BOOK REVIEWS 801

The major goal of this book is to bring together evidence of are here validated and compared with actual findings in
active deformation on alluvial rivers, with emphasis on geo- the field, especially for the planform variations related to
morphological adjustment. The authors have grouped their deformation.
chapters into four parts, covering topics such as background The last chapter summarizes the key indicators for anoma-
information (part I), effects of known deformation (part II), lous behaviour of rivers when deformation is involved and
less well-known effects of deformation on rivers (part III) applies the newly gathered material to practical problems,
and (part IV) the application of the understanding of river such as river stabilisation and navigation, hydrological top-
response to deformation, sedimentology, geological interpre- ics, geological mapping, petroleum and coal mining prob-
tation and river engineering. The syntectonic response of lems. This range of topics could be elaborated substantially,
rivers is of special concern. In this book strong emphasis but the message is clear: awareness that aseismic deforma-
is placed on integrating logistic assumptions and experimental tion can seriously cause sensitive alluvial rivers to change
reasoning versus measured active tectonics into a theoreti- their behaviour.
cal framework. This is finally applied to rivers to arrive at The good thing is that theory is illustrated with well known
interpretations on subsurface deformation. Although the title and new examples to illustrate both regional and more
(active!) could suggest that only present-day active interac- local effects on adaptation of rivers on geomorphological
tions are considered, the authors do address the influence of change of valleys, development of lakes and basins and
former tectonics on rivers, confirming that the past can also displacements of rivers. It is striking that a large number
be a key to the present and even future development of such of the citations refer to literature of some decades ago,
alluvial rivers. 18% is older than 1970, 46% of the citations fall within
According to the authors this book is intended for a the 1970–1990 period, 28% in the 1990–1995 period and
wide range of earth scientists, such as river engineers, only 8% are of younger age. This might explain why only
geomorphologists, structural engineers, sedimentologists and minor attention has been given to new techniques that are
others. Therefore, the introductory topics do not delve too currently available for challenging alluvial rivers and tectonics,
deeply into the theoretical backgrounds of both fluvial such as modelling landscape behaviour and monitoring
geomorphology and tectonic geology, but provide the reader studies using remotely sensed imagery and integration of,
with an adequate basic knowledge of tectonics and river for instance, digital elevation models in quantitative studies.
behaviour to profit fully from the examples, facts and theories Furthermore, much work has also been done in Europe,
presented. It is also not really a cooking book to be used parts of Asia and other regions of the world, but clearly the
in education, but the higher-level teacher that is willing focus was towards USA examples. Indirect effects of tectonic
to implement the well-presented examples in lectures, will influence on rivers, e.g. the triggering of landslides through
find a wealth of useful information. The book is illustrated earthquakes and the subsequent influx of sediments to the
with black and white illustrations, in hardcover and 276 river are not treated extensively in the book. These things
pages long. The contents (described below), however, clearly apart, this textbook gives a pretty complete overview of this
reached the objectives that were set in the introductory part: important aspect of complex interactions of tectonics and
and as I see it, these goals help to contribute to bridge river behaviour.
or fill a gap that (unfortunately) still exists between some The last sentence of the book ends: ‘. . . a problem often
earth scientific disciplines as geology, river hydrology and encountered is in determining which channel changes are
geomorphology. Therefore the price, when related to its the result of tectonics and which are the result of other
contents, should not be a serious obstacle to buying this factors’. I think this is a demand and an obligation to
outstanding book. other scientists from various disciplines, to contribute to
In the introduction (Chapter I) the relationship between unravelling the complex relations that exist between rivers
drainage networks and geological significance is briefly intro- and tectonics.
duced using clear block diagrams, time–response relation- A.C. SEIJMONSBERGEN
ships and by giving attention to anomalies to be expected IBED Physical Geography
in cases where tectonic deformation interferes with allu- University of Amsterdam
vial rivers and the morphological expression at the sur- Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
face. The second chapter addresses the type of deforma- 1018 WV Amsterdam
tion possible, the types of river that might be influenced The Netherlands
and the likely response of such river systems to deforma- Published online in Wiley InterScience
tion. Special attention is put on intramontane basins, lakes (www.interscience.wiley.com).
and alluvial terraces, which can especially serve as geo- DOI: 10.1002/jqs.698
morphological features that, in many cases, are reliable
indicators of subsurface movement. River pattern change,
as a response of steepening of the longitudinal gradi-
ent of a river, is a topic that is stressed throughout Late Cenozoic environments
the book.
Chapter 3 mainly deals with experimental studies (flume and hominid evolution: a
experiments) under controlled conditions, and aims at under-
standing the effect of valley slope deformation on planform tribute to Bill Bishop
characteristics of alluvial rivers. For some selected USA rivers,
real-world data are presented of measured active tectonics,
P. ANDREWS and P. BANHAM
which provide insight into the planform change of rivers as a Publisher Geological Society Publishing House, Bath 1999
reaction to known deformation. (274 pp) £69.00/US$115.00 ISBN 1-86239-036-3
Real quantitative figures can be found in Chapter 4:
measured active tectonics, that integrates data available
for a number of USA rivers, amongst others the Mis- This volume was published as the outcome of the symposium
sissippi River. The assumptions and experimental results entitled ‘Recognizing Responses to Environmental Change’,

Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Quaternary Sci., Vol. 17(8) 797–805 (2002)
802 BOOK REVIEWS

held in November 1997 at Burlington House, London, of this commemorative volume does not really reflect his
to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the death of primary research interests. However, the seven individual
W.W. (Bill) Bishop. Bill Bishop’s sudden death in 1977 papers in section three are all of interest to the broader
ended an extremely active research career, in which he Quaternary discipline, usually presenting and reviewing
had examined the Quaternary deposits and stratigraphy of recent advances in stratigraphical, sedimentological and
the English Midlands, before moving on to spend most of palaeoecological procedures within the British Quaternary.
his career investigating the stratigraphy and archaeology of A significant number of these papers update approaches to the
Miocene to Pleistocene environments in East Africa. The Quaternary stratigraphy of the English Midlands and Southwest
papers presented at the symposium and within this volume Scotland, both areas investigated by Bishop, even though
have mostly been submitted by Bishop’s own research his work is only rarely cited. The final paper, examining
collaborators before his death, or younger academics, many the Quaternary evolution of the Kalahari basin of southern
of whom have been supported by the Bill Bishop Fund of the Africa marks something of a departure from the preceding
Geological Society. papers. Although this seems a rather peculiar jump to make
Reflecting Bishop’s own contributions to different subject within the section, this final paper reinforces Bill Bishop’s own
areas, the book is structured in three parts, focusing on Early convictions that the broader palaeoenvironmental picture of
Miocene of Uganda, Middle Miocene to Pleistocene of the Africa is vital to understanding the factors driving much of
Tugen Hills, Kenya, and finally on Quaternary Environments. the archaeological evidence of hominoid/hominid evolution
The first two sections of the volume explicitly acknowledge and migration.
the contribution of Bill Bishop towards an understanding of the This book therefore will tend to appeal to two different
environments and nature of evolution of modern hominoids. groups of readers. The first two sections of the volume will
The first section, ‘Early Miocene of Uganda’, almost exclusively be of great interest to anyone researching the archaeology
deals with Bishop’s work around the Moroto caldera, from and palaeoenvironments relating to hominoid and hominid
where the first fossil finds of what was later identified as the evolution since the Early Miocene in East Africa. Furthermore,
earliest hominoid to display features found on extant primates. the close connections between individual papers in these
Posthumously named Morotopithecus bishopi, the first three sections, and the degree of sensitivity displayed in relation
papers in this volume review and expand on Bishop’s own to Bill Bishop provide an excellent commemoration of
work, demonstrating the manner by which M. bishopi was his research legacy in this subject area. The third section
identified, and more recent identification of sexual dimorphism
will appeal to a somewhat different group of readers,
within the species.
focusing on different approaches to understanding key issues
Part two, examining the ‘Middle Miocene to Pleistocene
within Quaternary science. Although these papers do not
of the Tugen Hills, Kenya’ takes a more expansive view
interconnect so well as those in the previous sections,
on Bishop’s research in this region. Seven papers examine
and some have been published elsewhere as rather similar
issues ranging from the broad stratigraphical subdivision of
reviews, this collection of disparate techniques and approaches
the Miocene to Pleistocene Tugen Hills region, towards more
communicates effectively the broad multidisciplinary nature
detailed examinations of specific sedimentary environments,
of Quaternary science. In this way, these papers form a
their palaeoecology and archaeology. This section examines
useful starting point for anyone wishing to understand recent
and discusses the significance of the Pleistocene age Kapthurin
developments in the building blocks of the British Quaternary
Formation, from which numerous hominid fossil finds have
stratigraphy.
been recorded. In this fascinating section, it is clear that
The quality of production is to a generally high standard,
Bishop’s work is still highly regarded, and has formed the
basis of significant archaeological research in the region with a good level of black and white illustration and effective
subsequent to his death. Furthermore, the various papers use of monochrome photographs throughout. A limited use
comprising this section demonstrate the necessity for a of colour in some of the sections would however have made
multidisciplinary approach to site investigation that the editors some images a little clearer, although this is only a real issue
of this volume suggest was such a feature of Bishop’s in the palaeoclimate models presented in the final paper.
own work. Between many individual papers there are often full-page
It is perhaps surprising to find that the largest section of photographs clearly showing Bill Bishop and contemporaries
this volume focuses on ‘Quaternary Environments’, mainly at work, although it is disappointing that none of these are
within a British context, considering that throughout his captioned. The volume is hard-bound in the usual format of
career, Bill Bishop published only a handful of papers on the Geological Society Publishing House, and although the
this subject. Furthermore, whereas the two earlier sections cover price of £69.00 will suggest that this is a volume mainly
each examine a well-defined research theme that mirrored to be purchased by libraries, discounts for members of various
Bill Bishop’s research, the final section seems more nebulous, academic societies brings the price into a more reasonable
and often displays somewhat tenuous connections to Bishop’s bracket for individuals.
own published work. This is not to criticise the nature and This volume will appeal to both groups mentioned above.
content of individual papers in this final section, all of which Although many of the individual contributions have probably
present useful reviews or original research from aspects of been published elsewhere, this volume provides firstly a
Quaternary science, but rather the overall structure of the comprehensive examination of the origins of selected mod-
section and the rather insubstantial reference to the earlier ern hominids, and secondly an insight into the range of
work of Bishop. A clear reflection of this may be seen that approaches essential to the development of our understand-
during the first two sections of the book, Bishop’s own ing of critical questions in Quaternary science. Although
research is cited on average 13 and three times in each there are shortcomings with such volumes, in that many
paper respectively, whereas there are only two references of the contributions will become outdated in a relatively
to published work by Bishop in the entire third section. short time, this book is a fitting testimonial to a man who
Although it is clear that Bill Bishop was an active participant in inspired much of the research published in the volume, and
the Quaternary science community throughout his career, demonstrates the progress achieved in the two decades since
it does seem somewhat peculiar that the main section his death.
Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Quaternary Sci., Vol. 17(8) 797–805 (2002)
 BOOK REVIEWS 803

SIMON J. CARR shown to have potential in understanding the kinemat-

Department of Geography ics of the glacial sedimentary record. This multidisciplinary
Oxford Brookes University approach is well exemplified in this Special Publication of
Gypsy Lane the Geological Society, which is an impressive collection of
Oxford OX3 0BP papers that reviews recent developments in deformation of
England glacial materials.
Published online in Wiley InterScience This book begins with a comprehensive review by the
(www.interscience.wiley.com). editors that explains the development of the subject and the
DOI: 10.1002/jqs.731 justification for including structural geological methods within
studies of glaciers and glacial sediments. The editors have
divided the papers into four sections; ice deformation, glacier
flow or structures, subglacial deformation and glaciotectonic
structures. Each section begins with a useful review of the
Deformation of glacial materials subtopic and is then followed by papers directed to specific
studies that develop the theme.
A. J. MALTMAN, B. HUBBARD AND Although much of the first two sections is not directly related
M. J. HAMBREY to Quaternary science, they provide background information
on glacier flow processes that determine the nature of the
Publisher Special Publication No. 176, Geological Society sedimentary record. The first section illustrates the range in
Publishing House, Bath 2000 (344 pp) £79.00/US$132.00 spatial and temporal scales that may be encountered with
ISBN 1-06329-072-X papers associated with ice sheet core data (Souchez et al.)
down to the scale of individual ice crystals (Baker et al.). The
second section on glacier flow begins with a well-written
Growing appreciation that major natural systems show and illustrated review of structural glaciology by Hambrey
complex interaction and interdependence is reflected in and Lawson that demonstrates the links between structural
the development of multidisciplinary research within the geology and glaciology. This allows an understanding of
framework of the topical ‘earth system science’ paradigm. the nature of ice flow, which is important in understanding
The central role of understanding climatic change within sediment flux through the glacial system. Papers within this
Quaternary science is a good example of such an approach section again demonstrate a range of scientific approaches,
requiring contributions from a number of distinct scientific with experimental papers (Wilson), computer modelling
disciplines. One aspect of this is the development of high- (Hubbard and Hubbard) and field-based studies (Ximensis
resolution models of ice-sheet behaviour, given that the et al.). However, the important point here is the way in which
formation of large ice masses during the Quaternary is one of a number of these papers directly link glaciology to structural
the more obvious responses to global cooling cycles (Murray, geological studies of deformed rocks, such as extensional
1997). These models require detailed understanding of ice- allochthons (Herbst and Neubauer).
sheet flow processes and how these relate to sediment flux The third section on subglacial deformation begins with a
within the glacial system. Early work by glaciologists on ice comprehensive review by Alley who assesses how progress
flow was directed primarily to small mountain glaciers that has been made within the ‘paradigm shift’ to subglacial
were observed to slide across bedrock. In contrast, glacial deformation and its importance to ice flow. Again the papers
geologists investigating the sedimentary record of the Late within this section show a variety of approaches with, for
Pleistocene ice-sheets were aware that the former beds were example, papers from Iceland (Fuller and Murray) and the
covered with a sediment layer in which there was clear environmental extremes of Antarctica (Fitzsimons), where a
evidence of structural deformation (Boulton, 1986). Under tunnel under a cold glacier was excavated with a chain saw
such conditions it became apparent that glacier behaviour to demonstrate that even these glaciers show evidence of slow
was distinctively different where ice moved across a bed of ductile deformation. Mathematical models of deformation are
unconsolidated sediment of much lower shear strength (Benn exemplified in the paper by Hindmarsh and Risdijk, and
and Evans, 1998; Hart, 1998). Only within the past 20 yr laboratory studies are reflected in the paper by Hubbard
have these approaches converged, particularly with increasing and Maltman.
information about present ice sheets and glacier depositional The last section may well have the greatest appeal to readers
processes. of JQS. Beginning with a concise review by Menzies on
This research demonstrated that in many places there glaciotectonic structures, the papers in this section introduce
was a deforming sediment layer below parts of the Antarc- a number of important ideas and examples associated with
tic ice-sheet, particularly under ice streams. At the same glacial sedimentary structures and landforms. This section also
time, increasingly detailed investigation of depositional pro- illustrates one of the major discussion points that will need to
cesses at glacier termini also showed that many glaciers be resolved by future research. Thin-section studies of glacial
were moving over a sediment layer and actively deforming sediments and structures have been approached from two
it by their passage. From these observations it was appre- directions. In many studies pedological terminology has been
ciated that the nature of the subglacial ice–rock–sediment adopted and developed within the literature (Van der Meer,
interface was complex and able to deform, with important 1993). However, approaches from structural geology clearly
implications for ice velocity and efficiency of sediment flux have an alternative terminology and this is well illustrated
(Boulton and Jones, 1979). This led to a notable ‘paradigm in the papers by Van der Wateren and Phillips and Auton.
shift’ within glaciology and to active integrative research The first of these papers gives a critical review of kinematic
with glacial geologists (Boulton, 1986). To these must be analysis and the importance of structural analysis in glacial
added technological advances and the utilisation of meth- geology. The latter paper illustrates how a standard structural
ods used on related topics. One such area is structural geological approach can be used to excellent effect to examine
geology, which although directed primarily towards hard a particular problem in regional glacial geology. Large-scale
rock structures and metamorphic processes has now been thrusts (Huuse and Lykke-Anderson), drumlin theory (Fowler)
Copyright  2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Quaternary Sci., Vol. 17(8) 797–805 (2002)