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

"Monitoring and Modeling Geomorphological Environments" is a comprehensive overview of the latest research in the field with a focus on the advantages and benefits of integrating different methodological approaches to geomorphological research. The chapters in the book reflect both the geographical range and the thematic focus of the late John Thornes, and include contributions from many of his former research students, research assistants and project co-investigators alongside some of the most senior practitioners in the discipline. This book focuses on an integrative approach to geomorphological, environmental or indeed wider geographical studies through the presentation of new research encompassing a wide variety of geomorphological environments but with an emphasis on Mediterranean and other semi-arid environments within the context of environmental dynamics, so critical to management in an era of global change. The chapters in this volume reflect both the geographical range and the thematic focus of John Thornes, being written by his former research students, research assistants and project co-investigators including some of the most senior colleagues in the discipline. The contents of the book divide into three distinct sections: - Mediterranean environments- Hydrology and environmental management- Landform development The first section encompasses a wide range of studies of soil erosion and runoff processes, vegetation influences on soil hydrology and erosion, impacts and management of land-use change and the development of new integrated models and monitoring strategies. Together, these chapters demonstrate the progressive adoption of integrated research approaches and highlight the improved understanding of these environments that has resulted from these approaches. Some of the chapters also examine implications of the research findings for future management by local farmers and national governments. The second section contains a much wider variety of topics that reflect John Thornes' range of interests and expertise in hydrology and related environmental management issues, and the range of applications of his ideas and approaches to new theoretical and applied problems by the authors of the respective chapters. Some of the chapters in this section focus on the validity and benefits of the same integrative methodological philosophy to consultancy problems and projects, with particular emphasis on the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts on productive activities. The chapters in the short final section present landform studies dominated by landslides and/or tectonic influences. They highlight in particular the integration of field data with conceptual models to provide a theoretical framework for subsequent validation of the models through the application of appropriate monitoring strategies. The book will also contain three short reflective commentaries on the contributions of John Thornes to particular areas of geomorphological research, written by senior authors who knew him well and worked with him over many years. These commentaries will place the importance of his research, and his influence on the subsequent generation of geomorphologists that have contributed to this book, in the context of the discipline of geomorphology over recent decades. An obituary in The Times described John Thornes as 'one of the most eminent and influential physical geographers of his generation', particularly with respect to his monumental contributions to investigations of the complex problems of land-use change and erosion leading to desertification in the Mediterranean region, this work being achieved through lasting Anglo-Spanish and wider European collaborations. His work and influence extended much wider, however, encompassing tropical rainforests, sub-Arctic environments, archaeology, theoretical tectonic geomorphology and temperate grazing systems. Throughout all of these activities he champion