Overview

Fjords are both an interface and a buffer between glaciated continents and the oceans. They exhibit a very wide range in environmental conditions, both in dynamics and geography. Some are truly wonders of the world with their dizzying mountain slopes rising sharply from the ocean edge. Others represent some of the harshest conditions on earth, with hurricane winds, extremes in temperature, and catastrophic earth and ice movements. Fjords are unique estuaries and represent a large portion of the earth's coastal zone. Yet they are not very well known, given the increasing population and food pressures, and their present industrial and strategic importance. Temperate zone estuaries have had many more years of intense study, with multiyear data available. Most fjords have not been impacted by man but, if history repeats itself, that condition will not last long. Fjords present some unique environmental problems, such as their usually slow flushing time, a feature common to many silled environments. Thus there is presently a need for management guidelines, which can only be based on a thorough knowledge of the way fjords work. Fjords are, in many respects, perfect natural oceanographic and geologic lab oratories. Source inputs are easily identified and their resulting gradients are well developed. Throughout this book, we emphasize the potential of modeling pro cesses in fjords, with comparisons to other estuary, lake, shelf and slope, and open ocean environments.

Full Product Details

Author:   James P.M. Syvitski ,  David C. Burrell ,  Jens M. Skei
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Edition:   Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1987
ISBN:  

9781461290919

ISBN 10:   1461290910
Pages:   215
Publication Date:   05 January 1988
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- 1 Fjords and Their Study.- 1.1 Definition, Distribution, and History.- 1.2 Environmental Setting and Study.- 1.3 The Past, Present, and Future of Fjord Research.- 2 Environmental Setting.- 2.1 Geomorphology.- 2.2 Climate.- 2.3 Oceanographic Characteristics.- 2.4 Sediment Sources and Transport Mechanisms.- 2.5 Fjord History.- 2.6 Characteristic Features of Fjord Coastlines.- 2.7 Summary.- 2 Processes and Products.- 3 The Fluvial-Deltaic Environment.- 3.1 Runoff.- 3.2 Sediment Transport.- 3.3 Paraglacial Sedimentation.- 3.4 Fjord-Head Deltas.- 3.5 Summary.- 4 Circulation and Sediment Dynamics.- 4.1 Fjord Estuarine Circulation.- 4.2 Hypopycnal Sedimentation.- 4.3 Hyperpycnal Flow.- 4.4 Flushing and Deep Water Renewal.- 4.5 Ice Influences.- 4.6 Mixing Processes and the Seafloor Environment.- 4.7 Summary.- 5 Subaqueous Slope Failures.- 5.1 Mass Sediment Properties and Subaqueous Slope Stability.- 5.2 Release Mechanisms.- 5.3 Mass Transport Processes.- 5.4 The Products of Subaqueous Slope Failure.- 5.5 Summary.- 6 Biotic Processes.- 6.1 Pelagic and Littoral Processes.- 6.2 The Fjord Benthic Environment.- 6.3 Summary.- 7 Biogeochemistry.- 7.1 Particulate Sediment.- 7.2 Aerobic Diagenetic Reactions.- 7.3 Anoxic Environments.- 7.4 Summary.- 3 Implications/Applications.- 8 Environmental Problems: Case Histories.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Agfardlikavsa Fjord, Greenland.- 8.3 Resurrection Bay, Alaska.- 8.4 Port Valdez, Alaska.- 8.5 Howe Sound, British Columbia.- 8.6 Rupert Inlet, British Columbia.- 8.7 Saguenay Fjord, Quebec.- 8.8 Iddefjord, Norway/Sweden.- 8.9 Saudafjord, Southwest Norway.- 8.10 Sorfjord, West Norway.- 8.11 Ranafjord, Northern Norway.- 8.12 Loch Eil, Scotland.- 8.13 By fjord, Sweden.- 8.14 Summary of Impacts in Other Fjords.- 9 Future Fjord Research.- 9.1 Oceanographic Problems and Projects.- 9.2 Biogeochemical Problems and Projects.- 9.3 Biological Problems and Projects.- 9.4 Geological-Related Problems and Projects.- 9.5 Approaches.- References.- Fjord Index.

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