Desert Aeolian Processes

The idea for this volume came during the dryland sessions of the Association of American Geographers meeting in San Diego in April, 1992. The large number of papers devoted to aeolian processes and landforms indicated to me that aeolian geomorphology had come of age and the last 15 years or so had produced a plethora of papers, books, and edited volumes on all aspects of aeolian geomorphology. Chapter one is my tentative attempt to place develop- ments in aeolian geomorphology in a historical perspective and to contemplate some thoughts about the future. The fourteen papers selected address a wide range of issues ranging from micro-scale studies devoted to aeolian dust, sediment transport, and rock varnish in ventifacts to medium-scale studies of dunes and dune forms, reverse desertification, and macro-scale studies of ergs and sand transport pathways. The American Southwest, particularly the spectacular and unique Mojave Desert of California, is featured prominently in seven chapters. I hope this volume provides students and colleagues some new perspectives in aeolian geomorphology as well as pathways for future work.