Science, Philosophy and Physical Geography

Complex weathering in drylands: Implications of ‘stress’ history for rock debris breakdown and sediment release

“…These weaknesses subsequently facilitated the operation of exploitative weathering processes despite differences in micro-environmental conditions at each site resulting in a form of convergent weathering response or equifinality whereby a link between form, process and climatic conditions cannot be demonstrated (Inkpen, 2005). • Environmental controls: although micro-environmental conditions at each of the exposure sites as identified by temperature, humidity and precipitation characteristics appeared to be different, the differences may not have been of sufficient magnitude to establish clearly discrete weathering conditions.…”

The historical legacy of spatial scales in freeze–thaw weathering: Misrepresentation and resulting misdirection

“…Such expansion immediately confronts the problem of scale-linkage in which the research problems at one scale may not pertain to other new problems (so called 'emergent variables') may appear. There have been several recent reviews of scale problems in geomorphology (e.g., Phillips, 1988;Malanson, 1999;Viles, 2001;Inkpen, 2005). We take issue with none of these reviews rather we seek to apply portions of them directly to the current understanding of freeze-thaw weathering.…”

Wet Ontologies, Fluid Spaces: Giving Depth to Volume through Oceanic Thinking

“…Geo/Earth is understood As an alternative we see greater potential in engaging geophysics not through the linear and lateral narrative of geology but through the complexity-based understandings of chaos-theory-inspired geoscientists, including physical geographers (e.g. Inkpen & Wilson, 2004;Phillips, 2001;Stallins, 2012). This leads us to an 'assemblage' approach that presupposes a world of immanence and becoming (see DeLanda, 2006;Deleuze & Guattari, 2004).…”