Himalaya to the Sea : Geology, Geomorphology and the Quaternary

First Published in 2004. Plate tectonic collision, climate oscillation, glacial fluctuation, severe wind and water erosion—all have wrought dramatic change on the landscape of the Western Himalaya, one of the most dynamic and spectacular landscapes on Earth. Study of the region—from the Western Himalaya foothills and lowlands to the Arabian Sea—is of particular value to geology and geomorphology because of the size and frequency of events. That much of South Asia is relatively inaccessible has enhanced the significance of research in Pakistan and adjacent areas. Himalaya to the Sea focuses on the general evolution of landforms in Pakistan but also represents an essential guide for predictive, protective and remedial measures to mitigate the natural hazards which plague the region and constrain development. The book describes regional erosion and sedimentation within the context of topographical evolution; more specifically, chapters deal with neotectonics, past and present glaciation, general mountain geomorphology and process mechanics, past and present fluvial processes and landforms, wind-blown loess deposits, age dates, soils, marine terraces and archaeology. This is the first integrated assessment of the geomorphology and Quaternary evolution of this region, from highlands to ocean. Presenting new research, methodologies and theory, this highly illustrated volume also provides the first comprehensive bibliography to the region.