Megaflooding on Earth and Mars

Megaflooding is the sudden discharge of exceptional volumes of water. Megafloods have significantly altered the terrain of Earth and Mars, and may have acted as triggers for climate change on these planets. Recently, research into megaflooding has made important advances: on Earth, real-time measurements of contemporary floods in Iceland complement research into older and larger terrestrial floods, while on Mars terabytes of data from several spacecraft orbiting that planet are dramatically revising our view of flooding there. Beginning with a historical overview of flood science, the book presents sections on morphology and mechanisms, flood sedimentology, and modeling, each illustrated with examples from Earth and Mars. By juxtaposing terrestrial and Martian research, this volume creates a unique synthesis to further our understanding of these enormous paleoflood events. It is an invaluable reference for researchers and students of hydrology, geomorphology, sedimentology and planetary science, as well as environmental and hydraulic engineers.

Megaflooding is the sudden discharge of exceptional volumes of water. Megafloods have significantly altered the terrain of Earth and Mars, and may have acted as triggers for climate change on these planets. Recently, research into megaflooding has made important advances: on Earth, real-time measurements of contemporary floods in Iceland complement research into older and larger terrestrial floods, while on Mars terabytes of data from several spacecraft orbiting that planet are dramatically revising our view of flooding there. Beginning with a historical overview of flood science, the book presents sections on morphology and mechanisms, flood sedimentology, and modeling, each illustrated with examples from Earth and Mars. By juxtaposing terrestrial and Martian research, this volume creates a unique synthesis to further our understanding of these enormous paleoflood events. It is an invaluable reference for researchers and students of hydrology, geomorphology, sedimentology and planetary science, as well as environmental and hydraulic engineers.

Devon M. Burr received her education at the United States Naval Academy, St John's College, and the University of Arizona, where she was a Fulbright Fellow. After her PhD in 2003, she worked as the Eugene M. Shoemaker Fellow at the United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Branch before moving to the Carl Sagan Center for the Study of Life in the Universe. She is currently a Professor in the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she specializes in planetary geomorphology and fluid sediment transport.

Paul A. Carling obtained his first degree in Geography from the University of Leicester and a PhD from the University of Wales (Swansea) for research into intertidal sedimentation. He worked for what is now known as the UK Centre for Hydrology and Ecology from 1977 to 1994, before taking up a Professorship in Geography at the University of Lancaster. He took up the post of Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Southampton in 2000, and is currently chief editor of the journal Sedimentology.

Victor R. Baker holds degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Colorado. He was a faculty member at the University of Texas, before joining the University of Arizona where he is presently Regents Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources, Geosciences, and Planetary Sciences. He is author/editor of 14 other books on flooding and geomorphology, and currently serves on editorial boards for the journals Geomorphology and Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie.