Overview

Megafans are partial cones of river sediment that reach unexpectedly large dimensions, with the largest on Earth being 700 km long. Due to recent developments in space-based observations, global mapping efforts have shown that modern megafan features cover vast landscapes on most continents. This book provides a new inventory of nearly 300 megafans across five continents. Chapters focus on regional studies of megafans from all continents barring North America and Antarctica. The major morphological attributes of megafans and multi-megafan landscapes are discussed, and the principal controls on megafan development are examined. The book also compares megafans with alluvial fans, deltas, floodplains and the recently recognised 'major avulsive fluvial system' (MAFS). The final part of the book discusses the application of megafan research to economic geology, aquifers and planetary geology including layered deposits on Mars. This is an invaluable reference for researchers in geomorphology, sedimentology and physical geography.

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9781108423373

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Justin Wilkinson is a senior research scientist in the department of geography at Texas State University, and a senior scientist in the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at the NASA-Johnson Space Center. Wilkinson's research focusses on 'unconventional' river landscapes, the end points of desert rivers, and extensive megafan depositional plains. The astronaut corps awarded him the 'Silver Snoopy' pin as Earth Observations trainer and a book on Costa Rica illustrated with astronaut photos earned him NASA's Public Service Medal. Yanni Gunnell is professor of physical geography and environmental studies at Université Lumière Lyon 2 where he studies environmental change and landscape evolution. Gunnell's research covers geomorphology, Quaternary geology, geodynamics, geoarchaeology, land-cover change, and social science. He has served as editor for nonprofit learned society journals, and as guest-editor of books and book chapters in several languages.

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