Landscapes on the Edge

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 Contents Front Matter Summary 1 The Importance of Earth Surface Processes 2 Grand Challenges in Earth Surface Processes 3 Four High-Priority Research Initiatives in Earth Surface Processes 4 Mechanisms for Developing Initiatives and Sustaining Growth in Earth Surface Processes References Appendixes Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff Appendix B: Community Input Appendix C: Observing and Measuring Earth Surface Processes Appendix D: Achievements in Earth Surface Processes Appendix E: List of Acronyms