Understanding the Earth

by Geoff Brown (Editor), Chris Hawkesworth (Editor), Chris Wilson (Editor)

Overview

Some of the foremost authorities in earth sciences contributed to this volume, first published in 1992, to provide a highly accessible and stimulating account of the rapid evolution of knowledge about the processes that drive and shape the Earth. Well-illustrated and extremely readable accounts cover many aspects of the earth sciences that are often confined to the more esoteric literature – from magma generation in the Earth to the formation of sedimentary basins. From contributions on the Earth's interior and its dynamic evolution to investigations of the natural and human-driven disturbances to the environment, Understanding the Earth reflects the increasingly integrated and multi-disciplinary research that has fed our understanding of the Earth's origin and its internal and surface processes, and provides an indispensable guide to students of modern earth sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521427401
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/05/1992
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	564
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 1.30(d)

Table of Contents

Lists of editors and contributors; Foreword Ian G. Gass; Introduction to chapters 1-4; 1. Exploration of the Solar System Peter W. Francis; 2. The origin of the Earth Stuart Ross Taylor; 3. The Earth's interior Don L. Anderson; 4. Experimental petrology: Earth materials science Peter J. Wyllie; Introduction to chapters 5-8; 5. Magma generation in the Earth Stephen J. Sparks; 6. The interpretation of magmatic evolution Keith G. Cox; 7. Geological time Chris J. Hawkesworth and Peter van Calsteren; 8. The continents Keith O'Nions; Introduction to chapters 9-12; 9. Seafloor spreading and plate tectonics Tjeerd H. van Andel; 10. Plate tectonics and continental drift Alan G. Smith; 11. Plate tectonics and hydrothermal ore deposits Michael J. Russell; 12. Metamorphism and fluids Alan B. Thompson; Introduction to chapters 13-15; 13. Seismic reflection profiling and the structure of the continental lithosphere Simon Klemperer and Carolyn Peddy; 14. Deformation of the continental crust Philip England; 15. The formation of sedimentary basins Tony Watts; Introduction to chapters 16-19; 16. Classic sediments Roger G. Walker; 17. Limestones through time Maurice E. Tucker; 18. Hydrocarbon source works Ralf Littke and Dietrich H. Welte; 19. Event stratigraphy: a dynamic view of the setimentary record Adolf Seilacher; Introduction to chapters 20 and 21; 20. Sequence stratigraphy: an introduction Chris Wilson; 21. Intraplate stress and sedimentary basin evolution Sierd Cloetingh; Introduction to chapters 22 and 23; 22. The early evolution of life Simon Conway Morris; 23. Fossils and evolutionary theory Peter W. Skelton; Introduction to chapters 24 and 25; 24. Palaeoclimatology Eric J. Barron; 25. Volcanic hazards Michael R. Rampino; Glossary; Figure acknowledgements; Index.