Since 1973 the author undertook 42 expeditions in Tibet, the Himalayas, Karakorum, Kuen Lun, Tien Shan, Sayan Mountains, the Altai and other parts of High and Central Asia which contributed to a detailed knowledge about extension and thickness of the High Asian inland-ice. Geomorphological and Quaternary-geological (sedimentological) results as well as climate measurement of a cumulative 6 years of field research in High Asia are presented. The data gained is for the Last Glacial period (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 32). Geometric boundary conditions resulting from low latitude caused a substantial albedo-induced impact on the energy budget of the earth during glacial times. The vast extension of the ice-sheets and the high elevation (6000m asl) contributed to this. A substantial albedo-induced cooling of the atmosphere is inferred. From these findings the author has deduced his ice age development theory. This book summarizes and details the results of 39 years of ice age research.

This book summarizes four decades of glacial-geomorphological field research in Central and High Asia in an attempt to draw a significant link between Quaternary science research and paleoclimatology. Based on the latest geomorphological findings, this study offers a large-scale reconstruction of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) that in High Asia encompassed a total expanse of no less than three million km2, including the Central Tibetan plateau with 2.4 million km2. The author offers a complete reconstruction of the Late Glacial, Holocene, and Historical glacier advances as well as the successive Postglacial ablation stages extending to the present. Taken together, the findings presented here provide the first insights into a global-climatic impact of the Last Glacial Maximum in Central and High Asia with respect to the current interglacial stage. The comparative data analyses point to an inland glaciation at subtropical latitude covering an area larger than the Nordic inland glaciation in Greenland. These insights are facilitated by a methodological approach, unprecedented in modern Quaternary research, that combines high-quality panoramic photography with high-resolution satellite imagery. This combination of terrestrial and aerial perspectives enables scientists and readers alike to visualize the geomorphology of the landscape as a three-dimensional space. The author’s successful union of digital big data resources with classical geomorphological analysis offers an exciting new template for future research in Quaternary science and related fields.

In the eye-opening exploration, How to Curb Climate Change?, readers embark on a remarkable voyage through time to uncover the astonishing transformation of the Sahara and the Middle East, evolving from fertile landscapes into unforgiving deserts within a mere seven centuries. This captivating book takes readers on an enlightening journey, revealing the pivotal role played by Neolithic societies in shaping the global climate. With the emergence of large-scale agriculture and animal husbandry, ancient civilizations flourished, seemingly unaware of the ecological consequences of their actions. As suspicions arise regarding the rapid desertification, this thought-provoking narrative investigates the interplay between exponential population growth, abusive land use, and the alarming shift towards aridity. The initial chapters transport readers to the heart of the Neolithic era, where they bear witness to the profound influence these early inhabitants wielded over the world’s climate systems. By skilfully manipulating vegetation, they triggered permanent changes in the intensity and trajectory of prevailing moist winds, ultimately fuelling the expansion of deserts in the Northern Hemisphere. Building upon this revelatory premise, the subsequent sections of the book unveil a compelling proposal grounded in a deep understanding of Earth’s climatic mechanisms. As the spectre of global warming looms ominously, the author outlines a visionary approach to harness the power of these ongoing climate changes for the betterment of our planet. This revolutionary method revolves around directing and redirecting the flow of humid winds, ingeniously channelling them deep into the heartlands of continents. The result? A remarkable renaissance, where the deserts of the Northern Hemisphere are revitalized and transformed into lush, green landscapes once more. Challenging conventional wisdom, How to Curb Climate Change provides a wide-ranging revaluation of our relationship with the environment and acknowledging the profound impact we have on Earth’s delicate equilibrium. This remarkable book serves as an urgent call to action, reminding us of the transformative potential humanity possesses in curbing climate change and forging a sustainable future. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and equipped with the knowledge needed to embark on this critical journey towards global environmental restoration.

This image atlas and reference book is written in simple language that can be understood by a broad audience. The work comprehensively explains the geomorphological forms of high mountains using many examples like glacial erosion forms and deposits such as moraines and gravel terraces, which are illustrated with numerous photographs. Landslide landscapes, volcanoes, weathering, and erosion are other examples discussed. These examples are from across the world, including the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, and the Southern Alps of New Zealand. This work is useful for laymen who are interested in geosciences, especially high-mountain landforms, as well as for students and teachers of earth sciences.

The mountains of the Mediterranean world are now largely ice free, but many were repeatedly glaciated during the Quaternary ice age. This created spectacular glaciated landscapes with a rich array of glacial deposits and landforms. The glacial and glacio-fluvial records are often very well preserved and our understanding of the timing of Quaternary glaciation has very recently been transformed through the application of dating methods utilizing uranium-series and cosmogenic isotopes. Glacial records from the Mediterranean now boast some of the most robust chronologies for mountain glaciation anywhere in the world – they represent a unique archive of Quaternary environmental change of global significance. The southerly latitude and relatively small size of Mediterranean glaciers rendered them especially sensitive to Pleistocene and Holocene climate changes. This volume brings together the leading researchers and the latest research on Mediterranean glaciation. Several papers also explore glacier behaviour in the Holocene – including those glaciers of southernmost Europe at risk of disappearing this century.

Improved dating methods have increased our ability to more precisely determine the timing and durations of glaciations. Utilizing glacial and loess deposits, we have compared glaciations that occurred in North and South America in order to determine if events are synchronous or not, to explore forcing mechanisms, and to compare glaciations with cold periods of the Marine Oxygen Isotope stages and the loess/paleosol records of China. Stratigraphic sections containing a variety of glacial deposits, some with interbedded volcanics, as well as loess deposits, were used in reconstructing the glacial history. The Late Pleistocene (Brunhes Chron) Last Glacial Maximum is recognized in mountain and continental areas of North America but only in the mountains of South America. Commonly our comparisons indicate roughly synchronous glaciations on the two continents, whereas other glaciations are more elusive and difficult to compare. Although our comparisons are at low resolutions, the results suggest that Milankovitch forcing is most likely the dominant trigger for hemispheric glaciation modified by local factors.