American Geographical Society

The Quaternary Ice AgeDas Eiszeitalter: Grundlinien einer Geologie des Diluviums by Paul WoldstedtReview by: Ernst AntevsGeographical Review, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct., 1930), p. 707Published by: American Geographical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/209039 .

Accessed: 08/05/2014 20:22

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

.

American Geographical Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access toGeographical Review.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Thu, 8 May 2014 20:22:19 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS

THE QUATERNARY ICE AGE

PAUL WOLDSTEDT. Das Eiszeitalter: Grundlinien einer Geologie des Diluviums. xv and 406 pp.; maps, diagrs., ills., bibliogr., index. Ferdinand Enke, Stuttgart, 1929. 634 x 94 inches.

This work, dedicated to Felix Wahnschaffe, Albrecht Penck, and Frank Leverett, is a survey of the present knowledge of the Quaternary Ice Age on the entire earth and, as such, fills a big gap in glaciological literature. James Geikie's "The Great Ice Age" (I874, 1877, and 1894) is long since entirely out of date. W. B. Wright's inspiring book, "The Quaternary Ice Age," was published in I914.

After an introductory treatment of modern glaciers and ice sheets, Woldstedt's book continues with six chapters which examine in detail the problems of erosion of the Pleistocene ice sheets and of their deposits, formations immediately outside the glaciated areas, interglacial and interstadial deposits, and of flora and fauna during the Ice Age. Then follows a regional treatment; and, finally, man during the Ice Age, changes of level, climate and causes of ice ages are introduced for discussion. The problems are viewed from many angles and are based on a wealth of information. While emphasis, naturally, is laid on the author's own land, Germany, he has taken commendable pains to familiarize himself with the entire world literature of the subject; and he has a personal acquaintance with the three most important areas of Pleistocene glaciation-northern Europe, the Alps, and North America. Discus- sions and conclusions are characterized by wide knowledge and good judgment, but the author's tolerance is perhaps occasionally too broad. For instance, some of the "ideas" and "theories" on the cause of ice ages had better have been omitted or treated according to their questionable merits.

"Das Eiszeitalter" is the present standard work on the subject. The reliable and useful qualities mentioned are supplemented by an excellent set of pictures, maps, profiles, graphs, and tables, a long bibliography, an index, and a beautiful appearance.

ERNST ANTEVS

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

H. A. MARMER. The Sea. x and 312 pp.; maps, diagrs., ills.. index. D. Appleton & Co., New York and London, 1930 $3.00. 8 x 534 inches.

The increasing importance of the oceans does not depend only on their use as highways for commerce and travel and as important sources of food. There is increasing evidence of their fundamental influence on the climate and weather of the earth as a whole. Moreover, the various oceanic and atmospheric motions and other processes proceed in accordance with definite physical principles, toward the comprehension of which we are making encouraging progress. However, the general reader knows relatively little about the sea, and there is need of appropriate non- technical writings. "The Sea" by Marmer is a most welcome contribution to this field. This book, the product of years of careful work based on a lifetime's study and research by the author, brings the science of oceanography within reach of the general reader.

The bewildering diversity of topics falling under the comprehensive title compels elimination and selection. The author has wisely focused attention upon the water itself, thus gaining unity of treatment of a basic part of the whole subject. Only passing mention is mnade of such topics as the geology of the ocean basins, the bottom deposits, sedimentation, coast erosion and deposition, and marine life. Even with this limitation the book tends to be encyclopedic in character though the author's skill in cobrdinating the various phenomena and explaining the underlying theories keeps it from being a mere catalogue of facts. Interest is also maintained throughout by showing the bearing of the various topics on human affairs. The progress of

THE QUATERNARY ICE AGE

PAUL WOLDSTEDT. Das Eiszeitalter: Grundlinien einer Geologie des Diluviums. xv and 406 pp.; maps, diagrs., ills., bibliogr., index. Ferdinand Enke, Stuttgart, 1929. 634 x 94 inches.

This work, dedicated to Felix Wahnschaffe, Albrecht Penck, and Frank Leverett, is a survey of the present knowledge of the Quaternary Ice Age on the entire earth and, as such, fills a big gap in glaciological literature. James Geikie's "The Great Ice Age" (I874, 1877, and 1894) is long since entirely out of date. W. B. Wright's inspiring book, "The Quaternary Ice Age," was published in I914.

After an introductory treatment of modern glaciers and ice sheets, Woldstedt's book continues with six chapters which examine in detail the problems of erosion of the Pleistocene ice sheets and of their deposits, formations immediately outside the glaciated areas, interglacial and interstadial deposits, and of flora and fauna during the Ice Age. Then follows a regional treatment; and, finally, man during the Ice Age, changes of level, climate and causes of ice ages are introduced for discussion. The problems are viewed from many angles and are based on a wealth of information. While emphasis, naturally, is laid on the author's own land, Germany, he has taken commendable pains to familiarize himself with the entire world literature of the subject; and he has a personal acquaintance with the three most important areas of Pleistocene glaciation-northern Europe, the Alps, and North America. Discus- sions and conclusions are characterized by wide knowledge and good judgment, but the author's tolerance is perhaps occasionally too broad. For instance, some of the "ideas" and "theories" on the cause of ice ages had better have been omitted or treated according to their questionable merits.

"Das Eiszeitalter" is the present standard work on the subject. The reliable and useful qualities mentioned are supplemented by an excellent set of pictures, maps, profiles, graphs, and tables, a long bibliography, an index, and a beautiful appearance.

ERNST ANTEVS

PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

H. A. MARMER. The Sea. x and 312 pp.; maps, diagrs., ills.. index. D. Appleton & Co., New York and London, 1930 $3.00. 8 x 534 inches.

The increasing importance of the oceans does not depend only on their use as highways for commerce and travel and as important sources of food. There is increasing evidence of their fundamental influence on the climate and weather of the earth as a whole. Moreover, the various oceanic and atmospheric motions and other processes proceed in accordance with definite physical principles, toward the comprehension of which we are making encouraging progress. However, the general reader knows relatively little about the sea, and there is need of appropriate non- technical writings. "The Sea" by Marmer is a most welcome contribution to this field. This book, the product of years of careful work based on a lifetime's study and research by the author, brings the science of oceanography within reach of the general reader.

The bewildering diversity of topics falling under the comprehensive title compels elimination and selection. The author has wisely focused attention upon the water itself, thus gaining unity of treatment of a basic part of the whole subject. Only passing mention is mnade of such topics as the geology of the ocean basins, the bottom deposits, sedimentation, coast erosion and deposition, and marine life. Even with this limitation the book tends to be encyclopedic in character though the author's skill in cobrdinating the various phenomena and explaining the underlying theories keeps it from being a mere catalogue of facts. Interest is also maintained throughout by showing the bearing of the various topics on human affairs. The progress of

707 707

This content downloaded from 169.229.32.137 on Thu, 8 May 2014 20:22:19 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions