The Blue Planet An Introduction to Earth System Science

About this book

The third edition of The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science treats earth science from a systems perspective, showing how the four spheres (lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere) are interrelated. In this edition, significant emphasis is placed on cycling of materials and energy, and interactions among the spheres. The text also places much clearer emphasis on basic science, which can be seen in the reorganization of topics into Energy and Matter chapters, as well as a new 'The Basics' feature in each chapter. This edition is also more systematic about documenting human impacts on the various spheres of the Earth system.

Contents

Part I. The Earth System: Our Place in Space
1. The Earth System
2. Matter
3. Energy
4. The Solar System

Part II. The Geosphere: Earth Beneath Our Feet
5. The Dynamic Geosphere
6. Earthquakes and Volcanoes
7. The Rock Cycle

Part III. The Hydrosphere: Earth's Blanket of Water and Ice
8. The Hydrologic Cycle
9. The Frozen Hydrosphere
10. The World Ocean

Part IV. The Atmosphere: Earth's Gaseous Envelope
11. The Atmosphere
12. Wind and Weather Systems
13. The Climate System

Part V. The Biosphere: Life on Earth
14. Life, Death, and Evolution
15. Energy and Matter in Life Systems
16. Earth's Major Ecosystems
17. Habitat, Interactions, and Diversity

Part VI. The Anthrosphere: Humans and the Future of Earth
18. Earth's Resources
19. The Changing Earth System

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