Soils and Landscape Evolution: 21st Symposium Proceedings

The investigation of how landforms develop and of rates of processes has traditionally relied on the study of surfaces and sediments. Soils that have developed on geomorphic surfaces have the potential to record more accurately the history of landscape development. Historically, however, soils have been largely ignored by most geomorphologists in favour of concentration on stratigraphic and sedimentologic relationships (i.e. the deposits) or morphometric (i.e. the form of the landscape) studies. Only recently have most geomorphologists and geologists begun to appreciate the importance and utility of soils in studies of landforms. This book focuses on the relationship between soils and landforms and landscapes, mostly in non-glaciated areas, thus filling a major gap in the geomorphology literature. It is directed both at geomorphologists (including geologists and geographers) and pedologists.

Table of Contents:
Dedication. In Memoriam Ran Gerson. Overviews. Soil geomorphology: the linkage of pedology and surficial processes (L.D. McFadden and P.L.K. Knuepfer). Soil-geomorphic research - a selective overview (P.W. Birkeland). Hillslope Studies. Soil variations on hillslopes in humid temperate climates (A.J. Gerrard). Genesis of soils and landscapes in the Ridge and Valley province of central Pennsylvania (E.J. Ciolkosz et al.). The role of soil processes in determining mechanisms of slope failure and hillslope development in a humid-tropical forest, eastern Puerto Rico (A. Simon, M.C. Larsen and C.R. Hupp). The role of topography and surface cover upon soil formation along hillslopes in arid climates (A. Yair). Soils and geomorphic evolution of bedrock facets on a tectonically active mountain front, western Sangre de Cristo Mountains, New Mexico (C.M. Menges). Soil catena development on fault scarps of different ages, eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, California (M.E. Berry). Terrace Studies . Stream-terrace genesis: implications for soil development (W.B. Bull). From a black to a gray box - a mass balance interpretation of pedogenesis (O.A. Chadwick, G.H. Brimhall and D.M. Hendricks). Soil development on stable landforms and implications for landscape studies (J.W. Harden). Spatial soil variability in the Cajon Pass chronosequence: implications for the use of soils as a geochronological tool (J.B.J. Harrison and R.J. Weldon III). Contrasting soils and landscapes of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, eastern United States (H.W. Markewich, M.J. Pavich and G.R. Buell). Soil-Stratigraphic Studies. Interaction between aggrading geomorphic surfaces and the formation of a Late Pleistocene paleosol in the Palouse loess of eastern Washington state (E.V. McDonald and A.J. Busacca). Soil and geomorphic evolution within the Rolling Red Plains using Pleistocene volcanic ash deposits (B.J. Carter, Ph.A. Ward III and J.T. Shannon). Soils and landscape evolution of eolian plains: the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico (V.T. Holliday). Eolian landscape evolution and soil formation in the Chaco dune field, southern Colorado Plateau, New Mexico (S.G. Wells, L.D. McFadden and J.D. Schultz). Soil-stratigraphic techniques in the study of soil and landform evolution across the Southern Alps, New Zealand (P.J. Tonkin and L.R. Basher).