Understanding the Earth A New Synthesis

About this book

Some of the foremost authorities in earth sciences contributed to Understanding the Earth, 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.
 

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

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