For anyone interested in Mars geology, I highly recommend Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" sci-fi trilogy. It has an astounding amount of detail that is largely realistic.
Robinson’s use of “escarpment” rivals Ian M. Banks’ of “whorls”.
Jesting aside, it’s a beautiful series. The landscape descriptions sometimes get tedious. But you find yourself missing the old land as the series progresses, an effect woven brilliantly.
How did Banks use "whorls"? I don't remember. I remember him using "escarpment" often, e.g. in The Bridge I think, and also in the "escarpment class" (in the culture novels).
Every atmosphere was whorly. The clouds on Vavatch—that’s when I looked it up. The air whale planet is the last one I remember reading it in respect of.
Jesting aside, it’s a beautiful series. The landscape descriptions sometimes get tedious. But you find yourself missing the old land as the series progresses, an effect woven brilliantly.