Summary
Contents
Subject index
Visualizing the land surface explains and explores the composition of the land surface and outlines how it has been studied. Dynamics of the land surface considers the dynamics affecting the earth’s land surface including its influences, processes and the changes that have occurred. Environments of the land surface looks to understand the land surface in major world regions highlighting differences between the areas. Management of the land surface is an examination of the current and future prospects of the management of the earth’s land surface.
Chapter 3: Controls Affecting the Land Surface
Controls Affecting the Land Surface
Rocks, climate, soil, vegetation, land use and human activity all exercise controls upon the land surface, often by influencing Earth surface processes. A context (see section 3.1) is necessary for the controls upon the surface (section 3.2) and the processes operating (Chapter 4).
3.1 Spheres, Cycles and Systems
The Earth and its environment, in the envelope from about 200 km above the Earth's surface to the centre of the Earth, can be thought of as comprising a series of spheres, rather like concentric shells, although some are not discrete and overlap with others. The land surface is one such sphere. Such division of the Earth's environments is a useful basis for positioning study by different disciplines. Atmosphere had ...
- Loading...
