Desert Landscapes of the World with Google Earth

Description

This book presents an introduction to desert landscapes―primarily landforms that are natural and man-made. It is based around the presentation of a series of beautiful and informative annotated Google Earth images. These are accompanied by text that describes the feature(s) concerned, their location, and their origin. There are also, in some cases, ground images taken by the author. Preface Contents About the Author 1 Introduction Abstract 1.1 Google Earth and Landscapes—Introduction 1.2 What Are Deserts? References 2 Dunes Abstract 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Sandseas (ergs) 2.3 Barchan Dunes 2.4 Transverse Dunes 2.5 Reversing Dunes 2.6 Zibars 2.7 Parabolic Dunes 2.8 Linear Dunes 2.9 Valley Marginal Dunes 2.10 Star Dunes 2.11 Dome Dunes 2.12 Topographic or Obstacle Dunes 2.13 Lunettes 2.14 Shadow Dunes 2.15 Nebkhas References 3 Wind Erosional Forms Abstract 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Yardangs 3.2.1 Introduction 3.2.2 Libyan Desert 3.2.3 Lut Desert, Iran 3.2.4 Dunhuang, Kumtagh Desert, China 3.3 Pans 3.3.1 Introduction 3.3.2 Australia 3.3.3 The High Plains of the USA 3.3.4 Southern Africa 3.4 Inverted Relief 3.4.1 Introduction 3.4.2 Oman and Egypt 3.5 Sabkhas 3.5.1 Introduction 3.5.2 Abu Dhabi Sabkha 3.6 Dust Sources 3.6.1 Introduction 3.6.2 Bodélé 3.6.3 Tokar Delta, Sudan References 4 Structural Landforms Abstract 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Inselbergs 4.2.1 Introduction 4.2.2 Brandberg, Namibia 4.2.3 Erongo, Namibia 4.2.4 Spitzkoppe, Namibia 4.2.5 Vogelfederberg, Namibia 4.2.6 Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Australia 4.3 Circular Landforms 4.3.1 Aorounga Crater, Chad 4.3.2 Arkenu, Libya 4.3.3 Gross Brukarros, Namibia 4.3.4 Iranian Salt Domes, Iran 4.3.5 Richât Structure, Mauritania 4.3.6 Waw an Namus, Libya 4.4 Sandstone Landscapes 4.4.1 Alcoves and Arches, Colorado Plateau, USA 4.4.2 Djado and Mangueni, Niger 4.4.3 Gilf Kebir, Egypt 4.4.4 Wadi Rum, Jordan 4.4.5 Monument Valley, USA 4.4.6 Tadrart Acacus, Libya References 5 Weathering and Surface Materials and Patterns Abstract 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Weathering Pits 5.3 Dayas and Other Karstic Features 5.3.1 The Weissrand Plateau, Namibia 5.3.2 Other Karstic Features 5.4 Tufas 5.4.1 Introduction 5.4.2 The Band-E-Amir Tufas of Afghanistan 5.5 Nitrates 5.6 Varnish 5.7 Spring Carbonates 5.7.1 Introduction 5.7.2 Searles Lake, California 5.8 Caprocks (Calcrete, Silcrete and Ferricrete) 5.8.1 Introduction 5.8.2 The Karpencliff Conglomerate, Namibia 5.8.3 Kanku Breakaways and Mirackina Palaeochannel, Australia 5.8.4 Ferricrete in Kordofan, Sudan 5.9 Gypsum Crusts 5.10 Aeolianite 5.10.1 Introduction 5.10.2 Wahiba Sands (Al Sharqiyah Sands), Oman 5.11 Patterned Ground 5.11.1 Polygons 5.11.2 Fairy Circles 5.11.3 Heuweltjies and Related Mounds 5.11.4 Wombat Burrows 5.11.5 Gilgai References 6 Fluvial and Lacustrine Systems Abstract 6.1 Internal and External Drainage 6.1.1 Introduction 6.1.2 Inland Deltas of the Okavango and the Niger 6.1.3 Lake Chad 6.1.4 The Sistan (Seistan) Basin 6.1.5 The Lake Eyre (Kati Thanda) Basin 6.2 Alluvial Fans 6.2.1 Introduction 6.2.2 Death Valley, California, USA 6.2.3 Atacama Coastal Range 6.3 Pediments 6.3.1 Introduction 6.4 Badlands 6.4.1 Introduction 6.4.2 South Dakota 6.4.3 Spanish Badlands 6.5 Arroyos 6.5.1 Introduction 6.5.2 The American Southwest 6.6 Groundwater Sapping 6.6.1 Introduction 6.6.2 The Kharga Depression, Libyan Desert, Egypt 6.7 Sheetflow and Tiger Bush 6.7.1 Introduction 6.7.2 Somalia 6.7.3 Namibia 6.8 Mudflows and Flash Floods 6.8.1 Introduction 6.8.2 Montecito, California, 2018 References 7 Climate Change Abstract 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Pluvial Lakes 7.2.1 Introduction 7.2.2 Lake Bonneville 7.2.3 Dead Sea 7.2.4 Lake Palaeo-Makgadikdadi 7.3 Ancient Dunes 7.3.1 Introduction 7.3.2 Kimberleys, Western Australia 7.3.3 The Mega-Kalahari 7.3.4 The Ancient Erg of Hausaland 7.4 Loess 7.4.1 Introduction 7.4.2 The Loess Plateau, China 7.4.3 Tajikistan 7.5 Fossil Spring Mounds 7.6 Dry Valleys 7.6.1 Introduction 7.6.2 The Mekgacha of the Kalahari 7.7 Talus Flat Irons 7.8 Sharms References 8 Human Impacts Abstract 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Lake Desiccation 8.2.1 The Dead Sea 8.2.2 Aral Sea, Central Asia 8.2.3 Lake Urmia, Iran 8.2.4 Lop Nor, China 8.2.5 Salton Sea, USA 8.2.6 Owens Lake 8.3 Irrigation Landscapes 8.3.1 Introduction 8.3.2 Centre Pivot Systems in the USA—The High Plains Aquifer 8.3.3 Al Kufrah Oasis, Libya, and Saudi Arabia 8.3.4 Water Harvesting and Runoff Agriculture in the Middle East 8.3.5 Irrigation and Landslides, Rio Vitor, Peru, and the Loess Plateau, China 8.4 Energy Sources and the Landscape 8.5 Other Construction Works 8.6 Wetland Drainage—Mesopotamia 8.7 Surface Disturbance 8.8 Surface Protection 8.9 Urban Sprawl 8.10 Nuclear Craters 8.11 Invasive Plants 8.12 Conclusions References Index