Bootstrap Geologist : My Life in ScienceIn Bootstrap Geologist Shinn enthusiastically shares the highs and lows of his remarkable life. Taking readers around the globe as well as below the ocean, he recounts the painstaking process of data gathering that can lead to paradigm-breaking discoveries. He emphasizes the importance of field science and pointedly addresses the use and abuse of scientific research and the emergence of market-funded research.
GeologyProject Earth Science: Geology, Revised 2nd Edition, involves students in activities that focus on how plate tectonics explain characteristics and features of Earth. Fifteen hands-on, teacher-tested, classroom activities that use readily available materials provide straightforward and up-to-date explanations of geologic processes and cycles. Students model plate movement and seafloor spreading, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and formation of geologic structures. They learn what causes earthquakes, mountain building, and continent-plus-plate movement. Background materials for students and teachers, detailed and illustrated procedures for doing activities, and supplemental resources provide you and your class with tools to investigate and understand Earth's major geologic phenomena.
Understanding the Changing Planet : Strategic Directions for the Geographical SciencesFrom the oceans to continental heartlands, human activities have altered the physical characteristics of Earth's surface. With Earth's population projected to peak at 8 to 12 billion people by 2050 and the additional stress of climate change, it is more important than ever to understand how and where these changes are happening. Innovation in the geographical sciences has the potential to advance knowledge of place-based environmental change, sustainability, and the impacts of a rapidly changing economy and society. Understanding the Changing Planet outlines eleven strategic directions to focus research and leverage new technologies to harness the potential that the geographical sciences offer.
Economic Geology
Alternative Economic SpacesAlternative Economic Spaces is a reconsideration of what is meant by the `economic'in economic geography; its objective is to bring together some of the ways in which this is being undertaken. The volume shows how the `economic'is being rethought in economic geography by detailing new economic geographies as they are emerging in practice.
An Introduction to Geographical Economics : Trade, Location and GrowthThis book is an integrated, non-mathematical, first-principles textbook presenting geographical economics to advanced students. Never avoiding advanced concepts, its emphasis is on examples, diagrams, and empirical evidence, making it the ideal starting point prior to monographic and journal material. Contains copious computer simulation exercises, available in book and electronic format to encourage learning and understanding through application. Uses case study material from North America, Europe, Africa and Australasia.
Development GeographyDevelopment Geography is an informative and vibrant introductory level text, with a wealth of contrasting case-studies and illustrations. Written to stimulate critical thought and discussion about development, it does not assume any clear-cut distinction between 'developed' and 'developing' parts of the world. Case-studies highlight the problems and possible solutions at local, national and international scales.
Economic Geographies : Circuits, Flows and SpacesEconomic Geographies integrates ideas of structure, agency, and practice to provide: ·a detailed overview of recent key debates in economic geography: from political-economy and Marxism to post-structuralism ·an explanation of the of relations between production, retail and consumption, governance and regulation ·a discussion of the economy in terms of circuits, flows, and spaces that systematically relates the material to the cultural Economic Geographies is a systematic audit of related developments in economic geography and the social sciences: these include consumption; economy and nature; and culture. The text will be required reading for upper-level undergraduates on courses in economic geography.
Economic Geography and Public PolicyResearch on the spatial aspects of economic activity has flourished over the past decade due to the emergence of new theory, new data, and an intense interest on the part of policymakers, especially in Europe but increasingly in North America and elsewhere as well. However, these efforts--collectively known as the'new economic geography'--have devoted little attention to the policy implications of the new theory. Economic Geography and Public Policy fills the gap by illustrating many new policy insights economic geography models can offer to the realm of theoretical policy analysis. Focusing primarily on trade policy, tax policy, and regional policy, Richard Baldwin and coauthors show how these models can be used to make sense of real-world situations
Entrepreneurship and Global Competitiveness in Regional Economies : Determinants and Policy ImplicationsThis volume, comprised of authors from the U.S., Canada, Africa, and Europe, centers on the development, transformation, and role of geographic /regional economies-- specifically in the globalized, post-2009 era. The authors address topics that every region must consider in responding to idea age, globally competitive, regionally driven economies. The volume builds on a large body of scholarship specific to regional economic development and geography by providing a much needed post-2009 perspective on regional economic environments and activities.
Hubbert's Peak : The Impending World Oil ShortageIn 2001, Kenneth Deffeyes made a grim prediction: world oil production would reach a peak within the next decade--and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. Deffeyes's claim echoed the work of geophysicist M. King Hubbert, who in 1956 predicted that U.S. oil production would reach its highest level in the early 1970s. Though roundly criticized by oil experts and economists, Hubbert's prediction came true in 1970. In this updated edition of Hubbert's Peak, Deffeyes explains the crisis that few now deny we are headed toward. Using geology and economics, he shows how everything from the rising price of groceries to the subprime mortgage crisis has been exacerbated by the shrinking supply--and growing price--of oil.
Remaking the Global Economy : Economic-Geographical PerspectivesWith contributions from leading figures in the globalization debate, the book explores the latest thinking and research, as well as the enduring controversies, across a range of interrelated issues, including: - firm strategies and business knowledge - interactions between firms and nation states - production and innovation systems - transnationalism and labour markets - state restructuring. Each of the specially commissioned chapters presents interdisciplinary insights into the complex processes of economic globalization and their impact on the organization of firms, markets, industries, regions, and institutions. An integrated and comprehensive account, this is a résumé of the latest work in the literature on globalization that will provide a detailed map of the geography of the global economy.
Spaces of Work : Global Capitalism and Geographies of LabourSpaces of Work is an accessible examination of the role of labour in the modern world. The authors critically assess the present condition and future prospects for workers through the geographies of place, space and scale, and in conjunction with other more commonly studied components of the globalisation such as production, trade and finance. Each chapter presents examples of labour practice from around the world, and across multiple sectors of work, not just Western manufacturing. In addition, the book features: · further reading section with key questions · glossary of key terms
Return of Cosmopolitan Capital, The : Globalization, the State and WarHarris seeks to understand the vital relationship between our emerging world economy and our emerging political institutions. In part, here is a history of the play-off between capital, the individual and the State in the modern age, but it is also, and more importantly, a detailed analysis of the factors that dictate the current trend towards globalization, as well as the directions and effects that this process will have on our world. Harris argues that the notion of national capital, so important in the mid and later 20th Century, is becoming redundant as cities and their citizens, increasingly unaffected by borders and national boundaries, take centre stage in the economic world.
The Spatial Economy : Cities, Regions, and International TradeSince 1990 there has been a renaissance of theoretical and empirical work on the spatial aspects of the economy -- that is, where economic activity occurs and why. Using new tools -- in particular, modeling techniques developed to analyze industrial organization, international trade, and economic growth -- this'new economic geography'has emerged as one of the most exciting areas of contemporary economics.The authors show how seemingly disparate models reflect a few basic themes, and in so doing they develop a common'grammar'for discussing a variety of issues. They show how a common approach that emphasizes the three-way interaction among increasing returns, transportation costs, and the movement of productive factors can be applied to a wide range of issues in urban, regional, and international economics. This book is the first to provide a sound and unified explanation of the existence of large economic agglomerations at various spatial scales.
Engineering Geology
Coastal And Ocean Engineering PracticeSuccessful coastal and ocean engineering projects rely on practical experience with technical tools and knowledge available to the engineer. Often, problems arise from projects that are too complex for theoretical description, which require that engineers exercise sound judgment in addition to reliance on past practical experience.This book focuses on the latest technology applied in design and construction, effective engineering methodology, unique projects and problems, design and construction challenges, and other lessons learned. In addition, unique practices in planning, design, construction, maintenance, and performance of coastal and ocean projects will be explored.
Engineering GeologyEngineering Geology introduces the fundamentals of the discipline and ensures that engineers have a clear understanding of the processes at work, and how they will impact on what is to be built. Core areas such as stratigraphy, rock types, structures and geological processes are explained, and put in context. The basics of soil mechanics and the links between groundwater conditions and underlying geology are introduced. As well as the theoretical knowledge necessary, Professor Bell introduces the techniques that engineers will need to learn about and understand the geological conditions in which they intend to build.
Nature’s Clocks : How Scientists Measure the Age of Almost EverythingBy examining radiocarbon (C-14) dating—the best known of these methods—and several other techniques that geologists use to decode the distant past, Macdougall unwraps the last century's advances, explaining how they reveal the age of our fossil ancestors such as'Lucy,'the timing of the dinosaurs'extinction, and the precise ages of tiny mineral grains that date from the beginning of the earth's history. In lively and accessible prose, he describes how the science of geochronology has developed and flourished. Relating these advances through the stories of the scientists themselves—James Hutton, William Smith, Arthur Holmes, Ernest Rutherford, Willard Libby, and Clair Patterson—Macdougall shows how they used ingenuity and inspiration to construct one of modern science's most significant accomplishments: a timescale for the earth's evolution and human prehistory.
Landscapes on the Edge : New Horizons for Research on Earth's SurfaceDespite rapidly growing scientific knowledge of Earth surface interactions, and the increasing availability of new monitoring technologies, there is still little understanding of how these processes generate and degrade landscapes. Landscapes on the Edge identifies nine grand challenges in this emerging field of study and proposes four high-priority research initiatives. The book poses questions about how our planet's past can tell us about its future, how landscapes record climate and tectonics, and how Earth surface science can contribute to developing a sustainable living surface for future generations.
Lord Kelvin and the Age of the EarthBurchfield charts the enormous impact made by Lord Kelvin's application of thermodynamic laws to the question of the earth's age and the heated debate his ideas sparked among British Victorian physicists, astronomers, geologists, and biologists.'Anyone interested in geologic time, and that should include all geologists and a fair smattering of biologists, physicists and chemists, should make Burchfield's commendable and time-tested volume part of their personal library'Brent Darymple, Quartely Review of Biology
Understanding Earth's Deep Past: : Lessons for Our Climate FutureIn Understanding Earth's Deep Past, the National Research Council reports that rocks and sediments that are millions of years old hold clues to how the Earth's future climate would respond in an environment with high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Understanding Earth's Deep Past provides an assessment of both the demonstrated and underdeveloped potential of the deep-time geologic record to inform us about the dynamics of the global climate system. The report describes past climate changes, and discusses potential impacts of high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases on regional climates, water resources, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the cycling of life-sustaining elements. While revealing gaps in scientific knowledge of past climate states, the report highlights a range of high priority research issues with potential for major advances in the scientific understanding of climate processes.
Geomorphology
Geomorphology : Processes, Taxonomy and ApplicationsGeomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them. Geomorphology is practiced within geology, engineering geology, geodesy, geography, archaeology, and geotechnical engineering. Practical applications of geomorphology include measuring the effects of climate change, hazard assessments including landslide prediction and mitigation, river control and restoration, coastal protection, and assessing the presence of water on Mars.
Geomorphology and Plate TectonicsGeomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them whereas plate tectonics specifically describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere. This new book presents theory, methodology and applications, as well as studies of specific geographic regions. A model to evaluate the effect of groundwater fluctuations on the development of gullies and hence, on landscape evolution is analyzed.
Mountain Geography : Physical and Human DimensionsThis major revision of Larry Price's book Mountains and Man (1981) is both timely and highly appropriate. Mountain Geography is a comprehensive resource that gives readers an in-depth understanding of the geographical processes occurring in the world's mountains and the overall impact of these regions on culture and society as a whole. The volume begins with an introduction to how mountains are defined, followed by a comprehensive treatment of their physical geography: origins, climatology, snow and ice, landforms and geomorphic processes, soils, vegetation, and wildlife.
Overview
Historical Geology
Hydrogeology
Petrology
Planetary Geology
Plate Tectonics
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Seismology
Soil Science
Structural Geology
Volcanology
Historical Geology
First Peoples in a New World : Colonizing Ice Age AmericaMore than 12,000 years ago, in one of the greatest triumphs of prehistory, humans colonized North America, a continent that was then truly a new world. Just when and how they did so has been one of the most perplexing and controversial questions in archaeology. This dazzling, cutting-edge synthesis, written for a wide audience by an archaeologist who has long been at the center of these debates, tells the scientific story of the first Americans: where they came from, when they arrived, and how they met the challenges of moving across the vast, unknown landscapes of Ice Age North America
For the Rock Record : Geologists on Intelligent DesignAccording to the idea of intelligent design, nature's complexity is the result of deliberate planning by a supernatural creative force. To date, most scientific arguments against this form of creationism have been made by evolutionary biologists. In this volume, a team of earth scientists reveals that the flaws of intelligent design are not limited to the biological sciences. Indeed, the geological sciences offer some of the best refutations of intelligent design arguements. For the Rock Record is dedicated to the proposition that the idea of intelligent design should be of serious concern to everyone.
Four Revolutions in the Earth Sciences : From Heresy to TruthOver the course of the twentieth century, scientists came to accept four counterintuitive yet fundamental facts about the Earth: deep time, continental drift, meteorite impact, and global warming. When first suggested, each proposition violated scientific orthodoxy and was quickly denounced as scientific—and sometimes religious—heresy. Nevertheless, after decades of rejection, scientists and many in the public grew to acknowledge the truth of each theory. This absorbing scientific history is the only book to describe the evolution of these four ideas from heresy to truth, showing how science works in practice and how it inevitably corrects the mistakes of its practitioners. Scientists can be wrong, but science can be trusted. In the process, astonishing ideas are born and, over time, take root.
Frozen Earth : The Once and Future Story of Ice AgesIn this engrossing and accessible book, Doug Macdougall explores the causes and effects of ice ages that have gripped our planet throughout its history, from the earliest known glaciation—nearly three billion years ago—to the present. Following the development of scientific ideas about these dramatic events, Macdougall traces the lives of many of the brilliant and intriguing characters who have contributed to the evolving understanding of how ice ages come about. As it explains how the great Pleistocene Ice Age has shaped the earth's landscape and influenced the course of human evolution.
Maps of Time : An Introduction to Big HistoryAn introduction to a new way of looking at history, from a perspective that stretches from the beginning of time to the present day, Maps of Time is world history on an unprecedented scale. Beginning with the Big Bang, David Christian views the interaction of the natural world with the more recent arrivals in flora and fauna, including human beings. Cosmology, geology, archeology, and population and environmental studies—all figure in David Christian's account, which is an ambitious overview of the emerging field of'Big History
New Views on an Old PlanetIn this 1994 revised edition of his award-winning book on the Earth's history, Professor van Andel updates and expands his earlier text, drawing on a wealth of new knowledge that has become available in the last decade. This book examines the major changes in the Earth's history - the evolution of the solid Earth, the changing oceans and atmospheres and the progression of life - to render a historical account of the Earth's evolution.
The Earth After Us : What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks?What would alien visitors in the far future, piecing together the history of earth, find of our brief reign? What clues will we leave? What fossils? Just as we have gained knowledge of the past, of ancient climates and the activities of creatures long dead, so too might they decode the rocks. The Earth After Us takes a novel approach to show how geologists unravel the information in the rocks. As the alien scientists start investigating the strata, what story will they tell of us? What kind of fossils will humans leave behind? What will happen to cities, cars, and plastic cups? How thick
The Emerald Planet : How Plants Changed Earth's HistoryPlants have profoundly moulded the Earth's climate and the evolutionary trajectory of life. Far from being'silent witnesses to the passage of time', plants are dynamic components of our world, shaping the environment throughout history as much as that environment has shaped them. In The Emerald Planet, David Beerling puts plants centre stage, revealing the crucial role they have played in driving global changes in the environment, in recording hidden facets of Earth's history, and in helping us to predict its future
The Future of Post-human Geology : A Preface to a New Theory of Statics and Dynamics'This book offers an alternative (better) way to understand the future of geology, especially in the context of statics and dynamics-while learning from different approaches in the literature but without favoring any one of them (nor integrating them, since they are not necessarily compatible with each other).'
The Man Who Found Time : James Hutton and the Discovery of the Earth's AntiquityThere are three men whose life's work helped free science from the strait-jacket of religion. Two of the three—Nicolaus Copernicus and Charles Darwin—are widely heralded for their breakthroughs. The third, James Hutton, is comparatively unknown, yet
The Planet in a Pebble : A Journey Into Earth's Deep HistoryThis is the story of a single pebble. It is just a normal pebble, as you might pick up on holiday - on a beach in Wales, say. Its history, though, carries us into abyssal depths of time, and across the farthest reaches of space. This is a narrative of the Earth's long and dramatic history, as gleaned from a single pebble. It begins as the pebble-particles form amid unimaginable violence in distal realms of the Universe, in the Big Bang and in supernova explosions and continues amid the construction of the Solar System. Jan Zalasiewicz shows the almost incredible complexity present in such a small and apparently mundane object.
When the Invasion of Land Failed : The Legacy of the Devonian ExtinctionsThe invasion of land by ocean-dwelling plants and animals was one of the most revolutionary events in the evolution of life on Earth, yet the animal invasion almost failed—twice—because of the twin mass extinctions of the Late Devonian Epoch. Some 359 to 375 million years ago, these catastrophic events dealt our ancestors a blow that almost drove them back into the sea. If those extinctions had been just a bit more severe, spiders and insects might have become the ecologically dominant forms of animal life on land. This book examines the profound evolutionary consequences of the Late Devonian extinctions, which shaped the composition of the modern terrestrial ecosystem.
Why Geology Matters : Decoding the Past, Anticipating the FutureVolcanic dust, climate change, tsunamis, earthquakes—geoscience explores phenomena that profoundly affect our lives. But more than that, as Doug Macdougall makes clear, the science also provides important clues to the future of the planet. In an entertaining and accessibly written narrative, Macdougall gives an overview of Earth's astonishing history based on information extracted from rocks, ice cores, and other natural archives
Hydrogeology
Challenges and Opportunities in the Hydrologic SciencesNew research opportunities to advance hydrologic sciences promise a better understanding of the role of water in the Earth system that could help improve human welfare and the health of the environment. Reaching this understanding will require both exploratory research to better understand how the natural environment functions, and problem-driven research, to meet needs such as flood protection, supply of drinking water, irrigation, and water pollution. Collaboration among hydrologists, engineers, and scientists in other disciplines will be central to meeting the interdisciplinary research challenges outline in this report. New technological capabilities in remote sensing, chemical analysis, computation, and hydrologic modeling will help scientists leverage new research opportunities.
Flood Risk and Social Justice : From Quantitative to Qualitative Flood Risk Assessment and MitigationFlood Risk and Social Justice is a response to the rising significance of floods and flood-related disasters worldwide, as an initiative to promote a socially just approach to the problems of flood risk. It integrates the human-social and the technological components to provide a holistic view. This book treats flooding as a multi-dimensional human and natural world tragedy that must be accommodated using all the social and technological means that can be mobilised before, during and after the flooding event. It covers socially just flood risk mitigation practices which necessitate a wide range of multidisciplinary approaches, starting from social and wider environmental needs, including feedback cycles between human needs and technological means.
Research Perspectives In Hydraulics And Water Resources EngineeringThis book contains ten state-of-the-art review articles on selected topics in hydraulics/fluid mechanics and water resources engineering, written by alumni of the Indian Institute of Science who hold senior academic positions in reputable scientific institutions and who are active in research. The articles have all been peer-reviewed. At the end of each contribution, a rich list of references is given, encompassing most of the work done all over the world on the topic of the article. The topics are of current interest to research workers in many countries.
Streams and Ground WatersStreams around the world flow toward the sea in floodplains. All along this transit, there is exchange of water between the stream itself and the surrounding sediments which form the floodplain. Many chemical, biological, and geological processes occur when water moves back and forth between streams and these flood plain sediments. Streams and Groundwaters focuses on the consequences of water flow between streams, their underlying sediments, and surrounding landscapes. Certain to appeal to anyone interested in stream ecology, the management of stream ecosystems, or landscape ecology, this volume should become a oft-opened reference.
Traveling the 38th Parallel : A Water Line Around the WorldBetween extremes of climate farther north and south, the 38th North parallel line marks a temperate, middle latitude where human societies have thrived since the beginning of civilization. It divides North and South Korea, passes through Athens and San Francisco, and bisects Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada, where authors David and Janet Carle make their home. Former park rangers, the authors set out on an around-the-world journey in search of water-related environmental and cultural intersections along the 38th parallel. This book is a chronicle of their adventures as they meet people confronting challenges in water supply, pollution, wetlands loss, and habitat protection.
Water: Molecular Structure And PropertiesThis book provides a broad and complete introductions to the molecular structure, novel and anomalous properties, nonlinear excitations, soliton motions, magnetization, and biological effects of water. These subjects are described by both experimental results and theoretical analyses. These contents are very interesting and helpful to elucidate and explain the problem of “what is on earth water”. This book contains the research results of the author and plenty of scientists in recent decades. “Water: Molecular Structure and Properties” is self-contained and unified in presentation. It may be used as an advanced textbook by graduate students and even ambitious undergraduates in Physics and Biology. It is also suitable for the researchers and engineers in Physics, Biology and water science.
Fluid Physics in Geology : An Introduction to Fluid Motions on Earth's Surface and Within Its CrustFluid Physics in Geology is aimed at geology students who are interested in understanding fluid behavior and motion in the context of a wide variety of geological problems, and who wish to pursue related work in fluid physics. The book provides an introductory treatment of the physical and dynamical behaviors of fluids by focusing first on how fluids behave in a general way, then looking more specifically at how they are involved in certain geological processes. The text is written so students may concentrate on the sections that are most relevant to their own needs.
Physics of Magmatic ProcessesWhile the chemical aspects of igneous petrology have dominated research for many years, the physical processes associated with the generation, transport, and crystallization of magma have been somewhat neglected. Here a group of distinguished scientists, whose current research embraces both chemical and physical aspects of the field, illustrates these new directions in igneous petrology
Planetary Geology
Planetary Geology : An IntroductionIn a dynamic treatment of planets of the Solar System from a unified perspective Planetary Geology deals with the origin of planetary bodies, the forces that fashion their surfaces, the rise and fall of icecaps and oceans, and the role of life in planetary history.
Continents and SupercontinentsTo this day, there is a great amount of controversy about where, when and how the so-called supercontinents--Pangea, Godwana, Rodinia, and Columbia--were made and broken. Continents and Supercontinents frames that controversy by giving all the necessary background on how continental crust is formed, modified, and destroyed, and what forces move plates. It also discusses how these processes affect the composition of seawater, climate, and the evolution of life. Rogers and Santosh begin with a survey of plate tectonics, and go on to describe the composition, production, and destruction of continental and oceanic crust, and show that cratons or assemblies of cratons became the first true continents, approximately one billion years after the earliest continental crust evolved
Earth As an Evolving Planetary SystemEarth as an Evolving Planetary System is based on Kent Condie's classic text, Plate Tectonics and Crustal Evolution, which has been revamped and renamed in order to reflect a new emphasis on the evolving interactions of the Earth's systems. This revised volume synthesizes data from the fields of geophysics, oceanography, planetology, and geochemistry. It features new chapters on the Earth's core, biotic systems, and the supercontinent cycle and mantle plume events
Geomorphology and Plate TectonicsGeomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them whereas plate tectonics specifically describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere. This new book presents theory, methodology and applications, as well as studies of specific geographic regions. A model to evaluate the effect of groundwater fluctuations on the development of gullies and hence, on landscape evolution is analyzed. The use of cosmogenic nuclides in geomorphology and earth-surface processes is also reviewed and uncertainties and limitations related to current understanding of the physical properties of cosmogenic nuclides are summarized. In addition, this book studies plate tectonics in several regions of the world, including Siberia, Western North America, North Africa, India, and Northwest Australia.
Major Impacts and Plate Tectonics : A Model for the Phanerzoic Evolution of the Earth's LithosphereNeville Price presents a major breakthrough in our understanding of the subject of plate tectonics in this new book. In this ambitious look at the importance of impacts of objects from space on the earth, he challenges the fundamentals of the theory on which geoscience has rested for the past 25 years. Major Impacts and Plate Tectonics presents evidence to show that impacts can cause significant and dramatic changes in track, which cannot be explained by current theories of plate tectonics. The book also demonstrates that such major impact events often coincide with the development of continental flood basalts and oceanic plateau basalts and frequently coincide with major stratigraphic stage boundaries and toxicity, which in turn can be associated with periods of extinction.
Paleomagnetism : Continents and OceansPaleomagnetism is the study of the fossil magnetism in rocks. It has been paramount in determining that the continents have drifted over the surface of the Earth throughout geological time. The fossil magnetism preserved in the ocean floor has demonstrated how continental drift takes place through the process of sea-floor spreading. The methods and techniques used in paleomagnetic studies of continental rocks and of the ocean floor are described and then applied to determining horizontal movements of the Earth's crust over geological time. An up-to-date review of global paleomagnetic data enables 1000 million years of Earth history to be summarized in terms of the drift of the major crustal blocks over the surface of the Earth.
Plate Tectonics and Crustal EvolutionThis comprehensive text has established itself over the past 20 years as the definitive work in its fields, presenting a thorough coverage of this key area of structural geology in a way which is ideally suited to advanced undergraduate and masters courses. The thorough coverage means that it is also useful to a wider readership as an up to date survey of plate tectonics.The fourth edition brings the text fully up to date, with coverage of the latest research in crustal evolution, supercontinents, mass extinctions. A new chapter covers the feedbacks of various Earth systems. In addition, a new appendix provides a valuable survey of current methodology.
Landslides : Causes, Types and EffectsA landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments. Although the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur, there are other contributing factors affecting the original slope stability. Typically, pre-conditional factors build up specific sub-surface conditions that make the area/slope prone to failure, whereas the actual landslide often requires a trigger before being released. This book discusses such triggers, as well as their outcomes. Studies of landslides that have occurred in various geographical settings are also among the topics examined in this book, as well as an analysis of the factors that caused them.
The Earth After Us : What Legacy Will Humans Leave in the Rocks?What would alien visitors in the far future, piecing together the history of earth, find of our brief reign? What clues will we leave? What fossils? Just as we have gained knowledge of the past, of ancient climates and the activities of creatures long dead, so too might they decode the rocks. The Earth After Us takes a novel approach to show how geologists unravel the information in the rocks. As the alien scientists start investigating the strata, what story will they tell of us? What kind of fossils will humans leave behind? What will happen to cities, cars, and plastic cups? How thick a layer will the'human stratum'be? And will it be obvious which species dominated the planet?
Seismology
Deep-well Injections and Induced Seismicity : Understanding the RelationshipThe development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has created new demand for wastewater disposal wells that inject waste fluids into deep geologic strata. An increasing concern in the United States is that injection of these fluids may be responsible for increasing rates of seismic activity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program regulates injection of fluids related to oil and gas production as Class II injection wells for the protection of underground sources of dri...
Earthquake Research : Background and Select ReportsClose to 75 million people in 39 states face some risk from earthquakes. Given the potentially huge costs associated with a large, damaging earthquake in the United States, an ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported earthquake programs are appropriate for the earthquake risk. This book discusses the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) the multi-agency federal program to reduce the nation's risk from earthquakes; earthquake hazards and risk in the U.S.; federal programs that support earthquake monitoring; the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability.
Earthquakes : Triggers, Environmental Impact, and Potential HazardsEarthquakes represent a natural phenomenon that throughout human history has caused destruction of man-made structures and dramatic loss of life. The study of earthquake phenomena has seen a rapid growth over the past few decades and has contributed significantly towards mitigating the effects of large earthquakes. This edited volume consists of a collection of ten chapters that address three topical areas related to earthquake research. The contributed chapters in this volume will be of use to a range of professionals such as Earth scientists, engineers and civil protection officers. (Imprint: Nova)
Improved Seismic Monitoring - Improved Decision-Making : Assessing the Value of Reduced UncertaintyImproved Seismic Monitoring-Improved Decision-Making, describes and assesses the varied economic benefits potentially derived from modernizing and expanding seismic monitoring activities in the United States. These benefits include more effective loss avoidance regulations and strategies, improved understanding of earthquake processes, better engineering design, more effective hazard mitigation strategies, and improved emergency response and recovery. The economic principles that must be applied to determine potential benefits are reviewed and the report concludes that although there is insufficient information available at present to fully quantify all the potential benefits, the annual dollar costs for improved seismic monitoring are in the tens of millions and the potential annual dollar benefits are in the hundreds of millions.
Modern Global SeismologyIntended as an introduction to the field, Modern Global Seismology is a complete, self-contained primer on seismology. It features extensive coverage of all related aspects, from observational data through prediction, emphasizing the fundamental theories and physics governing seismic waves--both natural and anthropogenic. Based on thoroughly class-tested material, the text provides a unique perspective on the earths large-scale internal structure and dynamic processes, particularly earthquake sources, and on the application of theory to the dynamic processes of the earths upper skin. Authored by two experts in the field of geophysics. this insightful text is designed for the first-year graduate course in seismology
Soil Science
Footprints in the Soil : People and Ideas in Soil HistoryThe history of science discipline is contributing valuable knowledge of the culture of soil understanding, of the conditions in society that fostered the ideas, and of why they developed in certain ways. This book is about the progressive “footprints made by scientists in the soil. It contains chapters chosen from important topics in the development of soil science, and tells the story of the people and the exciting ideas that contributed to our present understanding of soils. Initiated by discussions within the Soil Science Society of America and the International Union of Soil Sciences, this book uniquely illustrates the significance of soils to our society
Handbook of Soils for Landscape ArchitectsWritten in a clear, accessible style, this book covers the fundamental aspects of soil science with an emphasis on topics useful to landscape architects and professionals in related fields. The book begins with a discussion of soil surveys developed in different countries, followed by a concise description of soil components and how the interactions between air, water, and nutrients affect plant growth. It examines methods for controlling erosion, particularly in light of modern irrigation techniques.
Introduction to Environmental Soil PhysicsAn abridged, student-oriented edition of Hillel's earlier published Environmental Soil Physics, this is a more succinct elucidation of the physical principles and processes governing the behavior of soil and the vital role it plays in both natural and managed ecosystems. The textbook is self-contained and self-explanatory, with numerous illustrations and sample problems. Based on sound fundamental theory, the textbook leads to a practical consideration of soil as a living system in nature and illustrates the influences of human activity upon soil structure and function.
Soil Erosion : Causes, Processes, and EffectsEven though erosion originally is a natural process, influenced by physical factors, current human interventions in the landscape often accelerate natural erosion rates tremendously. Consequently, social, economic and political factors are decisive in determining soil erosion risk. This book gathers and presents current research from around the globe in the study of soil erosion, including research on erosion measurements and estimates with reference to water erosion in mountain environments; radiocaesium as a tool of erosion studies; and mitigation strategies to counteract soil erosion.(
Soil FertilitySoil fertility refers to the amount of nutrients in the soil, which is sufficient to support plant life. Soil fertility is critical in sustainable farming and needs to be considered not only for crop productivity but also for the protection of aquatic environments. Fertile soil has an abundance of plant nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, an abundance of minerals as well as an abundance of organic matter. This book discusses new developments in the field.
Soil Fertility : Characteristics, Processes and ManagementThis book presents topical research in the study of the characteristics, processes and management of soil fertility in agriculture. Topics discussed include agricultural management changes in Pampean soils related to rotation and tillage; agroforestry systems in the Eastern Amazon; soil and crop management practices in bioenergy cropping systems; evaluation of the potassium supplying abilities of animal manures; nitrogen fertilization in the modern sustainable farming systems of Moldova; and soil fertility enhancing microorganisms and their application as biofertilizers. (Imprint: Novinka)
Soils and Food SecurityThis book, the 35th volume of Issues in Environmental Science and Technology, examines the current status of soils across the globe and their potential for food production to meet the needs of the World's population in the 21st Century. Threats, such as the degradation, pollution and erosion of soil are discussed, along with the possible consequences of climate change for soil and food production.
Soils, Land and Food : Managing the Land During the Twenty-First CenturyThe book leads the reader through the development of techniques of land management and discusses reasons why some agricultural projects have succeeded while others have failed. It shows how surveying and protecting soils before new land is brought into cultivation, raising soil fertility, increasing inputs and improving economic conditions can all help to increase food production. Particular emphasis is placed on the need for both economic change and technological intervention in developing countries where, in many cases, food production will need to more than double in the next fifty years.
The Chemistry of SoilsThere have been many advances in soil chemistry since Oxford published the first edition of The Chemistry of Soils in 1989. The physical-chemistry approach to soil chemistry taken in the book, groundbreaking for its time, has been adopted by nearly every soil chemistry book published since. This book offers a thorough update of all topics covered in the previous edition. In the last 16 years, soil chemistry as a discipline has assumed major significance in connection with global climate change. The 2nd edition addresses the emergent issue of global climate change by exploring the interaction between organic carbon and soil.
Understanding Soils in Urban EnvironmentsUnderstanding Soils in Urban Environments explains how urban soils develop, change and erode. It describes their physical and chemical properties and focuses on specific soil problems, such as acid sulfate soils, that can cause environmental concern and also affect engineering works. It also addresses contemporary issues such as green roofs, urban green space and the man-made urban soils that plants may need to thrive in.
Structural Geology
Active Tectonics : Impact on SocietyOver 250,000 people were killed in the Tangshan, China earthquake of 1976, and other less active tectonic processes can disrupt river channels or have a grave impact on repositories of radioactive wastes. Since tectonic processes can be critical to many human activities, the Geophysics Study Committee Panel on Active Tectonics has presented an evaluation of the current state of knowledge about tectonic events, which include not only earthquakes but volcanic eruptions and similar events. This book addresses three main topics: the tectonic processes and their rates, methods of identifying and evaluating active tectonics, and the effects of active tectonics on society.
Introducing Tectonics, Rock Structures and Mountain BeltsAn explanation of key concepts of tectonics and rock structures. The reader is introduced to large-scale Earth structure and theory of plate tectonics before dealing with geological structures such as faults and folds, and the final three chapters deal with orogenic belts.
Rough-Hewn Land : A Geologic Journey From California to the Rocky Mountains'Unfold a map of North America,'Keith Heyer Meldahl writes,'and the first thing to grab your eye is the bold shift between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.'In this absorbing book, Meldahl takes readers on a 1000-mile-long field trip back through more than 100 million years of deep time to explore America's most spectacular and scientifically intriguing landscapes. He places us on the outcrops, rock hammer in hand, to examine the evidence for how these rough-hewn lands came to be.
The Ocean of Truth: A Personal History of Global Tectonics : A Personal History of Global TectonicsMenard begins with the leading hypotheses (such as that the earth expands) and the supporting evidence for each. He traces the crucial work of the 1960s year by year as researchers debated hypotheses in correspondence and at frequent meetings. Throughout the book Professor Menard considers the implications of his story for the sociology of science and the goals of scientific research.
Earthquake and Volcano DeformationEarthquake and Volcano Deformation is the first textbook to present the mechanical models of earthquake and volcanic processes, emphasizing earth-surface deformations that can be compared with observations from Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, Interferometric Radar (InSAR), and borehole strain- and tiltmeters. Paul Segall provides the physical and mathematical fundamentals for the models used to interpret deformation measurements near active faults and volcanic centers
The Mechanics of Earthquakes and FaultingOur understanding of earthquakes and faulting processes has developed significantly since publication of the successful first edition of this book in 1990. This revised edition, first published in 2002, was therefore thoroughly up-dated whilst maintaining and developing the two major themes of the first edition.
VesuviusThe cataclysm that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79 continues to fascinate nearly two thousand years later. Darley's meditation on a powerful natural wonder touches on pagan beliefs, vulcanology, and travel writing, as it sifts through the ashes of Vesuvius to expose changes in our understanding of cultural and natural environments.
Volcanoes : Formation, Eruptions and ModellingThis book addresses these concerns and addresses the question of whether volcanic activity has been increasing over the past decades. The world's highest volcanoes, their locations and their effects on the local populations are also examined. Additionally, volcanoes have many different types of eruptions. The duration of the eruptions, how often they occur, and the magma supply system and preparatory processes for these eruptions are reviewed. Finally, this book reviews the effects of mud volcanoes, occurring in different geologic settings around the world.
Volcanoes of the World : Third EditionThis impressive scientific resource presents up-to-date information on ten thousand years of volcanic activity on Earth. In the decade and a half since the previous edition was published new studies have refined assessments of the ages of many volcanoes, and several thousand new eruptions have been documented. This edition updates the book's key components: a directory of volcanoes active during the Holocene; a chronology of eruptions over the past ten thousand years; a gazetteer of volcano names, synonyms, and subsidiary features; an extensive list of references; and an introduction placing these data in context. This edition also includes new photographs, data on the most common rock types forming each volcano, information on population densities near volcanoes, and other features, making it the most comprehensive source available on Earth's dynamic volcanism.