Landscapes on the Edge : New Horizons for Research on Earth's Surface

During geologic spans of time, Earth's shifting tectonic plates, atmosphere, freezing water, thawing ice, flowing rivers, and evolving life have shaped Earth's surface features. The resulting hills, mountains, valleys, and plains shelter ecosystems that interact with all life and provide a record of Earth surface processes that extend back through Earth's history. Despite rapidly growing scientific knowledge of Earth surface interactions, and the increasing availability of new monitoring technologies, there is still little understanding of how these processes generate and degrade landscapes. Landscapes on the Edge identifies nine grand challenges in this emerging field of study and proposes four high-priority research initiatives. The book poses questions about how our planet's past can tell us about its future, how landscapes record climate and tectonics, and how Earth surface science can contribute to developing a sustainable living surface for future generations. Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 The Importance of Earth Surface Processes2 Grand Challenges in Earth Surface Processes3 Four High-Priority Research Initiatives in Earth Surface Processes4 Mechanisms for Developing Initiatives and Sustaining Growth in Earth Surface ProcessesReferencesAppendixesAppendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and StaffAppendix B: Community InputAppendix C: Observing and Measuring Earth Surface ProcessesAppendix D: Achievements in Earth Surface ProcessesAppendix E: List of Acronyms