Glaciers [Hardcover]

Michael Hambrey (Author), Jürg Alean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0521828082 | ISBN-13: 978-0521828086 | Edition: Updated

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.

Editorial Reviews

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

Book Description

Glaciers are among the most beautiful natural wonders on Earth, today found on every continent. This book describes how glaciers grow and decay, how they move, and how they influence us. Glacier ice has shaped the landscape over millions of years. Glacier meltwater drives turbines and irrigates deserts, and yields mineral-rich soils. However, glaciers also threaten human property and life. Our future is indirectly bound up with the fate of glaciers and their influence on global climate and sea level. A lively text is supported by over 200 stunning photographs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 394 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Updated edition (December 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521828082
• ISBN-13: 978-0521828086
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,109,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good overview with great photos, November 14, 2007

By 

C. Ryan (Winthrop, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Glaciers (Hardcover)

This lavishly illustrated book provides a relatively non-technical textbook-like survey of worldwide glacial phenomenon. Besides covering the typical geologic and climate aspects of the subject there are chapters about wildlife and human interaction with glaciers, both hazards and benefits. Note that the British and Swiss authors' perspective is Euro-centric with very sparse coverage of the American West. For instance, Mt. Rainier, the most extensive glacial system in the Lower 48 gets only two small mentions.

There are dozens of outstanding color photographs but relatively few maps or exhibits of statistical information. There's a 14-page glossary that will prove useful as a reference but the bibliography is quite sparse and most of the entries are also textbooks as opposed to sources of more in-depth coverage.

Recommended as an introduction to those wanting a survey glacial phenomenon or as a refresher for people who have not studied the topic in a long while. Those who have a solid basic knowledge of glaciers or want to focus on American glaciers should look elsewhere.