Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
the humid tropics. Third, Ollier questions the accepted
chronology of mountain building, which sees Tibet, the
highlands of western North America, and the Andes
beginning to rise about 40 million years ago, favouring
instead rise over the last few million years.
FURTHER READING
Berner, E. K. and Berner, R. A. (1987)
The Global Water
Cycle: Geochemistry and Environment
. Englewood Cliffs,
N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Old but still worth reading.
Berner, R. A. and Berner, E. K. (1995)
Global Environ-
ment: Water and Geochemical Cycles
. Upper Saddle River,
N.J.: Prentice Hall.
A later incarnation of the previous topic.
SUMMARY
Three grand cycles of matter affect Earth surface
processes - the water cycle (evaporation, condensation,
precipitation, and runoff ), the rock cycle (uplift, weath-
ering, erosion, deposition, and lithification), and the
biogeochemical cycles. Denudation encompasses weath-
ering and erosion. Erosive agents - ice, water, and wind -
pick up weathered debris, transport it, and deposit it.
Climate partly determines denudation (weathering and
erosion). In addition, geological and topographic fac-
tors affect mechanical denudation. Climate, rock type,
topographic factors, and organisms influence chemical
denudation. Climate, topography, and plate tectonic
process interact in complex ways. Uplift changes cli-
mates, climatic changes may increase erosion, erosion
may affect the flow of crustal rocks and so influence uplift.
Erosion of mountains may affect the carbon dioxide
balance of the atmosphere and promote climatic change.
Ruddiman, W. F. (ed.) (1997)
Tectonic Uplift and
Climatic Change
. New York: Plenum Press.
A detailed account of the connections between tectonics,
weathering, and climate.
Westbroek, P. (1991)
Life as a Geological Force: Dynam-
ics of the Earth
. New York: W. W. Norton.
A leisurely and winning introduction to geological and
biogeochemical cycles from the perspective of Earth
history.
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1 To what extent are the Earth's grand
'cycles' interconnected?
2 How important are substrates in
explaining land form?
3 Assess the relative importance of the
factors that influence denudation
rates.
