography, University of Leeds.