In the last decade the burgeoning field of glaciology has seen the publication of several textbooks that demonstrate the subject's interdisciplinary nature, and its increasing importance in the context of understanding global environmental change. Hence, practitioners frequently need updates and syntheses of key topics within the field. Therefore, the glaciological community will find Glacier Science and Environmental Change especially welcome.
The book is divided into five parts, each with a keynote introduction by a leading specialist, followed by topical reviews and case studies, together totalling no less than 92 contributions. The major themes are: glaciers and their coupling with hydraulic and sedimentary processes; glaciers, oceans, atmosphere and climate; changing glaciers and their role in earth surface evolution; glacier composition, mechanics and dynamics; practice of glaciology.
The claim made for the book is that it is an authoritative and comprehensive reference work on contemporary issues in glaciology. It is certainly authoritative, with many of the world's leading figures in glaciology having provided contributions, but there are also plenty of welcome short articles by early career researchers who offer stimulating new insights into traditional and still sometimes unresolved problems. These articles are supported by a consolidated reference list running to 57 pages, comprising around 2000 entries. The book addresses many of the key issues facing glaciologists, ranging from process studies (including techniques), to how real data inform numerical modelling approaches in understanding glacier and ice sheet behaviour. Some controversial topics are covered by contributions from opposing standpoints. Perhaps the most personalized example is the subglacial flood hypothesis of Shaw and co-workers that is rather scathingly dismissed by Benn & Evans, but vigorously defended by Shaw himself. Issues such as this demonstrate that glaciological research continues to be healthy and vigorous, and reinforce the point that gathering of facts and data in the field remain vital to resolving complex physical questions.
Whether the book will be seen as comprehensive depends on one's perspective. For the geologist, key issues relate to the imprint of glaciers on the terrain and the stratigraphic record, in particular how modern processes can be used to interpret ancient glacial sedimentary sequences. Whereas many landscape features are covered in this volume, the coverage of such topics as glacial sedimentology and glaciotectonics is scanty. So for the geologist to translate understanding of the behaviour of glaciers, which is well covered, into an understanding of the geological record, the reader must turn to other volumes, such as David Evans's edited book entitled Glacial Landsystems (Evans, Reference Evans2003).
Glacier Science and Environmental Change is a well illustrated volume, with good clear line drawings throughout. In contrast, the numerous black-and-white photographs are mostly of a disappointing flat appearance, and many are reproduced at little more than thumbnail size. The idea of leading major sections of the book and the individual contributions with photographs is a good one but, frustratingly, these images have no captions. The middle of the book contains much better reproduced plates, including coloured diagrams, such as ice sheet reconstructions, and colour photographs, but it is a shame they are divorced from the papers to which they refer. Presumably this approach is a cost-saving measure of the publishers.
The editor's target readership for this book includes advanced undergraduates, postgraduate students and professionals. Glaciologists (if not geologists) will be well served by this book, but the hefty price tag of £125 is likely to restrict purchasers mainly to libraries. Overall, this is a worthy volume that should be widely consulted, especially by professional glaciologists and geomorphologists. However, it is not flawless, and many geologists will find that it does not serve their needs as well as other glacier texts.
