This book examines the landforms, soils, and geomorphological processes of deserts, which cover over 20% of Earth's land surface. Despite their vastness and the significant body of literature on the topic, deserts remain underrepresented in comprehensive geomorphological surveys, with notable exceptions like Walther's Das Gesetz der Wiistenbildung (1924), Cotton's Climatic Accidents in Landscape Making (1942), and Tricart and Cailleux's Le Modelé des Régions Sèches (1961). Our study builds on these works, incorporating our field experiences in deserts across North America, South America, North Africa, and Pakistan, while primarily drawing on English-language research and emphasizing contemporary geomorphological systems at different scales. By focusing on present processes shaping landforms and soils, we have given less attention to regional chronologies of landform development, a consequence of our selective approach. The field of desert geomorphology still grapples with speculative theories, such as parallel slope retreat and pervasive wind erosion, which often overshadow empirical evidence. We aim to provide grounded generalizations, clarify contested ideas, and pose meaningful questions to establish a baseline for future research, hoping to contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic processes shaping desert landscapes.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1973.