Product Description

Glaciers are among the most beautiful natural wonders on Earth, as well as the least known and understood, for most of us. Michael Hambrey describes how glaciers grow and decay, move and influence human civilization. Currently covering a tenth of the Earth's surface, glacier ice has shaped the landscape over millions of years by scouring away rocks and transporting and depositing debris far from its source. Glacier meltwater drives turbines and irrigates deserts, and yields mineral-rich soils as well as a wealth of valuable sand and gravel. However, glaciers also threaten human property and life. Our future is indirectly connected with the fate of glaciers and their influence on global climate and sea level. Including over 200 stunning photographs, the book takes the reader from the High-Arctic through North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, New Zealand and South America to the Antarctic. Michael Hambrey is Director of the Centre for Glaciology at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. A past recipient of the Polar Medal, he was also given the Earth Science Editors' Outstanding Publication Award for the first edition of Glaciers (Cambridge, 1995). Hambrey is also the author of Glacial Environments (British Columbia, 1994). JÜrg Alean is Professor of Geography at the Kantonsschule ZÜrcher Unterland in BÜlach, Switzerland.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80249 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 394 pages

Review
Review of the first edition 'The book is a fine introduction to the world of glaciers. It is authoritative and yet written in an appealingly straightforward manner ... This is a book that will appeal to all interested in glaciers. The specialist will dwell on the marvellous pictures. The general reader will enjoy the introduction to the realm of glacier ice.' David Sugden, Times Higher Education Supplement Review of the first edition 'Hambrey and Alean are both well known glaciologists. They have carried out fieldwork in glaciers all over the world ... it is a book that expresses their love for glaciers; it will attract attention particularly because of the many beautiful photographs ...'. A. J. van Loon, Sedimentary Geology 'This book convincingly justifies the authors' convictions [that glaciers are among the most beautiful and fascinating elements of nature] and should appeal to outdoor enthusiasts happy with the depth such subjects attract when investigated in television documentaries. One could almost imagine the book was planned to accompany a television series! ... This popular and enjoyable account of Glaciers is a credit to the authors and to the Cambridge University Press.' Julian Paren, Polar Record 'This work is first of all an extraordinary fine collection of photographs of glaciers and glacial landscapes ... Glaciologists should buy the book to look at the pictures, laymen to look and read ... The authors love glaciers, and it shows. I can only recommend this book.' Johannes Oerlemans, Antarctic Science 'As an introduction to an important and interesting subject which has had a huge influence on the development of earth science since the early decades of the 19th century, Glaciers provides an excellent readable and authoritative account.' Geological Magazine 'The narrative of the book is concise and easy to follow; useful diagrams that are clear and illustrate points in the text unambiguously are provided as needed making for a coherent read but the feature of this book is surely the photography it contains. So,me of the photographs are feast for the eyes and inspire awe in the natural world and its processes ... This is one book that would grace any bookcase and give enjoyment to the reader.' Open University Geological Society Glaciers, one of the greatest wonders of the world, deserve a monograph showing their beauty and appraising their global importance. And this is certainly the case with Hambrey's and Alean's book. Written and ably illustrated by the world-renown specialists in the matter of glaciology and palaeoglaciology, and carefully edited by Cambridge University Press, this book will be very useful for both laymen and professionals.' Earth-Science Reviews 'The authors skilfully balance the text between the accessible and the informative, offering insight into the wide variety of glacial forms and processes without the need for previous knowledge in this facet of the earth sciences ... Through both text and photographs this book provides an excellent introduction to the variety, physical properties and significance of glaciers on a global scale. This is an excellent present for those friends and acquaintances who pose the question 'why study glaciers?' review of the first edition Giles H. Brown, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 'The book reads like a greatly expanded entry on glaciers that one would expect to find in an encyclopaedia. Most of the pictures were taken by the authors during thier extensive travels around the world. Nothing seems to have been overlooked as Hambrey and Alean systematically owrk their way through 12 interesting ad superbly illustrated chapters. Alternativing nicely with 85 colour pictures of National Geographic quality are about 75 black-and-white photographs and diagrams. Thus, it is a highly illustrated book. This fact and the well-written and not too technical text make this book suitable for a wide readership ... Overall this attractively priced book is both a very enjoyable read and a superbly illustrated 'travelogue'. I highly recommend it to all those interested in glaciers, professional glaciologists included.' Arctic

Review
"The book is a fine introduction to the world of glaciers. It is authoritative and yet written in an appealingly straightforward manner... This is a book that will appeal to all interested in glaciers. The specialist will dwell on the marvelous pictures. The General Reader will enjoy the introduction to the realm of glacier ice." Times Higher Education Supplement

"The book includes a valuable select bibliography and an excellent glossary and location and subject index. It makes a landmark contribution to natural science and its interplay with real world issues. Highly recommended." CHOICE July 2005

Ingram
The authors' photographs form the core of this magnificent introduction to these beautiful, but mysterious, natural wonders, while a lively running text examines such major themes as climate, environmental change, natural history, and the lasting impact of glaciers on the natural landscape. Over 150 photos, 85 in full color.