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Edward Arnold (for UNEP) · First published 1992

World Atlas of Desertification

About this book

The UNEP-commissioned atlas of global drylands and desertification, produced in its UK edition by Arnold. Middleton and Thomas edited a body of cartographic, satellite and field evidence into a single reference work covering the extent, causes, and human dimensions of dryland degradation, with regional case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the dryland margins of Europe, North America, and Australia.

The cartography distinguishes the climatic and the human components of dryland degradation, with mapped indices of aridity, soil erosion, salinisation and vegetation loss set against population pressure, land tenure and grazing systems. Case-study chapters work through the Sahel, Central Asia, the Mediterranean rim, the dryland margins of southern Africa and Australia, and the high cold deserts.

Nick Middleton acted as coordinating lead author for UNEP and David S. G. Thomas led the science chapters from his Sheffield and later Oxford drylands research group; both were Oxford-trained physical geographers with extensive dryland fieldwork. The Arnold UK edition placed an internationally commissioned reference work in the firm's geography and environmental-science list.

About the authors

Nick MiddletonFellow in Geography, St Anne's College, Oxford

Physical Geography & Desertification

Affiliations: School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford — undergraduate teaching and drylands field courses · United Nations Environment Programme — coordinating lead author, World Atlas of Desertification (1997 Arnold UK edition)

Full biographical note →

David S. G. ThomasProfessor of Geography, University of Oxford

Physical Geography & Desertification

Affiliations: School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford — professorial chair in geography · University of Sheffield — Professor of Geography (earlier career base for drylands research group)

Full biographical note →

Intended audience

  • geography undergraduates
  • environmental scientists
  • policy advisors on dryland degradation

Subject classification

  • Physical geography
  • Desertification
  • Environmental science
  • Atlas reference

Scope

  • global dryland extent
  • land-degradation processes
  • dust storms & wind erosion
  • regional case studies

Edition history

First published
1992
Latest edition
2nd edition, 1997
Imprint
Edward Arnold (for UNEP)

Bibliographic details

FormatISBNYearNotes
First edition, illustrated reprint03405551221992Google Books bibliographic record (Edward Arnold, 69 pages).
First edition, illustrated reprint97803405551251992Google Books bibliographic record.
Print ISBN (catalogue)0340691662ISBN from the publisher’s historical catalogue; also used for later-edition references.
ISBN-13 (EAN-13)9780340691663Standard 13-digit form of the print ISBN above (same catalogue line).

Source notes

  • Google Books bibliographic record (1992 issue)Lists Edward Arnold (1992) with ISBN pair 0340555122 / 9780340555125.

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