The Basics of Earth ScienceEarth science forces, including earthquakes, fossils, the Earth's spheres, the Big Bang Theory, El Nino, and the atmosphere, are presented at a level appropriate for beginners. Concepts are clarified through the use of examples, tables, and figures. Readers will also learn about more advanced topics within earth science, including geochronology, seismology, and geomagnetism. A chapter on the history of earth science illustrates the background of the topic before readers delve into more advanced concepts. Additional material for students includes an appendix with hands-on earth science projects, a glossary, a bibliography, and person and subject indexes for quick reference. |
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Contents
| 1 | |
Geological Forces Processes and Systems | 23 |
Earths Structure | 71 |
Earths Resources | 85 |
Earths Inner Spheres | 135 |
Biosphere Envelope of Life | 151 |
Hydrosphere Sphere of Water | 171 |
Atmosphere Sphere of Air | 199 |
Climate and Weather | 219 |
Earth Science Projects | 279 |
Glossary | 317 |
Selected Bibliography | 329 |
Subject Index | 335 |
Common terms and phrases
accessed acid altitude areas asthenosphere atmo atmosphere atoms biosphere boundaries carbon dioxide cause changes chemical clay clouds coal contains continental continental crust continental drift convection cool crystals cycle density deposits Dynamic Earth Science Earth's surface earthquakes elements energy example flow forces fossils freshwater gases geological geologists global warming gravity heat humans humid hydrosphere igneous rocks increase lakes land layers less dense lithosphere located lower mantle magma magnetic field mass material melt metals metamorphic rocks methane mid-oceanic ridges million minerals molecules mountains natural nitrogen nuclear occur ocean floor oceanic crust organic outer core oxygen ozone particles period physical plants plate tectonics pollution precipitation pressure produce radiation radioactive region result ridges scientists seafloor sedimentary rocks sediments seismic soil solar sphere structure subduction tectonic plates temperature theory Thompson and Turk tion types United upper volcanoes water vapor waves weather wind York
Popular passages
Page 89 - For convenience all minerals are referred to a scale of hardness of ten units, composed of common or well known minerals, which are as follows: (1) talc; (2) gypsum; (3) calcite; (4) fluorite; (5) apatite; (6) orthoclase; (7) quartz; (8) topaz; (9) sapphire; and (10) diamond.
Page 53 - Well-built buildings suffer considerable damage. Houses that are not bolted down move off their foundations. Some underground pipes are broken. The ground cracks. Reservoirs suffer serious damage. X. Most buildings and their foundations are destroyed. Some bridges are destroyed. Dams are seriously damaged. Large landslides occur. Water is thrown on the banks of canals, rivers, lakes. The ground cracks in large areas. Railroad tracks are bent slightly.
Page 320 - ... (THERMO) Function of the state of a thermodynamic system whose change in any differential reversible process is equal to the heat absorbed by the system from its surroundings divided by the absolute temperature of the system. Also known as thermal charge.
Page 27 - For converting energy from one form to another the principle of conservation of energy (which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can merely be converted from one form to another) can be invoked.
Page 325 - It includes the three generations of quarks and leptons. the electroweak theory of the weak and electromagnetic forces, and the quantum chromodynamic theory of the strong force. It does not include answers to some basic questions such as how to unify the electroweak forces with the strong or gravitational forces.
Page 53 - Almost everyone feels movement. Sleeping people are awakened. Doors swing open or close. Dishes are broken. Pictures on the wall move. Small objects move or are turned over. Trees might shake. Liquids might spill out of open containers. VI.
Page xii - Copernicus who wrote that the Earth was not the center of the Universe and that...
Page 188 - The specific humidity is the mass of water vapor per unit mass of moist air...
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Basics of Earth Science Basics of the hard sciences |
| Author | Robert E. Krebs |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003 |
| ISBN | 0313319308, 9780313319303 |
| Length | 342 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |