Geomorphology and the Carbon Cycle. Edition No. 1. RGS-IBG Book Series

The first systematic examination of the role of geomorphological processes in the cycling of carbon through the terrestrial system.

Argues that knowledge of geomorphological processes is fundamental to understanding the ways in which carbon is stored and recycled in the terrestrial environment
Integrates classical geomorphological theory with understanding of microbial processes controlling the decomposition of organic matter
Develops an interdisciplinary research agenda for the analysis of the terrestrial carbon cycle
Informed by work in ecology, microbiology and biogeochemistry, in order to analyse spatial and temporal patterns of terrestrial carbon cycling at the landscape scale
Considers the ways in which, as Humanity enters the Anthropocene, the application of this science has the potential to manage the terrestrial carbon cycle to limit increases in atmospheric carbon

Contents

Series Editors’ Preface viii

Acknowledgements ix

Part I The Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Geomorphological Theory 1

1 Geomorphology and the Terrestrial Carbon Cycle 3

2 Geomorphology and the Fast Carbon Cycle 12

3 Geomorphology and the Geological Carbon Cycle 37

4 Geomorphological Theory and Practice: Material Fluxes in the

Terrestrial Carbon Cycle 53

Part II Geomorphology and Carbon Cycling Across the

Sediment Cascade 77

5 Carbon Cycling in Headwater Catchments 79

6 Hillslope Soil Erosion and Terrestrial Carbon Cycling 110

7 The Role of Floodplains in Terrestrial Carbon Cycling 136

8 Geomorphology and Carbon Cycling in the Coastal Ecotone 167

Part III A Geomorphological Approach to the Carbon Cycle 191

9 Geomorphology and Carbon Cycling in the Anthropocene 193

10 Towards a Geomorphologically Informed Model of Terrestrial

Carbon Cycling 218

References 240

Index 287

Authors

Martin Evans University of Manchester, UK.