The Periglacial Environment

The Periglacial Environment, Fourth Edition, is an authoritative overview of the world's cold, non-glacial environments. First published in 1976 and subsequently revised in 1996 and 2007, the text has been the international standard for nearly 40 years. The Fourth Edition continues to be a personal interpretation of the frost-induced conditions, geomorphic processes and landforms that characterize periglacial environments. Part One discusses the periglacial concept and describes the typical climates and ecosystems that are involved. Part Two describes the geocryology (permafrost science) associated with frozen ground. Part Three outlines the weathering and geomorphic processes associated with cold-climate conditions. Part Four provides insight into the periglacial environments of the Quaternary, especially the Late Pleistocene. Part Five describes some of the problems associated with human occupancy in regions that experience frozen ground and cold-climate conditions. Extensively revised and updated Written by an expert with over 50 years of field research Draws upon the author's personal experience from Northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia, Tibet, Antarctica, Svalbard, Scandinavia, southern South America, Western Europe and eastern North America This book is an invaluable reference for advanced undergraduates in geography, geology, earth sciences and environmental sciences programs, and to resource managers and geotechnical engineers interested in cold regions. Hugh French was born in England and educated at The University of Southampton (BA, PhD). He emigrated from the UK in 1967 to accept an appointment with The University of Ottawa, Canada, where he taught in the Departments of Geography (1967-2003), Geology (1980-1992) and Earth Sciences (1998-2003). He has been Dean of the Faculty of Science at The University of Ottawa (1992-1997), President of the International Permafrost Association (1998-2003) and Editor-in-Chief of Permafrost and Periglacial Processes (1990-2005). He has received the Roger Brown Award of the Canadian Geotechnical Society for outstanding contributions to permafrost science and engineering (1989), the Canadian Association of Geographers award for scholarly distinction (1995), and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Permafrost Association (2016).