The Cycle of Erosion in Different Climates

Pierre Birot

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9780520366121
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520324121
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Geology & Earth Sciences

The Cycle of Erosion in Different Climates delves into the fascinating interplay between climatic factors and landform evolution, rooted in Professor Birot's influential lectures in Brazil following the 1956 International Geographical Congress. This book serves as a bridge between the climato-morphological focus dominant in continental Europe and the traditional, Davisian geomorphological perspectives prevalent in English-speaking regions. Birot offers a nuanced perspective that synthesizes contemporary insights with established theories, resulting in a comprehensive examination of how erosion cycles operate across various climatic contexts. By analyzing processes like rock decomposition, debris transport on slopes, and riverbed dynamics, the book provides a rich framework for understanding landform development. A key feature of this study is its exploration of the cycle of erosion, which represents the evolution of slopes toward a level surface, progressing through stages of youth, maturity, and senility. The text discusses the intricate balance between weathering and transport mechanisms, emphasizing how climatic conditions influence these processes. From the dynamic interplay of water and detritus on slopes to the establishment of river profiles of equilibrium, Birot presents a vivid depiction of geomorphological phenomena. This English translation preserves the essence of the original French text while adapting terms and concepts to enhance accessibility for English-speaking audiences. It not only fills a critical gap in the literature but also fosters greater international communication in geomorphology, underscoring the universal relevance of these natural processes. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1968.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Translators’ Preface
• Introduction
• 1 The weathering of rocks
• 2 The transport of debris on slopes
• 3 Fluvial dynamics
• Introduction
• 4 The evolution of the cycle under a normal climate
• 5 The cycle of erosion in a tropical climate
• 6 Erosion cycles in arid and semi-arid climates
• 7 The cycle of erosion in areas subject to alternating wet and dry seasons or to alternating wet and dry climates
• 8 The cycle of erosion in a periglacial climate
• Conclusion
• References
• Index