Mathematical Tools. Ice Deformation. Mechanics of Glacier Flow. Modeling Glacier Flow. Equilibrium Profiles of Glaciers. Glacier Thermodynamics. Subglacial Processes. Fractures. Numerical Ice-Sheet. Models. Dynamics of Glaciers and Ice Sheets. Interpreting Observations. References. Index.
C. J. van der Veen is a glaciologist interested in the dynamics of fast-moving glaciers and ice streams. His research focuses on using measurements of ice velocity and glacier geometry to identify mechanical controls on glaciers and how changes in these controls affect glacier flow and stability. After completing his PhD at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, he spent 20 years at The Ohio State University as a research scientist with the Byrd Polar Research Center (1986–2006). He is currently a professor in the Geography Department and research scientist with the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets at the University of Kansas.
"In Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics, Kees van der Veen guides the
reader with ease through the different, and sometimes complex,
aspects of glacier mechanics. Compared to the first edition, this
second revised edition is definitely more focused on ice-dynamical
concepts and explains comprehensively the mathematical derivation
of stress tensors, deviatoric stresses, invariants, flow laws,
glacier and ice stream flow, etc."
—Frank Pattyn, Laboratoire de Glaciologie, Université Libre de
Bruxelles, Belgium
"A detailed and timely introduction to the flow and dynamics of
glaciers and ice sheets. It will provide excellent guidance to
scientists and graduate students for interpreting and modelling the
ongoing dramatic changes of alpine and polar ice masses. An
impressive book that will stay lie open on my desk."
—Andreas Vieli, Department of Geography, Durham University, UK
"Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics by Kees van der Veen proceeds
logically through the list of topics necessary for a beginning
graduate or upper-level undergraduate student to build a strong
foundation in glacier dynamics. … Excellent derivations and
descriptions are given for the various "end member" models of ice
flow … . For students and professionals alike, [this book] serves
as a detailed introduction to quantitative glaciology, a reference
volume, and an essential companion to Paterson’s classic Physics of
Glaciers."
—Stephen Price, Fluid Dynamics and Solid Mechanics Group, Los
Alamos National Laboratory"There is a small and select collection
of manuscripts that I keep within arms reach of my desk and this
book is one of them. It has a unique place in the catalogue of
glaciological texts, providing a thorough treatise on the
principles and governing equations that underpin our understanding
of ice motion and thermodynamics. … An essential reference text for
glaciologists concerned about the flow of ice."
—Jonathan Bamber, Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical
Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
"For years, I have been reaching for C.J. van der Veen 's
Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics when I need substantive and
mathematical discussion of ice dynamics. The detailed treatments in
the text are ably guided by van der Veen's clear thinking about the
fundamentals such as the partitioning of stresses, the energy
budget, equilibrium profiles, and the global significance of ice
dynamics. Indeed, these fundamentals provide the reader a trail of
bread crumbs to guide them through the forest of details that
constitute modern glaciology. Now in its second edition, and
expanded to include topics such as fracture, I expect that
Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics will continue to be the first text
I consult, as well as the one I recommend to students.""
—Jesse Johnson, The University of Montana, USA"As previously, [this
second edition] provides an excellent introduction to glacier and
ice sheet dynamics. Being essentially self-contained, it appeals to
students from undergraduate to postgraduate level as well as to
researchers, both from within the field and from neighboring
disciplines. It is indeed an excellent textbook, which I have used
a lot when teaching ice dynamics ... [It will] surely be one of the
fixed points in the treatments of ice dynamics in the decades to
come."
—Nina Kirchner, Stockholm University, SwedenPraise for the First
Edition"Until now, there has been a growing gap between the
relatively introductory treatment of glacier dynamic modeling found
in standard texts on glaciology and the large body of research
literature. Van der Veen's book does a wonderful service by
supplying an approachable, but comprehensive bridge. ... There have
been several recent books on glaciers and glacial dynamics and this
one is a standout. For any worker who is contemplating modeling or
who has to deal with the output of models, this is must have
book."
—Neil Humphrey, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of
Wyoming Laramie, USA, Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol.
34, No. 3, Aug. 2002"... does an excellent job of presenting our
current understanding. ... The back cover recommends the book as
suitable for graduate courses in geophysics, and I would endorse
this. In addition, it is an excellent refresher for someone like
myself who has long experience in glaciology but has read only some
of the more recent papers. The author has distilled most of these
papers into a very readable volume. ... I see this book as the best
of the mathematical bunch, and I would strongly recommend it to
established and aspiring glaciologists and to those from other
disciplines eager to know just how well—or perhaps how poorly—we
understand glaciers and ice sheets."
—Robert H. Thomas, EG&G Services, NASA/Wallops, Wallops Island,
Virginia, USA, Eos, Vol. 82, No. 1, Jan. 2, 2001"What I
particularly liked about the book were some fine passages of
critical discussion which look at the relationship between theory
and observations in some controversial areas. ... It is a better
book for people who want to use glaciological theory than either
Paterson’s book or Hooke’s book. ... It contains a pretty complete
description of ice–climate interactions which is better than
anything else in press. If your primary interest is in ice–climate
interactions, it would be your best choice as first textbook."
—Richard Hindmarsh, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, Earth
Surface Processes and Landforms, 26, 2001"If Paterson’s classic
text The physics of glaciers may be considered a bible of modern
glaciology, then this recent book by Kees van der Veen is probably
one of the newly unearthed gospels. ... Van der Veen is also quite
successful at getting across the philosophy of mathematical
modelling. ... if your main interest is to acquire the skills to
model glacier motion, this book should certainly be high on your
shopping list. The more experienced researcher will also find it
useful as a reference and teaching aid."
—Felix S.L. Ng, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, UK,
Journal of Glaciology, Vol. 46, No. 155, 2000"... this book is best
seen as a practical, users' guide to developing the equations and
models that describe the physical behaviour of ice masses. As such,
it serves as an excellent reference text both to glaciologists and,
equally important, to scientists outside the discipline who may
wish to familiarise themselves with state-of-the-art numerical
glaciology. Topics and treatments are introduced from their
fundamental principles and developed quantitatively at a level that
can be followed by readers with mathematics or physics to
undergraduate level. ... Fundamentals of glacier dynamics is a
well-written and well-produced text which is fair value. ... To
summarise, this is a very useful book to those with some
mathematical ability and who have an interest in the quantitative
description and modelling of ice dynamics."
—Bryn Hubbard, Polar Record, Vol. 36, Issue 199, October 2000
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