The study of hillslopes is of concern to many scientists - geologists, pedologists, hydrologists, engineers, and geomorphologists. As a result the literature on the subject is dispersed through many books and journals and the approaches to the subject are varied. In writing this text I have attempted to draw on all the relevant disciplines and particularly to use the contributions of the exponents of rock and soil mechanics.

I take pleasure in presenting a further edition (volume 32) of the internationally recognized and acclaimed series ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ (PoA). Already since 1966 the series has published a large number of interdisciplinary scientific papers on landscape evolution and on former environments of selected areas within the African continent. Since the re-edition and re-launch of ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ in 2007/2008 it is the fifth volume of the yearbook series that follows the new concept and layout under the restructured editorial board and by support of the publishing houses Routledge and CRC Press. Therefore, the ambitious goal of the editorial board and its editor in chief to have one book a year was almost reached. Many thanks go to all the contributing authors, colleagues and friends who directly and indirectly contributed during the last years to make this re-edition of ‘Palaeoecology of Africa’ a reality and a success. <...>

This book has been compiled and written by members of the Commission on Geomorphological Survey and Mapping of the International Geographical Union. Originally proposed in 1976 as a text to accompany and explain the lnternationtll Geomorphological Map of Europe (1: 2.5 million), the oudine of the book was prepared by the Commission at a meeting in Nove Mesto, Czechoslovakia, in 1977. Since then, there has been a considerable delay in publishing the International Map; meanwhile, work on this book progressed and has overtaken the schedule for printing the Map. At the same time, the book has been enlarged and its aims have changed to some extent: it is no longer envisaged simply as an explanation of the Map but as a work in its own right, providing the first comprehensive survey of the geomorphology of Europe <...>

Karst covers more than 13% of the continental ice-free surface of our planet, with major coverage in the Middle East and Central Asia where it occupies approximately 23% of the land surface. According to some estimates more than 20% of the world’s population is consuming groundwater originated from karst aquifers. At the same time, the management of karst aquifers and their water resources is more problematic compared to any other aquifer type due to uncertainties in defining their boundaries, often irregular drainage regime, and vulnerability to pollution. All these problems are closely related to high heterogeneity of karst aquifers and their locally very high permeability <...>

Обобщен опыт качественного и количественного изучения морфологии рельефа земной поверхности различного генезиса, а также морфологического эффекта; геологических и географических процессов.

Рассматриваются типы и методы проведения полевых и камеральных геоморфологических исследований. Показаны принципы геоморфологического картографирования и морфометрического анализа рельефа. Излагаются разнообразные методы общего геоморфологического анализа. Освещен вопрос изучения современной динамики рельефа с целью прогнозирования нефтегазоносности. Обозначено практическое значение палеогеоморфологического анализа в нефтегазовой отрасли.
Для студентов и аспирантов, изучающих геологию. Может быть полезно преподавателям и работникам нефтегазовой отрасли и топливно-энергетического комплекса.

В книге описаны механизмы авторегуляции и динамического равновесия в процессах образования рыхлого покрова за счет выветривания горных пород и денудации; в развитии дефлюкционных и насыпных склонов, нагорных террас. Рассматривается механизм образования простой и сложной поверхностей равновесия вследствие эрозионного расчленения территории; охарактеризован процесс формирования поймы и составлена модель ее развития с учетом периодов движения пойменных массивов и островов. Описаны условия, при которых может устанавливаться состояние динамического равновесия в формировании берегов вследствие абразии волн. В книге заложены основы для разработки имитационных математических моделей динамики форм рельефа.

Various branches of physics and earth sciences have been studied from the  point of view of mathematical morphology and its applications, but for the first time a whole book is devoted to a morphological approach to structural geology. In this sense, it fits in with a long tradition since the two founders of mathematical morphology were both mining engineers.

Landforms and landscapes vary enormously across the Earth, from high mountains to endless plains. At a smaller scale, Nature often surprises us by creating shapes which look improbable. Many physical landscapes are so immensely beautiful that they have received the highest possible recognition—they hold the status of World Heritage properties. Apart from often being immensely scenic, landscapes tell stories which not uncommonly can be traced back in time for tens of million years and include unique events.

Разработка проблемы природопользования одна из центральных в географической науке. В одну из них входит вопрос оценки устойчивости в развитии рельефа и определения мер безопасности антропогенной деятельности. Для этого используется метод геоморфологического картографирования, и, прежде всего, создания крупномасштабных карт. Последнее обстоятельство требует конкретных знаний о возникновении, строении и устойчивости форм рельефа и их граней, а также знаний о динамике и механизмах преобразования рельефа. Карты такого рода относятся к группе специальных аналитических карт. <...>