Abiotic Selection in Earth Surface Systems

This book is about abiotic selection in Earth surface systems. It demonstrates that seemingly purposeful or goal-oriented phenomena in Earth's processes actually emerge from selection dynamics. While many think of selection in the context of biological evolution, it extends to abiotic processes crucial in understanding Earth's function and evolution. The author delineates four forms of geophysical selection: gradient, resistance, network, and thermodynamic. These selections manifest in various natural systems, from fluid flows shaping landscapes to the efficient transport of mass and energy. The book acknowledges the interplay of geophysical and ecological processes, employing them as pedagogical tools. Structured with an introduction to abiotic selection and its context, the book delves into the application of key principles—such as thermodynamics and flow dynamics—to Earth surface systems. Each subsequent chapter examines one of the four types of selection, featuring diverse real-world examples from climate dynamics to oceanography.

Geared toward researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in fields such as geophysics, geology, geography, hydrology, and ecosystem sciences, it also appeals to those interested in evolutionary thinking beyond traditional life sciences.

Introduction Abiotic Selection in Earth Surface Systems ESS.- Key Principles Review and Overview.- Forms of selection in geophysics.- Gradient selection.- Resistance selection.- Thermodynamic selection.- Geophysical selection & landscape evolution.- Goals & emergence.- An integrated approach to geophysics in Earth Surface Systems.- Implications & applications of geophysical selection.

Jonathan Phillips is professor emeritus of Earth Surface Systems at the University of Kentucky, and previously held faculty positions at East Carolina and Texas A&M Universities. His main research interests involve Earth surface processes; the interactions among and coevolution of landforms, soil, hydrological systems, and ecosystems; scale issues in geosciences; and spatial structure of landscapes. He has been especially active in exploring nonlinear dynamics and complexity in Earth Surface systems.

Phillips is the author of Mysterious Ways: Contingency, Emergence, and Selection in Nature (Oxford University Press, 2025); Landscape Evolution: Landforms, Ecosystems, and Soils (Elsevier, 2021) and Earth Surface Systems: Complexity, Order, and Scale (Blackwell, 1999). He has also published more than 200 articles in refereed journals of geomorphology, hydrology, soil science, geology, geography, ecology, environmental science, and geophysics.

He currently splits his time between New Bern, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Lexington, KY. Thoughretired from his university faculty job, he continues to be active in research, writing, and consulting. He conducts much of his fieldwork from a kayak, and derives much enjoyment from his grandchildren.