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Books in Earth and planetary sciences

Elsevier's Earth and Planetary Sciences collection brings together pioneering research on the complexities of our planet and beyond. Covering topics from Earth's structural dynamics and ecosystems to planetary exploration, these titles support advancements in geoscience, environmental science, and space studies, offering essential insights for researchers, professionals, and students.

BooksJournals

    • Ground Freezing

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Hans L. Jessberger
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 9 8 5 1
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 0 1 9 6 4
      Developments in Geotechnical Engineering Volume 26: Ground Freezing presents the proceedings of the First International Symposium on Ground Freezing, held in Bochum, Germany on March 8-10, 1978. It summarizes progress in the application of the ground freezing technique in geotechnical engineering, with a focus on engineering with frozen soils and related frost research problems. It includes papers that discuss phase transformation of water, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, and mathematical models. The laboratory and theoretical studies of thermophysical and mechanical properties are discussed as well. Organized into 43 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the freezing and thawing of soils, earth, and rock, and the engineering applications of the favorable properties of frozen ground. It then discusses the mechanical properties of artificially frozen soil for construction purposes, the principles of mechanical and thermal behavior of frozen soil, and the design and calculation of frozen soil-structures. Furthermore, it explains the calculation and dimensioning of refrigeration plants and monitoring of frost penetration. The methods and instrumentation for determining the locations of boundaries of frozen soils and the factors affecting the formation of soil cryogenic textures upon artificial active and passive soil freezing are described. The book also details the influence of salts in the pore water in freezing soils and explains how clay microstructure affects the amount of unfrozen water. In addition, it presents the physicomechanical and thermomechanical properties of frozen coarse-grained soil with sandy clay aggregate. This book will be a valuable source of information for scientists and engineers.

    • Chemical Analysis Of Silicate Rocks

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 6
      • December 2, 2012
      • A Easton
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 9 6 7 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 0 1 7 1 1
      Chemical Analysis of Silicate Rocks is the sixth book in the series, “Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics.” This book provides procedures in chemical analysis of the principal types of silicate rocks and minerals, and it discusses each procedure at length. The book presents different apparatuses and reagents, such as balance and weighs, glassware and porcelain, platinum and substitutes, and filters that are used in the chemical analysis of silicate rocks. Laboratory instruments, such as pH meters, spectrophotometers and flame photometers, are presented in the third chapter. The fourth chapter focuses on the major factors in spectrophotometric methods. The next three chapters cover the common operations in silicate analysis, chemical analysis of silicate rocks, and preparation of the laboratory sample. From chapter eight through 20, each chapter discusses various silicate rocks and minerals, and presents the methods to be used for their chemical analysis. These chemical components are silicon, total iron, titanium, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, ferrous iron, manganese, chromium, alkalies, water and carbon dioxide, phosphorus, and total sulfur. Chapters 21 and 22 offer the formulas of minerals and the determination of specific gravity. The book closes by providing notes on the precision and accuracy of results obtained in silicate rock.

    • Limit Analysis in Soil Mechanics

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 52
      • December 2, 2012
      • W.F. Chen + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 5 3 4 1
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 9 8 3 5 6
      During the last ten years, our understanding of the perfect plasticity and the associated flow rule assumption on which limit analysis is based has increased considerably. Many extensions and advances have been made in applications of limit analysis to the area of soil dynamics, in particular, to earthquake-induced slope failure and landslide problems and to earthquake-induced lateral earth pressures on rigid retaining structures. The purpose of the book therefore is in part to discuss the validity of the upper bound work (or energy) method of limit analysis in a form that can be appreciated by a practicing soil engineer, and in part to provide a compact and up-to-date summary of recent advances in the applications of limit analysis to earthquake-induced stability problems in soil mechanics.

    • Probabilistic Solutions in Geotechnics

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 46
      • December 2, 2012
      • L. Rétháti
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 7 0 3 1
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 0 0 8 0 6
      This is the first monograph to consider the possibility of utilizing probability theory in all essential fields of geotechnics. It deals in detail with in situ and laboratory tests, the evaluation of soil physical characteristics, the preparatory phase and the individual problems of design, including load bearing capacity, prediction of settlements, dimensioning of slopes and retaining walls, and quality control of earthworks.Numerous possibilities for, and examples of, the parallel utilization of deterministic and stochastic methods are given in the book, creating a connection between conventional and new, modern methodologies. It demonstrates by examples that the only possibility of meeting technical and economic requirements simultaneously is by using the methods of probability theory.The book also gives an account of new geotechnical and mathematical results of the author (post-evaluation of settlements and tilts, plotting of statistical bore profiles, elimination of the asymmetry of distribution by transformation, etc.). The book enables practitioners and to acquire new, modern design methods and research to develop methods. It will also be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate training.

    • Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V3

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • O.A. Jones
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 4 1 4 6 3 5 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 4 9 5 4 9
      Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume III: Biology 2 covers the major advances made in the biological aspects of coral reef problems. This book discusses the ecology, animal associates, and toxicity of coral reefs. Composed of 11 chapters, the book initially describes the diversity of animals permanently or temporarily associated with living corals despite the formidable nematocyst batteries possessed by corals. The text goes on discussing some specializations of some shrimps and prawns permanently associated with living corals, thus, augmenting the number of biological niches available for colonization. The subsequent chapters deal with the appearance and distribution of coral reefs echinoderms and their biogeography; the role of fishes in the energetic of the coral reef system; the high incidence of toxic fishes in coral reef waters; and the origin, transmission, detection, pharmacology, and chemistry of ciguatoxin. The book also discusses natural and man-induced destruction of coral reef communities and the rate, manner, and extent of recovery of such destruction. It also describes the types of vegetation that grow on the limestone substratum provided by coral islands. Another chapter provides distributional data on the birds of the Great Barrier Reef region and the behavior and evolution of island populations of sea birds. The concluding chapters present the general biology of sea turtles and the factors that influence the number and types of organisms found on coral islands. This book will acquaint readers with some of the exciting developments in coral reef biology and will provide information that will enable them to assess the status of research in different fields.

    • Soil Water Repellency

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • C.J. Ritsema + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 6 3 6 2
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 2 3 2 1 7
      It has become clear that soil water repellency is much more wide-spread than formerly thought. Water repellency has been reported in most continents of the world for varying land uses and climatic conditions. Soil water repellency often leads to severe runoff and erosion, rapid leaching of surface-applied agrichemicals, and losses of water and nutrient availability for crops. At present, no optimum management strategies exist for water repellent soils, focusing on minimizing environmental risks while maintaining crop production. The book starts with a historical overview of water repellency research, followed by seven thematic sections covering 26 research chapters. The first section discusses the origin, the second the assessment, and the third the occurrence and hydrological implications of soil water repellency. The fourth section is devoted to the effect of fire on water repellency, section five deals with the physics and modeling of flow and transport in water repellent soils, section six presents amelioration techniques and farming strategies to combat soil water repellency, and section seven concludes the book with an extensive bibliography on soil water repellency.

    • Anatomy of Seismograms

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • O. Kulhánek
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 6 5 0 8
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 9 9 9 6 4
      Frequent updating of existing interpretation codes and routines is a prerequisite for modern seismogram interpretation and research. The primary goal of this book is to present in a rather tutorial form all the necessary information and techniques pertinent to essential seismogram interpretation. The treatment is descriptive rather then mathematical, and emphasis is placed on practical aspects, especially for the benefit of students and junior seismogram interpreters affiliated to seismographic stations and observatories. Those workers more knowledgeable in seismology, and curious enough in the detailed deciphering of seismogram peculiarities, will also find the presentation useful.The book is divided into two parts: a verbal description (Chapters 1-6) and a collection of 55 plates (Chapter 7) with interpretations. The verbal description explains in a rather elementary form the most fundamental physical phenomena relevant to seismogram appearance. The collection of plates exhibits a large variety of seismogram examples, and the corresponding interpretations cover different seismic sources (tectonic and volcanic earthquakes, underground explosions, cavity collapse, sonic booms), wave types, epicentral distances, focal depths and recording instruments (analog, digital, short- and long-period, broad band).The book compliments older manuals in that both analog and digital records are considered. Seismograms from more traditional narrow-band as well as from modern, broad-band instruments are displayed. Tectonic and volcanic earthquakes are represented, and the exhibited seismograms form a worldwide collection of records acquired from seismographic stations located in North and Central America, Asia, Europe and New Zealand, i.e. in various geological and tectonic environments. Terminology and usage of definition does vary among agencies in different parts of the world; that used in this book is common to Europe.

    • Underground Mining Methods and Technology

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 1
      • December 2, 2012
      • A.B. Szwilski + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 4 5 4 2
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 9 7 1 3 7
      This book contains high-quality papers from the principal mining research institutes of the USA, United Kingdom, India and South Africa, thus providing up-to-date coverage of underground mining and technology in the main mining areas of the world. The theme is mining in adverse conditions using state-of-the-art technology. A wide range of problems facing mining engineers is discussed, namely: thick seam working, mining under massive beds, highly productive room and pillar operations, water problems, ventilation, and electronics in longwall mining.

    • Techniques for Image Processing and Classifications in Remote Sensing

      • 1st Edition
      • December 2, 2012
      • Robert A. Schowengerdt
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 9 5 9 7 7 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 3 2 3 1 3 8 5 5 0
      Techniques for Image Processing and Classifications in Remote Sensing provides an introduction to the fundamentals of computer image processing and classification (commonly called ""pattern recognition"" in other applications). The book begins with a discussion of digital scanners and imagery, and two key mathematical concepts for image processing and classification—spati... filtering and statistical pattern recognition. This is followed by separate chapters on image processing and classification techniques that are widely used in the remote sensing community. The emphasis throughout is on techniques that assist in the analysis of images, not particular applications of these techniques. The book also has four appendixes, featuring a bibliography; an introduction to computer binary data representation and image data formats; a discussion of interactive image processing; and a selection of exam questions from the Image Processing Laboratory course at the University of Arizona. This book is intended for use as either a primary source in an introductory image processing course or as a supplementary text in an intermediate-level remote sensing course. The academic level addressed is upper-division undergraduate or beginning graduate, and familiarity with calculus and basic vector and matrix concepts is assumed.

    • Finite Element Techniques in Groundwater Flow Studies

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 61
      • December 2, 2012
      • I. Kazda
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 9 8 3 2 5
      The finite element method (FEM) is one of those modern numerical methods whose rise and development was incited by the rapid development of computers. This method has found applications in all the technical disciplines as well as in the natural sciences.One of the most effective applications of the finite element method is its use for the solution of groundwater flow problems encountered in the design and maintenance of hydraulic structures and tailing dams, in soil mechanics, hydrology, hydrogeology and engineering geology.The stimuli to write this book came from the results obtained in the solution of practical problems connected both with the construction and maintenance of fill-type dams and tailing dams and the utilization of groundwater in Czechoslovakia, and on the other hand from the experience gained in teaching hydraulic structures theory at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Technical University of Prague. All the experience so far obtained shows markedly the advantages of the finite element method and the great possibilities of its further development as well as its considerable demands on the algorithmization, programming and use of computer possibilities. The reader will find an explanation of the fundamentals of the finite element method directed mainly toward isoparametric elements having an exceptional adaptability and numerical reliability. The finite element method application to groundwater flow concerns mainly two-dimensional problems, which occur most frequently in practice. Considerable attention is given to non-linear and non-stationary problems, which are most important in application.A computer program (based on the eight-noded isoparametric elements) is included and fully documented.The book will be useful to civil engineers, hydrogeologists and engineering geologists who need the finite element method as a solution tool for the complex problems encountered in engineering practice.

Related subjects

Atmospheric science

Computers in geosciences

Earth surface processes

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Geotechnical engineering engineering geology

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Mineral processing

Space and planetary science