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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.

  • Underground Mining Methods and Technology

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • A.B. Szwilski + 1 more
    • English
    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
    • Robert A. Schowengerdt
    • English
    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.
  • Comminution 1994

    • 1st Edition
    • K.S.E. Forssberg + 1 more
    • English
    This publication is the result of the 8th European Conference on Comminution. Containing many significant contributions concerning the topic of Comminution, the book gives the reader a vital insight into the subject.
  • Solvent Extraction 1990

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 7B
    • T. Sekine + 1 more
    • English
    Solvent extraction is employed very widely in both fundamental research and technology because of the remarkable features of this simple but very effective technique for the separation of different materials. The International Solvent Extraction Conference 1990 was a forum for the presentation of papers on up-to-date research in this field. The collection of the papers in these volumes will be invaluable because information on solvent extraction is often scattered in various journals and proceedings which make the following of developments difficult.
  • Land and Stream Salinity : An International Seminar and Workshop Held in November 1980 in Perth Western Australia

    An International Seminar and Workshop Held in November 1980 in Perth Western Australia
    • 1st Edition
    • L.W. Holmes
    • English
    Land and Stream Salinity is a compilation of papers that review the state and knowledge of processes involved in land and stream salinity, and that consider its application in different environments. This book also identifies gaps in research and development, and it designates the priorities that could significantly benefit salinity control. In addition, it identifies alternative strategies of land and water management for salinity control and determines techniques for evaluating quantitatively the alternative strategies. Furthermore, this book focuses on salinity problems in south Western Australia. After discussing the history and effects of salinity in Western Australia, the book considers the influence of plant communities on the hydrology of catchments, and it discusses evapotranspiration rates from wet and dry foliage and soil water deficit. This is followed by the transport of salts in soils and subsoils; the residence times of water and solutes within and below the root zone and saturated zone; analyses of solute distributions in deeply weathered soils; and the transport of salts in catchments and soils. This book also includes chapters on the saline seed development and control in the North American Great Plains, and the terrain, groundwater and secondary salinity in Victoria, Australia. It also presents the hydrologic model, the solute-transport models and their role in the analysis of groundwater, and the hydrosalinity models. The last chapters focus on different kinds of management for salinity control.
  • Seismic Risk and Engineering Decisions

    • 1st Edition
    • Cinna Lomnitz
    • English
    Seismic Risk and Engineering Decisions attempts to bridge the gap in decision making between earthquake characteristics and structural behavior. The book begins by providing the background on earthquake generation and characteristics. It reviews the present state of matters in seismicity assessment and treats uncertainties explicitly. The impact of earthquakes on large bodies of water and structures is also discussed. These discussions set the stage for the final part of the book, which deals with the principles and implications of seismic design decision analysis. The book also delves into the selection of instruments for seismological research and engineering applications, with emphasis on widely used conventional seismological equipment. This book is intended to help experienced consulting engineers in assessing seismic risk and making rational decisions when locating and designing important engineering works and when drafting building codes and land use regulations. It will also provide advanced students of engineering with bases for benefiting from his future experience.
  • Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs V2

    Biology 1
    • 1st Edition
    • O.A. Jones
    • English
    Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, Volume II: Biology 1 discusses the major advances made in the biological aspects of coral reef problems. This book is organized into 12 chapters that cover the microbial aspects of coral reefs, the nutrition in corals, and diversity in coral reefs. The opening chapters describe the distribution and role of coral reef microorganisms, as well as the significance of bacterioplankton as a food source for the marine fauna of coral reefs. The following chapter discusses the occurrence of algae in coral reef, their competition with corals for space, and their role in reef construction. Other chapters deal with food and feeding mechanisms of corals, the role of marine antibiotics in coral reef ecology, and some chemical compounds isolated from coral reef organisms, providing evidence for marine pharmacologic activity in coral reef areas. The book also discusses some basic problems relating to the distribution and abundance of hermatypic corals on reefs. It then examines species diversity on coral reefs, variety of reef structure, and the important role of toxic materials produced by holothurians on the general ecology and physiology of coral reefs. The last chapters describe the development, feeding, and behavior of the larval stages of several coral reef asteroids. Particular emphasis is given to the larval and post-larval stages of the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci. The starfish population explosions, the devastating effects on the hard coral cover of coral reefs, and causes and control of population explosions are also covered. This volume 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.
  • Fluids In The Earth's Crust

    Their Significance In Metamorphic, Tectonic And Chemical Transport Process
    • 1st Edition
    • W.S. Fyfe
    • English
    Fluids in the Earth’s Crust explores the generation and migration of fluids in the crust and their influence on the structure. This book also deals with the collection and concentration of these fluids into commercially possible reservoirs or their fossil trace formed as ore bodies. Chapter one of this book discusses fluid motion and geochemical and tectonic processes. It then defines fluid, discusses the rocks in the surface environment, and provides evidence of the changes of a rock’s position and the motion of fluids. This book also explores the chemistry of natural fluids, including the composition of ocean water; pore water and deep-drill fluids; metamorphic fluids; fluid inclusions; and magmatic fluids. Volatile species in minerals, such as water, carbon and carbon dioxide, chlorine, fluorine, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen and other inert gases, are presented in this book. Other chapters in this book cover the solubility of minerals and physical chemistry of their solutions; the metamorphic reactions and processes; buffer systems; rock deformation; crustal conditions; dewatering of crust; and diapirism. The last part of the book discusses fluids, tectonics, and chemical transport. This book will be of great value to mining and oil geologists, as well as to pure geologists.
  • Laterite Soil Engineering

    Pedogenesis and Engineering Principles
    • 1st Edition
    • M Gidigasu
    • English
    Laterite Soil Engineering is one of a few books about solving engineering problems with the help of engineering pedology. This book presents the latest information on the laterite soils’ geotechnical characteristics and engineering behavior. It shows that laterite soils are different from natural soils and that most laterite soils can be evaluated for engineering purposes using accepted theories and well-known test procedures for temperate-zone soils. This book also shows that modern concepts based on pedological considerations are very useful and take a logical approach to the identification and evaluation of laterite soils for engineering purposes. The first four chapters focus on reviewing information about the processes of tropical weathering and laterization. Chapter five summarizes information about the location, morphology and composition of laterite soils. Chapter six highlights the geotechnical implications of the pedogenic processes of tropical weathering, and it emphasizes the contribution of the results of these pedogenic processes to the deviations of engineering behavior of the problem of laterite soils. In addition, chapter seven discusses the influence of laterite soil genesis on the physic-chemical characteristics based on comparing the properties of three genetic soil groups formed under three different weathering conditions. Chapters eight through nineteen discuss the geotechnical characteristics and evaluation of laterite soils, and the effects of pedogenesis and soil-forming factors on the geotechnical and stabilization characteristics of laterite soils. The last chapter discusses the little information that exists on the application of laterite soils in engineering problems.
  • Tree Rings and Climate

    • 1st Edition
    • H Fritts
    • English
    Tree Rings and Climate deals with the principles of dendrochronology, with emphasis on tree-ring studies involving climate-related problems. This book looks at the spatial and temporal variations in tree-ring growth and how they can be used to reconstruct past climate. Factors and conditions that appear most relevant to tree-ring research are highlighted. Comprised of nine chapters, this book opens with an overview of the basic biological facts and principles of tree growth, as well as the most important terms, principles, and concepts of dendrochronology. The discussion then shifts to the basic biology governing the response of ring width to variation in climate; systematic variations in the width and cell structure of annual tree rings; and the significance of tree growth and structure to dendroclimatology. The movement of materials and internal water relations of trees are also considered, along with photosynthesis, respiration, and the climatic and environmental system. Models of the growth-climate relationships as well as the basic statistics and methods of analysis of these relationships are described. The final chapter includes a general discussion of dendroclimatographic data and presents examples of statistical models that are useful for reconstructing spatial variations in climate. This monograph will be of interest to climatologists, college students, and practitioners in fields such as botany, archaeology, hydrology, oceanography, biology, physiology, forestry, and geophysics.