Monitoring and Modelling Dynamic Environments: (A Festschrift in Memory of Professor John B. Thornes)

The Times (Obituaries, 4 August 2008) reported that “John Thornes was one of the most eminent and influential physical geographers of his generation.” John’s keen interest in understanding landform processes and evolution was furthered through a variety of methods and informed across a range of disciplinary boundaries. In particular he pushed for better integration of monitoring, theoretical and simulation modelling, field and laboratory experimentation and remote sensing techniques. Although dominated by an interest in the Mediterranean region and problems of land degradation, his research activities ranged across a number of time scales and with other environmental perspectives. This collection of papers reflects this wide range of John’s interests through the recent work of scientists and professionals most strongly influenced by his rigorous training or leadership. The thematic focus of the book, which runs through all of the main contributions, is the integration of different methodologies and the application of this approach to improved understanding of natural systems and the development of appropriate strategies for environmental and resource management. Short overviews of John’s contributions to geomorphological research are also presented to provide context for the origins of this book.

Table of Contents:
List of contributors, ix About the editors, xi Acknowledgements, xiii 1 Introduction – Understanding and managing landscape change through multiple lenses: The case for integrative research in an era of global change, 1 Alan P. Dykes, Mark Mulligan and John Wainwright PART A 2 Assessment of soil erosion through different experimental methods in the Region of Murcia (South]East Spain), 11 Asunción Romero Díaz and José Damián Ruíz Sinoga 3 Shrubland as a soil and water conservation agent in Mediterranean]type ecosystems: The Sierra de Enguera study site contribution, 45 Artemi Cerdà, Antonio Giménez]Morera, Antonio Jordan, Paulo Pereira, Agata Novara, Saskia Keesstra, Jorge Mataix]Solera and José Damián Ruiz Sinoga 4 Morphological and vegetation variations in response to flow events in rambla channels of SE Spain, 61 Janet Hooke and Jenny Mant 5 Stability and instability in Mediterranean landscapes: A geoarchaeological perspective, 99 John Wainwright 6 Desertification indicator system for Mediterranean Europe: Science, stakeholders and public dissemination of research results, 121 Jane Brandt and Nichola Geeson 7 Geobrowser]based simulation models for land degradation policy support, 139 Mark Mulligan 8 Application of strategic environmental assessment to the Rift Valley Lakes Basin master plan, 155 Carolyn F. Francis and Andrew T. Lowe 9 Modelling hydrological processes in long]term water supply planning: Current methods and future needs, 179 Glenn Watts 10 Changing discharge contributions to the Río Grande de Tárcoles, 203 Matthew Marsik, Peter Waylen and Marvin Quesada 11 Insights on channel networks delineated from digital elevation models: The adaptive model, 225 Ashraf Afana and Gabriel del Barrio 12 From digital elevation models to 3]D deformation fields: A semi]automated analysis of uplifted coastal terraces on the Kamena Vourla fault, central Greece, 247 Thomas J.B. Dewez and Iain S. Stewart 13 Environmental change and landslide hazards in Mexico, 267 Alan P. Dykes and Irasema Alcántara]Ayala PART B 14 John Thornes and palaeohydrology, 299 Ken Gregory and Leszek Starkel 15 John Thornes: Landscape sensitivity and landform evolution, 307 Tim Burt 16 John Thornes and desertification research in Europe, 317 Mike Kirkby, Louise J. Bracken and Jane Brandt 17 John Thornes: An appreciation, 327 Denys Brunsden Index, 331