The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas
Exploring Earth's River Systems
A stunningly illustrated atlas of the world’s rivers, estuaries, and deltas, and their ecosystems.
From the Congo and the Mekong to the Seine and the Mississippi, Earth’s rivers carve through landscapes before coursing into the world’s oceans through estuaries and deltas. Their inexorable flow carries sediment and more, acting as lifeblood for a variety of ecosystems and communities. More than any other surface feature of Earth, rivers, estuaries, and deltas are vitally important to our economic and social well-being, and our management of them often sits at the sharp edge of today’s most pressing environmental challenges. The World Atlas of Rivers, Estuaries, and Deltas takes readers on an unforgettable tour of these dynamic bodies of water, explaining how they function at each stage of their flow. Combining maps and graphics with informative essays and beautiful photos, this invaluable reference book will give you a new appreciation for the power that rivers, estuaries, and deltas wield.
Jim Best is the Threet Professor of Sedimentary Geology and Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He researches the fluid and sediment dynamics of modern Earth surface environments and the interpretation of such sediments in the geological record.
Stephen Darby is Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Southampton. He researches processes of flooding, erosion, and deposition and their implications for river management, especially in the world’s largest river systems.
Luciana Esteves is Associate Professor of Physical Geography at Bournemouth University. She researches changes in coastal areas driven by natural and human-induced processes and coastal management options to reduce erosion and flooding risks.
Carol Wilson is Associate Professor of Deltaic Wetland Sedimentology and Geomorphology at Louisiana State University. Her research centres on quantifying the eco-physical processes that shape deltas and coastal wetlands.
