This is a complete work on the effects of cold upon the Earth’s surface. It is divided into three sections; the first deals with the areas of glaciation (former glaciers), glacierization (existing glaciers) and permanent snow cover throughout the world. It touches on the cold periods in geological history, although concentrating more upon those prevailing in the Quaternary.

The second section describes the effects of frost action, periglacial features, and erosion by air and by water. The term “permafrost” is not used, although the conditions are described in other language.

The third section is the longest. It is devoted to snow, ice and glaciers, beginning with snow and its transformation into ice. The author proceeds with consequences of snow and ice action, plain erosion and avalanche action. Cirque formation and classification are dealt with in a very interesting way. As one would expect from their importance, much space is devoted to the effects of erosion by glaciers and ice caps, to the morphology of the glacier margin, and of the land over which the glacial waters flow.

As the author points out, the importance of an account of the conditions in the cold regions of the Earth in comparatively recent times, naturally explains much of its present geomorphology, not only for scientific reasons but also for its economic applications.

There is a minor criticism which must be made—the lack of an index—but this is to some extent compensated for by a more than usually detailed list of contents.