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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.

    • High Pressure Geochemistry & Mineral Physics

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 9
      • December 11, 2004
      • S. Mitra
      • English
      • Hardback
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      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 5 8 2 2 9
      Significant achievements have been made at the cross-roads of physics and planetary science. In the second half of the twentieth century, the discipline of planetary sciences has witnessed three major episodes which have revolutionized its approach and content: (i) the plate-tectonic theory, (ii) human landing and discoveries in planetary astronomy and (iii) the extraordinary technical advancement in high P-T studies, which have been abetted by a vast improvement in computational methods. Using these new computational methods, such as first principles including ab initio models, calculations have been made for the electronic structure, bonding, thermal EOS, elasticity, melting, thermal conductivity and diffusivity. In this monograph, the boundaries of the definitions of a petrologist, geochemist, geophysicist or a mineralogist have been willfully eliminated to bring them all under the spectrum of "high-pressure geochemistry" when they deal with any material (quintessentially a chemical assemblage) - terrestrial or extraterrestrial - under the conditions of high-pressure and temperature. Thus, a petrologist using a spectrometer or any instrument for high-pressure studies of a rock or a mineral, or a geochemist using them for chemical synthesis and characterization, is better categorized as a "high-pressure geochemist" rather than any other kind of disciplinarian.The contents of this monograph bring together, under one cover, apparently disparate disciplines like solid-earth geophysics and geochemistry as well as material science and condensed-matter physics to present a thorough overview of high pressure geochemistry. Indeed, such interdisciplinary activities led to the discovery of new phenomena such as high P-T behaviour in metal oxides (e.g. Mott transition), novel transitions such as amorphization, changes in order-disorder in crystals and the anomalous properties of oxide melts.
    • Drilling Fluids Processing Handbook

      • 1st Edition
      • November 19, 2004
      • ASME Shale Shaker ASME Shale Shaker Committee
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 7 5 0 6 7 7 7 5 2
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 1 4 9 3 3 0 3 0 4 5
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 7 7 4 1 1
      Written by the Shale Shaker Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, originally of the American Association of Drilling Engineers, the authors of this book are some of the most well-respected names in the world for drilling. The first edition, Shale Shakers and Drilling Fluid Systems, was only on shale shakers, a very important piece of machinery on a drilling rig that removes drill cuttings. The original book has been much expanded to include many other aspects of drilling solids control, including chapters on drilling fluids, cut-point curves, mud cleaners, and many other pieces of equipment that were not covered in the original book.
    • Birds and Climate Change

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 35
      • November 13, 2004
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 0 1 3 9 3 5 4
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 7 1 9 2 1
      Temperature and other climate variables are currently changing at a dramatic rate. As observations have shown, these climatic changes have serious consequences for all organisms and their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Birds are excellent model organisms, with a very active metabolism, they are highly sensitive to environmental changes and as highly mobile creatures they are also extremely reactive. Birds and Climate Change discusses our current knowledge of observed changes and provides guidelines for studies in the years to come so we can document and understand how patterns of changing weather conditions may affect birds.
    • Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical Processes in Geo-systems

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 2
      • November 3, 2004
      • Ove Stephansson + 2 more
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 4 5 2 5 0
      • eBook
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      Among the most important and exciting current steps forward in geo-engineering is the development of coupled numerical models. They represent the basic physics of geo-engineering processes which can include the effects of heat, water, mechanics and chemistry. Such models provide an integrating focus for the wide range of geo-engineering disciplines. The articles within this volume were originally presented at the inaugural GeoProc conference held in Stockholm and contain a collection of unusually high quality information not available elsewhere in an edited and coherent form. This collection not only benefits from the latest theoretical developments but also applies them to a number of practical and wide ranging applications. Examples include the environmental issues around radioactive waste disposal deep in rock, and the search for new reserves of oil and gas.
    • Basic Theory in Reflection Seismology

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 1
      • October 27, 2004
      • J.K. Costain + 1 more
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 5 7 5 6 7
      The material in this volume provides the basic theory necessary to understand the principles behind imaging the subsurface of the Earth using reflection and refraction seismology. For reflection seismology, the end product is a "record section" from a collection of "wiggly traces" that are recorded in the field from which information about the properties of subsurface structure and rock can be derived. For the most part, the principles of imaging are the same regardless of the depth to the target; the same mathematical background is necessary for targeting a shallow water table as for investigating the base of the earth's continental "crust" at a depth of 30-50 km.
    • Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume I
      • October 27, 2004
      • Pier A. de Groot
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 5 3 3 2 7 8
      (Parent with price) Volume I contains subjective reviews, specialized and novel technique descriptions by guest authors. Part 1 includes contributions on purely analytical techniques and Part 2 includes matters such as development of mass spectrometers, stability of ion sources, standards and calibration, correction procedures and experimental methods to obtain isotopic fractionation factors.Volume II will be available in 2005.
    • Precambrian Ophiolites and Related Rocks

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 13
      • October 26, 2004
      • T.M. Kusky
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 0 8 0 4 7 3 9 3 2
      Recent developments have shown that many full and partial ophiolites are preserved in Precambrian cratons. This book provides a comprehensive description and discussion of the field aspects, geochemistry, geochronology and structure of the best of these ophiolites. It also presents syntheses of the characteristics of ophiolites of different ages, and an analysis of what the characteristics of these ophiolites mean for the thermal and chemical evolution of the earth.This title emphasizes new studies of Precambrian Geology that have documented ophiolites, ophiolitic fragments, and ophiolitic melanges in many Precambrian terranes. Each chapter focuses on individual Precambrian ophiolites or regions with numerous Precambrian ophiolites, and covers field aspects, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and other descriptive aspects of these ophiolites, it also delves into more theoretical and speculative aspects about the interpretation of the significance of these ancient ophiolites.
    • Secrets of the Tide

      • 1st Edition
      • October 12, 2004
      • J D Boon
      • English
      • Paperback
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      • eBook
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      This postgraduate level text and reference treatise introduces readers to tides, tidal currents, storm-surges and sea level trends in coastal regions. The book is based on tidal waters of Maryland, Virginia, Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic regions known to the author, and also provides international examples from the UK and different locations around the world, which allows readers to compare and contrast tidal regimes and to perform tidal analysis from data in their own environment. It is an important book for teachers, researchers, planners and engineers responsible for coastal defences as well as new infrastructure and waterway modification in ports and harbours. The wealth of informative detail and data provided makes this text worthwhile for readers who need a wider understanding of this increasingly important topic for coastal zone residents. MATLAB scientific programming language, simple-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI) programs are introduced for students, researchers and engineering consultants, available at no cost from MATLAB Central file exchange (http://www mathworks.com/matlab... programs provide the tools for analysing water level or water current observations, deriving the major tidal constituents, and showing first hand how tide and tidal current predictions are made in addition to producing unrivalled colour graphic visualisations. GUI is the author's tidal analysis and is particularly suited for the investigation of storm surge in coastal waters. Professor Boon has studied tidal behaviour in world coastal zones and here assembles information for public and private use from his capacity as advisor to state and federal authorities and corporate organisations.
    • Physical Oceanography of the Frontal Zones in Sub-Arctic Seas

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 71
      • October 2, 2004
      • A.G. Kostianoy + 2 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 5 0 2 9 3
      • Hardback
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      • eBook
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      This title presents the systematization and description of accumulated knowledge on oceanic fronts of the Norwegian, Greenland, Barents and Bering Seas. The main fronts of the Norwegian, Greenland and Barents Seas are part of the climatic North Polar Frontal Zone (NPFZ). The work is based on numerous observational data, collected by the authors during special sea experiments directed at the investigation of physical processes and phenomena inside certain parts of the NPFZ and in the northern part of the Bering Sea, on archive data of the USSR Hydrometeocenter and other research institutions, as well as on a wide scientific literature published in Russian and Western editions.The book contains general information on the oceanic fronts of the Subarctic Seas, brief history of their investigation, state of the knowledge, as well as detailed description of the thermohaline structure of all frontal zones in the Norwegian, Greenland, Barents and Bering Seas and of neighboring fronts of Arctic and coastal origin. Special attention is given to the study of the multifrontal character of the NPFZ and of peculiarities of its internal structure at different locations, to the description of diverse oceanic features observed in the NPFZ, as well as to some characteristics of the horizontal and vertical fine structure of hydrophysical fields in the NPFZ. The main features of the northern Bering Sea's summer ecohydrodynamics are investigated with the help of three-dimensional direct and inverse models.
    • Quaternary Glaciations - Extent and Chronology

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 2
      • October 2, 2004
      • J. Ehlers + 1 more
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 4 0 3 5 5
      • eBook
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      This book is the last of three volumes in which the recent knowledge of the extent and chronology of Quaternary glaciations has been compiled on a global scale. This information is seen as a fundamental requirement, not only for the glacial community, but for the wider user-community of general Quaternary workers. In particular the need for accurate ice-front positions is a basic requirement for the rapidly growing field of palaeoclimate modelling. In order to provide the information for the widest-possible range of users in the most accessible form, a series of digital maps was prepared.The glacial limits were mapped in ArcView, the Geographical Information System (GIS) used by the work group. Included with the publication is a CD with digital maps, showing glacial limits, end moraines, ice-dammed lakes, glacier-induced drainage diversions and the locations of key sections through which the glacial limits are defined and dated. Where controversial interpretations are possible, such as for High Asia, they are indicated. All information on Quaternary glaciations worldwide is presented for the first time in a uniform format, including the mountain glaciations of regions such as Costa Rica, Ethiopia or Taiwan. The digital maps in this volume cover Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australasia, Antarctica. Both overview maps and more detailed maps at a scale 1: 1,000,000 are provided.Also available: Part I: Europe, ISBN 0-444-51462-7 Part II: North America, ISBN 0-444-51592-5