Vegetation Survey and Classification of Subtropical Forests of Southern Africa

Vegetation Survey and Classification of Subtropical Forests of Southern Africa
Author: Ladislav Mucina
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2017-12-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319678310

This book highlights classification patterns and underlying ecological drivers structuring the vegetation of selected indigenous subtropical forests in South Africa. It uses original field sampling and advanced numerical data analysis to examine three major types of forest – Albany Coastal Forests, Pondoland Coastal Scarp and Eastern Scarp – all of which are of high conservation value. Offering a unique and systematic assessment of South African ecology in unprecedented detail, the book could serve as a model for future vegetation surveys of forests not only in Africa, but also around the globe.

Geomorphometry

Geomorphometry
Author: Tomislav Hengl
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 797
Release: 2008-11-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0123743451

Geomorphometry is the science of quantitative land-surface analysis. It draws upon mathematical, statistical, and image-processing techniques to quantify the shape of earth's topography at various spatial scales. The focus of geomorphometry is the calculation of surface-form measures (land-surface parameters) and features (objects), which may be used to improve the mapping and modelling of landforms to assist in the evaluation of soils, vegetation, land use, natural hazards, and other information. This book provides a practical guide to preparing Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for analysis and extracting land-surface parameters and objects from DEMs through a variety of software. It further offers detailed instructions on applying parameters and objects in soil, agricultural, environmental and earth sciences. This is a manual of state-of-the-art methods to serve the various researchers who use geomorphometry. Soil scientists will use this book to further learn the methods for classifying and measuring the chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils and gain a further understaing of the role of soil as a natural resource. Geologists will find value in the instruction this book provides for measuring the physical features of the soil such as elevation, porosity, and structure which geologists use to predict natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and flooding. * Technical details on a variety of software packages allow researchers to solve real-life mapping issues * Provides soil and agronomy researchers best practice techniques for soil data analysis to assist in enhanced land-use and planning * Offers geologists essential tactics for better environmental management by providing a comprehensive analysis of the physical features of soil * Companion website includes access to the latest technological advancements previously unpublished in any other comprehensive source: geomorphometry software, DEM data sources, and applications

Terrain Analysis

Terrain Analysis
Author: John P. Wilson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 522
Release: 2000-08-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780471321880

Dieses Buch untersucht, welchen Einfluß Landschaftsformen, insbesondere Höhenunterschiede, auf die an der Erdoberfläche ablaufenden Prozesse haben. Wasserbewegungen, die Sonneneinstrahlung sowie die Bodenentwicklung und -erosion werden alle mehr oder minder durch die Form der Landschaftsoberfläche gesteuert. Die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Landschaftsanalyse sind vielfältig: Sie reichen von Studien über Wasserscheiden und Feuchtgebiete über Bodenkunde und Erosionsstudien, Landschafts- und Landnutzungsstudien bis zu geomorphologischer Forschung und regionalen und globalen Ökologiestudien. Darüber hinaus kann die Landschaftsanalyse auch zu meteorologischen Vorhersagen sowie bei Problemen mit TV- oder Radiosignalempfang eingesetzt werden. Dieses Forschungsgebiet hat in Verbindung mit den jüngsten Fortschritten auf dem Gebiet der GIS und GPS eine rasante Entwicklung durchlaufen. In diesem Band werden alle diese neuen Ansätze und Anwendungsbereiche umfassend erläutert. (y05/00)

Topography and the Environment

Topography and the Environment
Author: Richard J. Huggett
Publisher: Pearson Education
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2002
Genre: Science
ISBN:

Third-year and postgraduate courses in physical geography, environmental studies and environmental science, particularly course units in geomorphology, climatology, pedology, biogeography, ecology; landscape ecology, GIS and remote sensing, and environmental modelling. This is the first book of its kind, focusing on topographic influences on environmental components. As a comprehensive introduction to the subject, Topography and the environment discusses the main facets of topography, including new and old ideas, models, methods, and theories, and identifies four different approaches to topography as an environmental factor: the physical ground surface; all the features of the Earth's surface, including the human-made; topographically based modelling, developed in association with geographical information systems (GIS); and the idea of place as a human construct. The authors then explore individual topographic influences on environmental elements such as climate, water, soils and plants. Accessible and wide ranging, it helps students understand the intrinsic links and the crossdisciplinary nature of physical systems and processes.

Geographic Information Science and Mountain Geomorphology

Geographic Information Science and Mountain Geomorphology
Author: Michael Bishop
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 564
Release: 2004-06-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783540426400

From the reviews: "Bishop and Schroder (both, Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha) have brought together an impressive group of practitioners in the relatively new application of geographic information science to mountain geomorphology. In doing so, they have produced valuable, first, overall coverage of a high-tech approach to mountain, three-dimensional research. More than 40 contributing authors discuss a wide range of related aspects.... The book is well bound and well produced; each chapter provides an extensive source of references. The numerous line drawings are clearly reproduced, although the mediocre quality of photographic reproduction limits the value of air photographs and satellite images. As is characteristic of many edited collections, there is some variation in chapter quality. Some of the writing is so dense that it requires minute concentration--one chapter, for instance, has 14 pages of references from a total of 43 pages. Nevertheless, this is a vital compendium for a rapidly expanding field of research. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (J. D. Ives, Choice, March 2005)