Studies and reports in hydrology
1
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, VOL. 8, 195-197 (1983) BOOK REVIEWS BEITRAGE ZUR ANGEWANDTEN GEOMORPHO- LOGIE. H. Liedtke (Ed.), Zeitschriftfiir Geomorphologie, 1981, Supplementband 39. No. of pages: 137 incl. 49 figures. As a philosophically-minded geomorphologist and being aware of the international evolution of physical geography, F. Ahnert has written an introductory paper to this ‘Supplementband’, which enlightens the necessary integration of quantitative methods and qualitative re- flexions in geomorphological research. It would have been interesting to read F. Ahnert’s ideas about the definition and justification of the term ‘applied geomor- phology’ as distinguished from ‘pure geomorphology’. The nature of the other collected papers gives no evident answer to this rather academic question. D. Barsch, W. Schuster, also G. Stablein, show how geomorphic infor- mation, from surveying and mapping, can be prepared for computerized data processing by constructing key sys- tems and data banks. J. Biidel talks over his climatic- zonal approach of relief development. Measurements, discussed by K. H. Schmidt, indicate that the Ruhr river is highly charged with dissolved sediment whereas P. Ergenzinger and K. P. Obenauf expose briefly possi- bilities of predicting denudation rates in a small Calbrian drainage basin, using volumetric data of river sedi- mentation. H. Brettschneider describes in a refined way the differential impact of micro-climatic conditions on weathering in the High Atlas Mountains. Interesting is W. Seiler’s paper which relates soil moisture volumes to slope wash, according to measurements near Basel. Finally, K. J. Sabel and E. Weidner discuss relationships between morphogenetic activity, Holocene to recent soil development and land use, respectively in coastal South- central Brazil and in the Terai floodplains of Nepal. As editor, H. Liedtke points out in his introduction that this ‘Supplementband’ illustrates the efforts made by German colleagues in two fields; process-geomorphology and the optimalization of geomorphic mapping, includ- ing computer-mapping. The latter specialization enjoys the full support of the ‘Deutsche Forschungsgemein- schaft’. JAN DE PLOEY Leuven STUDlES AND REPORTS IN HYDROLOGY No. 29. Surface and groundwater interaction, C. E. Wright (Ed.). No. 30. Aquifer contamination and protection, R. E. Jackson (Ed.). No. 3 1. Methods of computation of the water bal- ance of large lakes and reservoirs, H. L. Ferguson and V. A. Znamsky. Application of results from representative and experimental basins, J. N. Body. Ground water models, J. D. Bredehoeft et al. No. 32. No. 34. Unesco Press. These five reports represent the output during 1980 to 1982 of the International Hydrological Programme. All of these books are of direct interest and value to hydrologists and water managers (Report 33, not dis- cussed here, is concerned with ground water in hard rock). All of these reports are authoritative and are good collations of existing literature and techniques. All but one of the reports make use of case studies to illustrate the techniques/systems of interest. Report 31 does not have any case studies but is described as ‘Volume 1. Methodology’. A second volume of case studies is discussed but may not be published as yet and certainly did not reach this reviewer! With the exception of Report 32 these volumes are all presented in a coherent integrated manner. The information they contain and the manner of its presentation shows considerable thought and all will be of great value both as training or teaching texts and as reference manuals for professional water managers and researchers. Report 32 on the other hand is a collection of papers presented by individuals. There can be no doubt that this report contains a great wealth of valuable material but it has to be hunted and assessed. It does not make the ready teaching and research resource of the other reports. The format of presentation of text and figures varies greatly and the overall ‘AS format is not as effective as the A4 size used in all the other reports. Some of the referencing of the papers in Report 32 was extremely sloppy and would not have been published, I hope, in refereed journals. Despite some deficiencies, however, these are extremely useful reports that have a right to appear on the library shelves of every teaching, research or managerial institute which has an interest in water resources and their management. They represent a synthesis of current scientific expertise and experience of very high inter- national standing. ADRIAN MCDONALD University of beds 0 1983 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Transcript of Studies and reports in hydrology
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES A N D LANDFORMS, VOL. 8, 195-197 (1983)
BOOK REVIEWS
BEITRAGE ZUR ANGEWANDTEN GEOMORPHO- LOGIE. H. Liedtke (Ed.), Zeitschriftfiir Geomorphologie, 1981, Supplementband 39. No. of pages: 137 incl. 49 figures.
As a philosophically-minded geomorphologist and being aware of the international evolution of physical geography, F. Ahnert has written an introductory paper to this ‘Supplementband’, which enlightens the necessary integration of quantitative methods and qualitative re- flexions in geomorphological research. It would have been interesting to read F. Ahnert’s ideas about the definition and justification of the term ‘applied geomor- phology’ as distinguished from ‘pure geomorphology’. The nature of the other collected papers gives no evident answer to this rather academic question. D. Barsch, W. Schuster, also G. Stablein, show how geomorphic infor- mation, from surveying and mapping, can be prepared for computerized data processing by constructing key sys- tems and data banks. J. Biidel talks over his climatic- zonal approach of relief development. Measurements, discussed by K. H. Schmidt, indicate that the Ruhr river is
highly charged with dissolved sediment whereas P. Ergenzinger and K. P. Obenauf expose briefly possi- bilities of predicting denudation rates in a small Calbrian drainage basin, using volumetric data of river sedi- mentation. H. Brettschneider describes in a refined way the differential impact of micro-climatic conditions on weathering in the High Atlas Mountains. Interesting is W. Seiler’s paper which relates soil moisture volumes to slope wash, according to measurements near Basel. Finally, K. J . Sabel and E. Weidner discuss relationships between morphogenetic activity, Holocene to recent soil development and land use, respectively in coastal South- central Brazil and in the Terai floodplains of Nepal.
As editor, H. Liedtke points out in his introduction that this ‘Supplementband’ illustrates the efforts made by German colleagues in two fields; process-geomorphology and the optimalization of geomorphic mapping, includ- ing computer-mapping. The latter specialization enjoys the full support of the ‘Deutsche Forschungsgemein- schaft’.
JAN DE PLOEY Leuven
STUDlES AND REPORTS IN HYDROLOGY
No. 29. Surface and groundwater interaction, C. E. Wright (Ed.).
No. 30. Aquifer contamination and protection, R. E. Jackson (Ed.).
No. 3 1. Methods of computation of the water bal- ance of large lakes and reservoirs, H. L. Ferguson and V. A. Znamsky. Application of results from representative and experimental basins, J. N. Body. Ground water models, J. D. Bredehoeft et al.
No. 32.
No. 34.
Unesco Press.
These five reports represent the output during 1980 to 1982 of the International Hydrological Programme. All of these books are of direct interest and value to hydrologists and water managers (Report 33, not dis- cussed here, is concerned with ground water in hard rock). All of these reports are authoritative and are good collations of existing literature and techniques. All but one of the reports make use of case studies to illustrate the techniques/systems of interest. Report 31 does not have any case studies but is described as ‘Volume 1. Methodology’. A second volume of case studies is discussed but may not be published as yet and certainly
did not reach this reviewer! With the exception of Report 32 these volumes are all presented in a coherent integrated manner. The information they contain and the manner of its presentation shows considerable thought and all will be of great value both as training or teaching texts and as reference manuals for professional water managers and researchers. Report 32 on the other hand is a collection of papers presented by individuals. There can be no doubt that this report contains a great wealth of valuable material but it has to be hunted and assessed. It does not make the ready teaching and research resource of the other reports. The format of presentation of text and figures varies greatly and the overall ‘AS format is not as effective as the A4 size used in all the other reports. Some of the referencing of the papers in Report 32 was extremely sloppy and would not have been published, I hope, in refereed journals.
Despite some deficiencies, however, these are extremely useful reports that have a right to appear on the library shelves of every teaching, research or managerial institute which has an interest in water resources and their management. They represent a synthesis of current scientific expertise and experience of very high inter- national standing.
ADRIAN MCDONALD University of b e d s
0 1983 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
