Earth Science: Understanding Environmental Systems

About this book

Earth Science: Understanding Environmental Systems is intended for introductory courses in Earth Science and Earth Systems Science, which place emphasis on the systems approach to earth science with special attention to the impact these systems have on the environment. It is appropriate for non-science majors with no previous college science or mathematics courses.

The primary goals of this book are to provide the background the general student needs to understand the way Earth works, how knowledge of Earth relates to the environmental issues confronting our society, and how scientists go about examining these issues.

Contents

I Introduction to Earth System ScienceUnit I Major Elements of the Earth System1 The Building Blocks of Earth Materials2 Minerals and the Rock Cycle3 Earth Model - Core-Mantle System4 Time and Change in Earth SystemsUnit II The Plate Tectonic System5 Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building6 Earthquakes7 Volcanic ActivityUnit III Earth's Physical Climate SystemPart 1 Oceans and Coasts8 The Sea Floor and Marine Environments9 Ocean Dynamics10 Coasts and Coastal EnvironmentsPart 2 The Atmosphere11 Earth's Atmosphere12 The Atmosphere in Motion13 Climate - Past, Present, and FuturePart 3 The Land Surface14 Introduction to Earth's Land Environments15 Weathering and Soil Development16 Mass Wasting - The Work of Gravity17 The Role of the Wind18 Streams19 GroundWater20 The Role of Ice in Earth SystemsUnit IV The Solar System and Its Place in the Universe21 Earth's Neighbors in Space - The Solar System22 Beyond the Solar System Appendix A Units and Conversions Appendix B Minerals Appendix C Rock Identification Appendix D Topographic and Geologic MapsAppendix E Star ChartsAppendix F The Periodic Table of ElementsAppendix G Glossary

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