Book excerpt: This authoritative text offers detailed and comprehensive explanations of all important natural systems and processes in physical geography. Fundamental processes and materials of inorganic earth systems are presented first, giving students a solid foundation from which to study the more complex organic systems covered later. The third edition provides an updated chapter on soils, a new section on remote sensing techniques and revised coverage of such topics as El Nino, acid rain, Sahel drought and rain forest destruction. More than 160 full-color photographs and maps are incorporated in the text, plus over 1,000 glossary entries.