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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.

  • Waves on Beaches and Resulting Sediment Transport

    Proceedings of an Advanced Seminar, Conducted by the Mathematics Research Center, the University of Wisconsin, and the Coastal Engineering Research Center, U. S. Army, at Madison, October 11–13, 1971
    • 1st Edition
    • R. E. Meyer
    • English
    Waves on Beaches and Resulting Sediment Transport documents the proceedings of an Advanced Seminar held in October, 1971, aiming to offer a coherent, interdisciplinary view of the state of physical research in coastal oceanography and the direction in which this subject is moving. The articles range from wave refraction to littoral erosion, and the authors from geologists to mathematicians. The book opens with a study on the characteristics of wave records in the coastal zone. This is followed by separate chapters on sediment transport in beaches; equations for water waves; small-amplitude normal oscillations of a liquid body; and wave behavior near caustics in models and in nature. Subsequent chapters deal with nonlinear wave interaction in a variety of physical phenomena including deep water waves; the study of longshore currents; sediment suspension by periodic waves; forms of sediment accumulation in the beach zone; run-up on beaches; and the wave breaking process in shallow water.
  • Aeronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • P. M. Banks + 1 more
    • English
    Aeronomy, Part A is an attempt to make a comprehensive exposition of the processes in aeronomy, the study of composition, movement, and thermal balance of the upper regions of the planetary atmosphere. The text covers topics such as atmospheric regions and atmospheric density, the temperature and molecular mass of the atmosphere; the permanent constituents and the molecular and isotonic composition of the homosphere; and the transition from the homosphere to the heterosphere. Also covered are topics such as the temperature gradient and energies in the thermosphere, conditions at 200km and above 250km, solar radiation and ionization, and aeronomic reactions. The book is recommended for scientists, especially natural physicists, who would like to know more about the field of aeronomy and its advances.
  • Volcanic Activity and Human Ecology

    • 1st Edition
    • Payson D. Sheets + 1 more
    • English
    Volcanic Activity and Human Ecology deals with dating, chronology, stratigraphy, volcanic activity, and with the impacts of volcanism on animals, plants, human populations, and the environment. Some of the chapters explain how such findings must be weighed against other causes that influence human behavior and survival, such as factors of social customs, climatic change, shifting biogeographic patterns, disease, and the ability to adapt. Each of the chapters that assess the possible human response to volcanism does so by searching for multiple explanations of the archaeological record, avoiding the simple argument that people were dramatically and inevitably overcome by catastrophic geologic events. The book begins with discussions of volcanism as seen by geologists and pedologists. These include s a general overview of volcanoes and volcanism; a review of the production, dispersal, and properties of tephra and of the geologic methods used to study tephra; and the nature of volcanic soils and their economic impact. Subsequent chapters use the geologic and modern records to examine volcanoes as hazards to people. The final series of papers deals with the interrelationships between volcanism and human occupations as seen through the archaeological, paleobotanical, and paleozoological records.
  • Clays and Clay Minerals

    Proceedings of the Ninth National Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals
    • 1st Edition
    • Ada Swineford
    • English
    Earth Sciences, Volume 11: Clays and Clay Minerals covers the proceedings of the Ninth National Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals, held at the Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana on October 5-8, 1960, sponsored by the Committee on Clay Minerals of the National Academy of Sciences – National Research Council. The Conference features two symposia, namely, the “Engineering Aspects of Physico-Chemical Properties of Clays” and the “Clay-Organic Complexes”. This book is composed of 42 chapters and begins with descriptions of the mechanical, structural, thermodynamic, physical, and thermal properties of clay minerals. The succeeding chapters are devoted to certain reactions, theoretical and experimental aspects, occurrence, formation, and sorption properties of these minerals. Other chapters explore other involved mineral reactions, including interlamellar, cation exchange, swelling, and adsorption. The concluding chapters examine the viscometric constants of suspension, stabilization mechanism, and random growth of certain clay minerals. This book will be of value to geologists, mineralogists, and researchers in the field.
  • Mathematical Aspects of Seismology

    Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics
    • 1st Edition
    • Markus Båth
    • English
    Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics, 4: Mathematical Aspects of Seismology introduces studies of the more advanced parts of theoretical seismology. The manuscript first ponders on contour integration and conformal transformation, methods of stationary phase and steepest descent, and series integration. Discussions focus on Love waves in heterogeneous isotropic media, Laguerre's differential equation, Hermite's differential equation, method of steepest descent, method of stationary phase, contour integration in the complex plane, and conformal transformation. The text then examines series integration, Bessel functions, Legendre functions, and wave equations. Topics include general considerations of the wave equation, expansion of a spherical wave into plane waves, common features of special functions and special differential equations, applications of Legendre functions, Legendre polynomials, Bessel's differential equation, and properties of Bessel coefficients. The book explores the influence of gravity on wave propagation, matrix calculus, wave propagation in liquid media, integral equations, calculus of variations, and integral transforms. The text is a valuable source of data for researchers wanting to study the mathematical aspects of seismology.
  • A Colour Guide to Clouds

    • 1st Edition
    • Richard Scorer + 1 more
    • R. S. Scorer + 1 more
    • English
    A Colour Guide to Clouds contains 48 pictures that illustrate the most important cloud making processes. These pictures provide insights into the mode of formation of almost every cloud. This book is composed of six sections, and begins with an introduction to cloud name identification and the importance of clouds in the circumstances in which they occur. The succeeding sections deal with the major cloud names, namely, cumulus, cirrus, nimbus, and stratus. These topics are followed by illustrations of various cloud forms, the low pressure area of clouds, as well as ice clouds. The final chapters contain text and colored plates of different cloud forms. This book will prove useful to meteorologists, naturalists, and cloud scientists and researchers.
  • The Platyrrhine Fossil Record

    • 1st Edition
    • John G. Fleagle + 1 more
    • English
    The Platyrrhine Fossil Record is a compendium of papers presented in a symposium of the 12th Congress of the International Congress of Primatology held in Brazil. One paper reviews evidence from fossil platyrrhines where the author concludes new dating and environmental data where these animals lived. Another paper describes the major changes pertaining to South American mammalian fauna during the Cenozoic Era, which he relates to global and regional geotectonic changes. Other papers review the paleontology and geology of the Miocene Pintura Formation and reassess the morphological transformations traditionally assumed as having been involved in platyrrhine phylogeny. One author also proposes that a prosimian-like ancestor is probably the predecessors of anthropoids; any similarities and primitive mammals can be evolutionary reversals associated with quadrupedal movements. The text also addresses the issue whether anthropoids, including platyrrhines, evolved from a prosimian ancestor or prosimians are just a group with mammalian postcranial skeletal structure. One author also reviews fossil remains found in the Caribbean, citing seven endemic taxa of platyrrhines in Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica. Anthropologists, researchers involved in anatomical sciences, academicians, and administrators whose works are connected with museums of natural history or institutes of primate research will find this collection valuable.
  • Regulatory Change in an Atmosphere of Crisis

    Current Implications of the Roosevelt Years
    • 1st Edition
    • Gary M. Walton
    • English
    Regulatory Change in an Atmosphere of Crisis: Current Implications of the Roosevelt Years is a collection of papers presented at a conference on Regulatory Change in an Atmosphere of Crisis: The Current-Day Implications of the Roosevelt Years, held in April 1978, at Washington State University. The book presents the findings on several of the major economic reforms of the Roosevelt years and assesses their implications. The text discusses a variety of issues of the period such as the short term measures implemented during the crisis of the 1930s; the Roosevelt New Deal and its consequences; banking reforms in the 1930s; and the social welfare programs that originated in the Roosevelt years. Historians, economists, financial experts, and students will find the book a great source of insight and information.
  • Fossil and Living Dinoflagellates

    • 1st Edition
    • W. A. S. Sarjeant
    • English
    Fossil and Living Dinoflagellates presents a detailed account of the cell physiology, morphology, and mode of life of dinoflagellates. This book discusses the development in the research, both on fossil and living dinoflagellates. Organized into nine chapters, this book begins with an overview of dinoflagellates as the most important producers of luminescence in the oceans, which sometimes cause tropical seas to glow with phosphorescent light. This text then examines the characteristic feature of dinoflagellates to possess two flagella. Other chapters consider the sequence of events during reproduction in the armored dinoflagellate Glenodinium foliaceum based on culture. This book discusses as well the encystment in non-marine dinoflagellates, which occurs in response to the oncoming of adverse environmental conditions. The final chapter deals with the distribution pattern of dinoflagellate cysts in fossil sediments. This book is a valuable resource for marine biologists, zoologist, paleontologists, micropaleontologists... geologists, taxonomists, microscopists, geneticists, and research workers.
  • The Lunar Surface Layer

    Materials and Characteristics
    • 1st Edition
    • John W. Salisbury + 1 more
    • English
    The Lunar Surface Layer: Materials and Characteristics focuses on the characteristics, nature, and materials located in the lunar surface layer, including lunar soil mechanics, water vapor adsorption, and soil behavior. The selection first elaborates on soil mechanics considerations in the testing of lunar soil models, an experimental study in lunar soil mechanics, and gravity effects on soil behavior. Discussions focus on cohesion in lunar soils, gravity effect on dynamic shear strength of soils, porosity, soil bearing strength, lunar effects, soil cohesion in the lunar environment, gradation, structure and contact characteristics, and statics and dynamics. The book then examines the investigation of soil adhesion under high vacuum; water vapor adsorption behavior of kaolinite after high-vacuum storage; and sonic velocity and shear strength of possible lunar surface materials. Concerns cover shear strength, sonic velocity, experimental apparatus, and calibration. The manuscript takes a look at the consideration of properties of simulated lunar soil with possible stabilization techniques; feasibility of remote compositional mapping of the lunar surface; thermal emission characteristics of mineral dusts; and thermal properties of postulated lunar surface materials. The selection is highly recommended for researchers wanting to study the lunar surface layer.
  • On the Nature of Continental Shelves

    • 1st Edition
    • John J Walsh
    • English
    On the Nature of Continental Shelves discusses continental margins using techniques of systems analysis applied on minicomputers. The book describes insights and theories of mechanisms of enhanced primary production at the continental shelves, emphasizing these as the source energy, food, and recreation, and a possible means to detect global change while in its early phases. The text explains circulation, equations of motion, Ekman dynamics, and baroclinic effects of vertical changes in water density. Production in the seas involves the process of photosynthesis by organisms in which instruments on aircraft platforms can measure salinity and chlorophyll fluorescence. During photosynthesis, some of the light energy absorbed by phytoplankton pigments is emitted as fluorescence, at longer wavelengths, which can then detected. Adult fish and crustaceans are mobile and add a biological vector to the physical movement of organisms on the continental shelves. The book examines food limitation and the conditions of the Bering Sea, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico. The text also investigates sinking losses, present depocenters, atmospheric forcing, eutrophication, overfishing, and the effects of climate on primary production at the continental shelves. The book can be beneficial for students of meteorology, oceanography as well as to marine ecologists, biologists, and environmentalists.
  • Descriptive Micrometeorology

    • 1st Edition
    • R. E. Munn
    • H. E. Landsberg + 1 more
    • English
    Descriptive Micrometeorology compiles views and findings in micrometeorology, which is concerned with the surface boundary layer or thin slice of atmosphere extending from the ground up to a height of approximately 50 meters. This book describes the micrometeorology of soil, short vegetation, forest, water, ice, snow, and built-up urban surfaces. The properties and influence of the planetary boundary layer are not included. The topics discussed include the energy balance at the earth-atmosphere boundary, radiative flux divergence, factors influencing air temperatures, and Kolmogorov similarity theory. The Eddy correlation method for measuring evaporation, radiation balance of snow and ice surfaces, heat storage and horizontal advection in water, and changes in wind patterns are also covered. This publication is intended for meteorologists, but is also a good reference for chemists, engineers, geographers, botanists, hydrologists, health physicists, glaciologists, town planners, limnologists, oceanographers, air pollution control officers, foresters, and ecologists interested in the surface boundary layer.
  • Descriptive Meteorology

    • 2nd Edition
    • Hurd C. Willett + 1 more
    • English
    Descriptive Meteorology, Second Edition describes the principal weather phenomena. This book consists of 10 chapters. Chapter I discusses the composition and vertical extent of the atmosphere. The adiabatic changes and vertical stability of the atmosphere are considered in Chapter II, while the heat balance of the atmosphere and observed temperature distribution are explained in Chapter III. The fourth chapter elaborates the condensation processes in the atmosphere and their respective forms. In Chapter V, the determination of wind velocity and vertical distribution of winds in the atmosphere are analyzed. The formation of characteristic air masses in the general circulation with the migratory types of cyclones, anticyclones, and tropical hurricanes and small-scale circulations which constitute most local weather phenomena are covered in Chapters VI to IX. The last chapter discusses the principles of weather forecasting and modification and present prospects for advances in meteorology. This edition is a good reference for meteorologists and college students familiar with general physics and elementary calculus.
  • Advances in Geophysical Research

    Volume 2
    • 1st Edition
    • Editorial Committee of Advances in Geoph
    • English
    Advances in Geophysical Research, Vol. 2 introduces the theoretical and applied research on geophysics and seismology, earthquake prediction, and instrumentation in China. This book discusses the frictional resistance of fault slip; analysis of hypocenter location capability of a regional seismic network; and experimental study of electromagnetic emission during rock fracture. The possible triggering mechanism for a type of earthquake swarms; geographical distribution of the gravitational oceanic tidal load on the BTTZ area and mainland, China; and isostasy and crustal structure of Panzhihua-Xiehang Region in Southwestern China are also deliberated. This text likewise covers model 763 long-period seismograph and earthquake prediction research. This publication is a good reference for students and researchers aiming to acquire knowledge on the geophysics and seismology in China.
  • Lithostratigraphic Analysis of Sedimentary Basins

    • 1st Edition
    • C. E. B. Conybeare
    • English
    Lithostratigraphic Analysis of Sedimentary Basins deals with the concepts and methodology of lithostratigraphic analysis used to elucidate various aspects of the geological history of sedimentary layers within a basin. The principles of stratigraphy and sedimentation as well as the influence of tectonism are discussed, along with their relevance to a variety of methods employed in the analysis of sedimentary basins. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with a classification of sedimentary basins and an overview of the methods used in their analysis. Certain lithological features, including sedimentary structures, textures, and assemblages of features that are considered to be diagnostic or indicative of particular depositional environments, are discussed, together with their implications for interpretations of the geologic history of a sedimentary basin on the basis of both macrostratigraphic and microstratigraphic criteria. Other lithologic analyses that are mentioned relate to petrophysical properties such as porosity and permeability and to chemical properties such as trace element, organic, and hydrocarbon content. Methods employed in the examination of outcrops and rock samples are also considered. The final chapter describes the application of sedimentary basin analysis to exploration of oil and gas, coal, and minerals, together with potential storage reservoirs for natural gas. This monograph will be of interest to geophysicists, geologists, geophysicists, and engineers.
  • Sporopollenin

    Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the Geology Department, Imperial College, London, 23–25 September, 1970
    • 1st Edition
    • J. Brooks + 2 more
    • English
    Sporopollenin presents the proceedings of a Symposium held at the Geology Department, Imperial College, London, on September 23-25, 1970. The book discusses the functional roles of spore and pollen grain walls, the sporopollenin concept, as well as spore wall patterning. The text also describes the role played by sporopollenin in the development of pollen in Pinus banksiana; the morphological and fluorescence microscopical investigation on sporopollenin formation at Pinus sylyestris and Gasteria verrucosa; and primuline-induced fluorescence of the first exine elements and ubisch bodies in Ipomoea and Lilium. The ultrastructural and chemical studies of pollen wall development in the Epacridaceae; the implications on the nature of sporopollenin based upon pollen development; and the production of sporopollenin by the Tapetom are also considered. The book further tackles the resistance and stratification of the exine; the preservation of sporopollenin membranes under natural conditions; and a paleobiological definition of sporopollenin. The text also encompasses the aspects of sporin on the aromatization of sporin and the hydrogen density of the sporin of carboniferous lycopsids; the chemistry of sporopollenin; and some chemical and geochemical studies on sporopollenin. The petrology and geochemistry of sporinite; the application of diagenesis of sporopollenin and other comparable organic substances to hydrocarbon research; and the thermal degradation of sporopollenin and the genesis of hydrocarbons are also looked into. Botanists and microbiologists will find the book invaluable.
  • Geophysics in the Affairs of Man

    A Personalized History of Exploration Geophysics and Its Allied Sciences of Seismology and Oceanography
    • 1st Edition
    • Charles C. Bates + 2 more
    • English
    Geophysics in the Affairs of Man: A Personalized History of Exploration Geophysics and its Allied Sciences of Seismology and Oceanography describes many of the key and intriguing developments which took place within several major fields of geophysics. This book is composed of nine chapters that focus on the geophysical enterprise as an interplay of technical, social, and economic factors. After a brief overview of geophysics activity before the World War I, this book goes on the period of the so-called ""golden days"" of exploration geophysics. The succeeding chapter deals with the exploration geophysics during the global war, particularly the classical seismological activity during this time. These topics are followed by discussions of the geophysical activities from 1945 to 1960, as well as the introduction of oceanography field. Other chapters cover the interaction between geophysics and ecology, as well as OPEC during the period of 1970s and early 1980s. The final chapters consider the status and nature of geophysical exploration industry. This book will prove useful to geophysicists, historians, and researchers in the allied fields.
  • The Geology of the U.S.S.R.

    A Short Outline
    • 1st Edition
    • D. V. Nalivkin
    • Earl Ingerson
    • English
    The Geology of the U.S.S.R: A Short Outline is a 10-chapter text that considers the topographical features, the main stratigraphical description, tectonics, magmatism, and economic deposits of U.S.S.R. territories. The entire US.S.R territory covers an area of approximately eight and a half million square miles, or about one-sixth of the total land surface of the Earth. The first chapters explore the geological features of specific territories, including the mainland, Siberian platform, West Siberian lowlands, Ural Mountains, and Western Arctic and Timan. The remaining chapters deal with other territories, such as the Angara, Pacific Ocean, and Mediterranean geosynclines, Central Asia, and North-Western border of the Mediterranean geosyncline. This book will prove useful to practitioners of general geology, petrology, economic geology, and geography.
  • Air Pollution

    Meteorology Division
    • 1st Edition
    • R. S. Scorer
    • R. S. Scorer
    • English
    Air Pollution presents the fundamental mechanisms whereby pollution is diffused and transported in the atmosphere. This book aims to provide practitioners a correct basis for their decisions. Organized into seven chapters, this book starts with an overview of the diurnal variation of heat received and lost by the ground under clear sky. This text then describes the concept and interesting effects of fumigation, which is the sudden increase in low level pollution in the morning. Other chapters examine the mechanism of high level inversions, which set a limit to the upward dispersal of pollution and influence the effects of large sources of pollution. This book discusses as well the effects caused by valleys and sloping ground in low level accumulation of pollution. The final chapter deals with the repercussions of air pollution on health and damage to materials. This book is a valuable resource for industrial engineers, environmentalists, and scientists.
  • Radiative Heat Exchange in the Atmosphere

    • 1st Edition
    • K. Ya. Kondrat'Yev
    • English
    Radiative Heat Exchange in the Atmosphere analyzes the concerns in thermal radiation and the radiation balance of the earth's surface and of the atmosphere. The text first covers the basic definitions and concepts, and then proceeds to discussing the development of basic theories of actinometric measurements of thermal radiation fluxes. Next, the selection deals with the absorption of long-wave radiation in the atmosphere. In the fourth chapter, the title covers the solution of the problem of radiative heat transfer in the atmosphere. Chapter 5 details the examination of the approximate methods of calculation of thermal radiation fluxes, while Chapter 6 discusses the problem of the atmosphere and the net radiation at the ground. The seventh chapter tackles the radiation balance, and the last chapter covers the features of the methods and the results of calculating temperature changes caused by radiation. The book will be of great use to researchers and practitioners of astrophysics and meteorology. Ecologists and other environmental scientist will also benefit from the text.
  • Solar Energy Conversion

    An Introductory Course
    • 1st Edition
    • A. E. Dixon + 1 more
    • English
    Solar Energy Conversion: An Introductory Course is a collection of papers that deals with the technical, mechanical, and operation concerns in converting solar energy. The title first details solar radiation, and then proceeds to discussing solar collectors. Next, the selection covers selective surfaces and the thermal regulation of buildings. The text also talks about planning of solar architectures. The next part tackles topics about the direct conversion of solar energy. Part VII discusses the control and measurement of collected solar energy, while Part VIII covers bioconversion and biomass. The book will be of great use to engineering and science students. Professionals involved in the research and development of solar technology will also benefit from the text.
  • The Genesis and Classification of Cold Soils

    • 1st Edition
    • Samuel Rieger
    • English
    The Genesis and Classification of Cold Soils exposes the processes involved in the development of the principal kinds of soils that occur in cold regions and introduces readers to the classification of those soils. The book uses the terminologies and concepts of the description of soils provided by the Soil Taxonomy of the United States. Topics covered in the book include aspects of temperature relationships in cold soils; effects of freezing temperatures on the soil properties; the salient features of the U.S. Soil Taxonomy system; and the taxonomies of Canada, the U.S.S.R., and The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Pedologists, agriculturists, engineers, and researchers will find the book insightful.
  • Glaciated Coasts

    • 1st Edition
    • Duncan M. Fitzgerald + 1 more
    • English
    Glaciated Coasts is a collection of articles that deals with shoreline morphologies of glaciated coasts and the processes that formed these coastlines in North America. This book examines nonsandy shorelines and covers a range of geologic and geographic coastal settings in a northern-southern order. This text investigates and compares the glaciated northern shorelines. These shorelines north of the glacial limit are mostly of the primary form in different stages of modification by marine agents. Shorelines are associated with embayments; baymouth barriers in turn enclose embayments. This book describes beaches as having coarse or mixed sediment populations. Most beaches worldwide have gravel clasts that have been rounded and sorted by marine processes. In the southeastern coast of Alaska, active tectonics on a mountainous shoreline is evident. The region also shows emergent and submerging shorelines with a glacial imprint undergoing formation by modern processes. This book also gives examples of gravel beach environments in various coastal settings. This book can prove useful for students of meteorology, oceanography as well as to marine ecologists and biologists. It can also benefit readers whose interest lie with coastal environment or with the general earth sciences.
  • Optimal Seismic Deconvolution

    An Estimation-Based Approach
    • 1st Edition
    • Jerry M. Mendel
    • English
    Optimal Seismic Deconvolution: An Estimation-Based Approach presents an approach to the problem of seismic deconvolution. It is meant for two different audiences: practitioners of recursive estimation theory and geophysical signal processors. The book opens with a chapter on elements of minimum-variance estimation that are essential for all later developments. Included is a derivation of the Kaiman filter and discussions of prediction and smoothing. Separate chapters follow on minimum-variance deconvolution; maximum-likelihood and maximum a posteriori estimation methods; the philosophy of maximum-likelihood deconvolution (MLD); and two detection procedures for determining the location parameters in the input sequence product model. Subsequent chapters deal with the problem of estimating the parameters of the source wavelet when everything else is assumed known a priori; estimation of statistical parameters when the source wavelet is known a priori; and a different block component method for simultaneously estimating all wavelet and statistical parameters, detecting input signal occurrence times, and deconvolving a seismic signal. The final chapter shows how to incorporate the simplest of all models—the normal incidence model—into the maximum-likelihood deconvolution procedure.
  • Finite Element Simulation in Surface and Subsurface Hydrology

    • 1st Edition
    • George F. Pinder + 1 more
    • English
    Finite Element Simulation in Surface and Subsurface Hydrology provides an introduction to the finite element method and how the method is applied to problems in surface and subsurface hydrology. The book presents the basic concepts of the numerical methods and the finite element approach; applications to problems on groundwater flow and mass and energy transport; and applications to problems that involve surface water dynamics. Computational methods for the solution of differential equations; classification of partial differential equations; finite difference and weighted residual integral techniques; and The Galerkin finite element method are discussed as well. The text will be of value to engineers, hydrologists, and students in the field of engineering.
  • The Problems of Birds as Pests

    Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the Royal Geographical Society, London, on 28 and 29 September 1967
    • 1st Edition
    • R. K. Murton + 1 more
    • English
    The Problems of Birds as Pests covers the proceedings of the symposium held at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 28 and 29 September 1967. The text focuses on the problems posed by birds on agriculture and air transport, as well as control of population, scaring techniques, and warning systems. The selection first discusses prospective considerations concerning bio-acoustics in relation to bird-scaring techniques and recent developments in bird scaring on airfields. Topics include system of behavior and hierarchy of signals, informative content of acoustic signals, and signal-noise ratio. The book also ponders on bird recognition by radar and bird warning system for aircrafts in flight. The publication reviews the rook issue in North-East Scotland and the problems brought by the oystercatchers, including availability of field crops and their utilization by rooks, rook population, and food intake of the birds and comparison with stock and fishing levels. The manuscript then surveys predator-prey relationships in bird damage and population control and the quelea problem in Africa. The selection is a valuable source of information for ornithologists and readers interested in the characteristic of birds as pests.
  • Methods of Celestial Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Dirk Brouwer + 1 more
    • English
    Methods of Celestial Mechanics provides a comprehensive background of celestial mechanics for practical applications. Celestial mechanics is the branch of astronomy that is devoted to the motions of celestial bodies. This book is composed of 17 chapters, and begins with the concept of elliptic motion and its expansion. The subsequent chapters are devoted to other aspects of celestial mechanics, including gravity, numerical integration of orbit, stellar aberration, lunar theory, and celestial coordinates. Considerable chapters explore the principles and application of various mathematical methods. This book is of value to mathematicians, physicists, astronomers, and celestial researchers.
  • Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology

    International Series of Monographs on Earth Sciences, Vol. 2
    • 1st Edition
    • Vladimír Pokorný
    • John W. Neale
    • English
    Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology, Volume 2 highlights the morphological, phylogenetic and ecological analysis of microfossils. This book is composed of eight chapters that survey the most important microfossil taxa, their variety of form, evolution, relationships, and distribution. The first chapters describe the general morphology and characteristics of skeletal elements of main groups of sponges, melanoscleritoids, polychaetes, and conodonts. Other chapters deal with the anatomy, reproduction, ecology, phylogenetics, classification, and geological distribution of Ostracod and Echinodermata. The last chapters examine the morphological, phylogenetic, and structural aspects of class Ascidiacea and fish microfossils. This book is of great value to micropalaeontologist... zoologists, phylogeneticists, and taxonomists.
  • Environmental Oceanography

    An Introduction to the Behaviour of Coastal Waters
    • 1st Edition
    • Tom Beer
    • English
    Environmental Oceanography: An Introduction of the Behaviour of the Coastal Water covers the physical environment in coastal water. This book is composed of thirteen chapters, and begins with an overview of the coastal oceanography field. The succeeding chapters deal with the natural processes along the shore, the concept of wave and tides, water composition and circulation, and boundary layers. These topics are followed by discussions on ocean water flow, coastal meteorology, estuaries, and reefs. The final chapters present the application of direct and remote sensing and data analysis. This book will prove useful to divers, environmental managers, environmental administrators, and students.
  • Aeronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • P. M. Banks + 1 more
    • English
    Aeronomy, Part B discusses the scientific discipline devoted to the study of the composition, movement, and thermal balance of planetary atmospheres. The book presents the comprehensive exposition of the basic processes involved in the aeronomy of the earth’s upper atmosphere. It demonstrates the chemical, ionic reactions, and the different collisional interactions involving particles and radiation. The text describes the molecular diffusion and its effects in producing the transition from homogeneous molecular gases of lower atmosphere to the heterogeneous atomic and molecular gases of the upper atmosphere. It also discusses the simple models of the ionospheres. Another topic of interest is the calculations of atmospheric photoionization. The section that follows describes the satellite and external hyperbolic particles. The book will provide valuable insights for engineers, scientists, students, and researchers in the field of space science.
  • Measuring Ocean Currents

    Tools, Technologies, and Data
    • 1st Edition
    • Antony Joseph
    • English
    Measuring Ocean Currents: Tools, Technologies, and Data covers all major aspects of ocean current measurements in view of the implications of ocean currents on changing climate, increasing pollution levels, and offshore engineering activities. Although more than 70% of the Earth is covered by ocean, there is limited information on the countless fine- to large-scale water motions taking place within them. This book fills that information gap as the first work that summarizes the state-of-the-art methods and instruments used for surface, subsurface, and abyssal ocean current measurements. Readers of this book will find a wealth of information on Lagrangian measurements, horizontal mapping, imaging, Eulerian measurements, and vertical profiling techniques. In addition, the book describes modern technologies for remote measurement of ocean currents and their signatures, including HF Doppler radar systems, satellite-borne sensors, ocean acoustic tomography, and more. Crucial aspects of ocean currents are described in detail as well, including dispersion of effluents discharged into the sea and transport of beneficial materials—as well as environmentally hazardous materials—from one region to another. The book highlights several important practical applications, showing how measurements relate to climate change and pollution levels, how they affect coastal and offshore engineering activities, and how they can aid in tsunami detection.
  • Carbonate Reservoirs

    Porosity and Diagenesis in a Sequence Stratigraphic Framework
    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 67
    • Clyde H. Moore + 1 more
    • English
    The 2nd Edition of Carbonate Reservoirs aims to educate graduate students and industry professionals on the complexities of porosity evolution in carbonate reservoirs. In the intervening 12 years since the first edition, there have been numerous studies of value published that need to be recognized and incorporated in the topics discussed. A chapter on the impact of global tectonics and biological evolution on the carbonate system has been added to emphasize the effects of global earth processes and the changing nature of life on earth through Phanerozoic time on all aspects of the carbonate system. The centerpiece of this chapter—and easily the most important synthesis of carbonate concepts developed since the 2001 edition—is the discussion of the CATT hypothesis, an integrated global database bringing together stratigraphy, tectonics, global climate, oceanic geochemistry, carbonate platform characteristics, and biologic evolution in a common time framework. Another new chapter concerns naturally fractured carbonates, a subject of increasing importance, given recent technological developments in 3D seismic, reservoir modeling, and reservoir production techniques.
  • Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity

    • 1st Edition
    • Wai-Fah Chen
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Volume 7: Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity covers the theory and applications of limit analysis as applied to soil mechanics. Organized into 12 chapters, the book presents an introduction to the modern development of theory of soil plasticity and includes rock-like material. The first four chapters of the book describe the technique of limit analysis, beginning with the historical review of the subject and the assumptions on which it is based, and then covering various aspects of available techniques of limit analysis. The subsequent chapters deal with the applications of limit analysis to what may be termed “classical soil mechanics problems” that include bearing capacity of footings, lateral earth pressure problems, and stability of slopes. In many cases, comparisons of limit analysis solution and conventional limit equilibrium and slip-like solutions are also presented. Other chapters deal with the advances in bearing-capacity problem of concrete blocks or rock and present theoretical and experimental results of various concrete bearing problems. The concluding chapter examines elastic-plastic soil and elastic-plastic-frac... models for concrete materials. This book is an ideal resource text to geotechnical engineers and soil mechanics researchers.
  • Managing Ocean Environments in a Changing Climate

    Sustainability and Economic Perspectives
    • 1st Edition
    • Kevin J. Noone + 2 more
    • English
    Managing Ocean Environments in a Changing Climate summarizes the current state of several threats to the global oceans. What distinguishes this book most from previous works is that this book begins with a holistic, global-scale focus for the first several chapters and then provides an example of how this approach can be applied on a regional scale, for the Pacific region. Previous works usually have compiled local studies, which are essentially impossible to properly integrate to the global scale. The editors have engaged leading scientists in a number of areas, such as fisheries and marine ecosystems, ocean chemistry, marine biogeochemical cycling, oceans and climate change, and economics, to examine the threats to the oceans both individually and collectively, provide gross estimates of the economic and societal impacts of these threats, and deliver high-level recommendations.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 121
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. As always, the subjects covered are varied and exemplary of the myriad of subject matter dealt with by this long-running serial.
  • The Biogeography of the Australian North West Shelf

    Environmental Change and Life's Response
    • 1st Edition
    • Barry Wilson
    • English
    The Biogeography of the Australian North West Shelf provides the first assembly of existing information of the North West Shelf in terms of geological, oceanographic and climatological history and current understanding of such issues as biodiversity, connectivity, larval dispersal and speciation in the sea that determine the distribution patterns of its invertebrate fauna. It is intended as a source of information and ideas on the biota of the shelf and its evolutionary origins and affinities and the environmental drivers of species’ ecology and distribution and ecosystem function. Regulators and industry environmental managers worldwide, but especially on the resource-rich North West Shelf, are faced with having to make decisions without adequate information or understanding of conservation values or the factors that drive ecosystem processes and resilience in the face of increasing anthropogenic and natural change. This book will provide a resource of information and ideas and extensive references to issues of primary concern. It will provide a big-picture narrative, putting the marine biota into a geological, evolutionary, and regional biodiversity context.
  • Grouting Theory and Practice

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 57
    • E. Nonveiller
    • English
    Grouting is a construction process by means of which the highly erratic permeability and deformability of foundation rock and soil are homogenized. The main parameter governing the design and construction of grouting works is the permeability of the rock or soil, which is established by means of field permeability tests. This book assembles information on rock and soil grouting from various sources, together with the author's personal experience on several grouting projects. Some aspects of permeability testing of rock and soils are elaborated, and the use of theoretical ground water percolation studies for clarification of design options for grout curtains are presented. The results achieved by grouting are presented and analysed on examples of constructed grouting works (curtains, tunnels, foundations, lifting of structures).Particul... of the performance of the permeability tests and their evaluation are studied in some detail, since they can very much distort the results obtained, and thus lead to erroneous design assumptions. Systematic grouting and adjustment of the injection process to the development of grout consumption and pressure during injection is discussed in connection with the achievement of the required permeability standard. The application of grouting to reduce the permeability and the deformability of the foundation of dams and hydrotechnical structures is presented, together with a number of illustrative examples. Characteristics of contact and consolidation grouting of dam foundations and tunnel linings are described. The possibilities and examples of rock prestressing by means of grouting are reported, and the results from several applications are discussed. Examples of lifting and levelling leaning structures by means of grouting are also reviewed. The book is illustrated by 180 drawings and 20 photographs, and a list of symbols used in the formulae, plus a glossary of specific terms used in grouting, are included at the end of the book.The book is intended for organizations, civil engineers and geologists involved in the exploration, design, construction and supervision of large dams, hydroelectric power projects, tunnels and other underground works. Teachers and students of civil engineering courses in geotechnics, building and construction, rock mechanics, soil mechanics, engineering geology, and some aspects of mining engineering will also find the book useful.
  • Handbook of Clay Science

    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 5
    • English
    The first edition of the Handbook of Clay Science published in 2006 assembled the scattered literature on the varied and diverse aspects that make up the discipline of clay science. The topics covered range from the fundamental structures (including textures) and properties of clays and clay minerals, through their environmental, health and industrial applications, to their analysis and characterization by modern instrumental techniques. Also included are the clay-microbe interaction, layered double hydroxides, zeolites, cement hydrates, and genesis of clay minerals as well as the history and teaching of clay science. The 2e adds new information from the intervening 6 years and adds some important subjects to make this the most comprehensive and wide-ranging coverage of clay science in one source in the English language.
  • Handbook of Seismic Risk Analysis and Management of Civil Infrastructure Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • S Tesfamariam + 1 more
    • English
    Earthquakes represent a major risk to buildings, bridges and other civil infrastructure systems, causing catastrophic loss to modern society. Handbook of seismic risk analysis and management of civil infrastructure systems reviews the state of the art in the seismic risk analysis and management of civil infrastructure systems.Part one reviews research in the quantification of uncertainties in ground motion and seismic hazard assessment. Part twi discusses methodologies in seismic risk analysis and management, whilst parts three and four cover the application of seismic risk assessment to buildings, bridges, pipelines and other civil infrastructure systems. Part five also discusses methods for quantifying dependency between different infrastructure systems. The final part of the book considers ways of assessing financial and other losses from earthquake damage as well as setting insurance rates.Handbook of seismic risk analysis and management of civil infrastructure systems is an invaluable guide for professionals requiring understanding of the impact of earthquakes on buildings and lifelines, and the seismic risk assessment and management of buildings, bridges and transportation. It also provides a comprehensive overview of seismic risk analysis for researchers and engineers within these fields.
  • Primate Adaptation and Evolution

    • 3rd Edition
    • John G. Fleagle
    • English
    Primate Adaptation and Evolution, Third Edition, is a thorough revision of the text of choice for courses in primate evolution. The book retains its grounding in the extant primate groups as the best way to understand the fossil trail and the evolution of these modern forms. However, this coverage is now streamlined, making reference to the many new and excellent books on living primate ecology and adaptation – a field that has burgeoned since the first edition of Primate Adaptation and Evolution. By drawing out the key features of the extant families and referring to more detailed texts, the author sets the scene and also creates space for a thorough updating of the exciting developments in primate palaeontology – and the reconstruction through early hominid species – of our own human origins. This updated version covers recent developments in primate paleontology and the latest taxonomy, and includes over 200 new illustrations and revised evolutionary trees. This text is ideal for undergraduate and post-graduate students studying the evolution and functional ecology of primates and early fossil hominids.
  • Treatise on Geomorphology

    • 1st Edition
    • John F. Shroder
    • English
    The changing focus and approach of geomorphic research suggests that the time is opportune for a summary of the state of discipline. The number of peer-reviewed papers published in geomorphic journals has grown steadily for more than two decades and, more importantly, the diversity of authors with respect to geographic location and disciplinary background (geography, geology, ecology, civil engineering, computer science, geographic information science, and others) has expanded dramatically. As more good minds are drawn to geomorphology, and the breadth of the peer-reviewed literature grows, an effective summary of contemporary geomorphic knowledge becomes increasingly difficult. The fourteen volumes of this Treatise on Geomorphology will provide an important reference for users from undergraduate students looking for term paper topics, to graduate students starting a literature review for their thesis work, and professionals seeking a concise summary of a particular topic. Information on the historical development of diverse topics within geomorphology provides context for ongoing research; discussion of research strategies, equipment, and field methods, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations reflect the multiple approaches to understanding Earth’s surfaces; and summaries of outstanding research questions highlight future challenges and suggest productive new avenues for research. Our future ability to adapt to geomorphic changes in the critical zone very much hinges upon how well landform scientists comprehend the dynamics of Earth’s diverse surfaces. This Treatise on Geomorphology provides a useful synthesis of the state of the discipline, as well as highlighting productive research directions, that Educators and students/researchers will find useful.
  • Advances in Geophysics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 54
    • English
    The critically acclaimed serialized review journal for over 50 years, Advances in Geophysics is a highly respected publication in the field of geophysics. Since 1952, each volume has been eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. Now in its 54th volume, it contains much material still relevant today--truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of geophysics.
  • Mid-Latitude Slope Deposits (Cover Beds)

    • 1st Edition
    • Birgit Terhorst
    • English
    Slope deposits are common in any inclined relief. So-called cover beds may veil entire landscapes, in which case they are commonly overlooked or confused with soil horizons. This book focuses on these widespread deposits and discusses their properties, genesis, and age mainly in subdued mountains of Central Europe, where to date most research on the matter has been conducted. The ecological consequences of such slope deposits on soils, slope water dynamics, and slope failures are addressed. Finally, transfer of the cover-bed concept to other mid-latitude regions is attempted for the reconstruction of landscape evolution. This unique compilation, covering several decades of a facies-oriented approach to slope-deposit research, delivers deep insight into the wide field of research on cover beds and encourages researchers all over the world to take an in-depth look at the critical zone as to its possible stratified nature.
  • Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems

    • 2nd Edition
    • Paul Selden + 1 more
    • English
    The first edition of Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems was widely praised for its coverage and approach in describing and illustrating 14 well-known fossil sites from around the world. The authors have now updated the text and added 6 new chapters with many new color illustrations. Following a general introduction to fossil Lagerstätten, each chapter deals with a single site and follows the same format: its evolutionary position and significance; its background sedimentology, stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment; a description of the biota and palaeoecology; a comparison with other similar Lagerstätten; and a list of relevant museums and suggestions for visiting the sites. This study of exceptionally well-preserved fossil sites from different periods in geological time provides a picture of the evolution of ecosystems through the ages.
  • Biogeochemistry

    An Analysis of Global Change
    • 3rd Edition
    • W.H. Schlesinger + 1 more
    • English
    Biogeochemistry—winn... of a 2014 Textbook Excellence Award (Texty) from the Text and Academic Authors Association—consider... how the basic chemical conditions of the Earth, from atmosphere to soil to seawater, have been and are being affected by the existence of life. Human activities in particular, from the rapid consumption of resources to the destruction of the rainforests and the expansion of smog-covered cities, are leading to rapid changes in the basic chemistry of the Earth. This expansive text pulls together the numerous fields of study encompassed by biogeochemistry to analyze the increasing demands of the growing human population on limited resources and the resulting changes in the planet's chemical makeup. The book helps students extrapolate small-scale examples to the global level, and also discusses the instrumentation being used by NASA and its role in studies of global change. With extensive cross-referencing of chapters, figures and tables, and an interdisciplinary coverage of the topic at hand, this updated edition provides an excellent framework for courses examining global change and environmental chemistry, and is also a useful self-study guide.
  • Geology and Sedimentology of the Korean Peninsula

    • 1st Edition
    • Sung Kwun Chough
    • English
    Written by one of Korea's most respected earth scientists, Geology and Sedimentology of the Korean Peninsula analyzes sedimentary facies, basin evolution, and sequence stratigraphy to provide answers to depositional processes and environmental changes through the Earth's history, including tectonic events, climate changes, and sea-level fluctuations. This is one of the first books covering the geology of the Korean peninsula. It offers an in-depth exploration of this region, which also allows comparison with sedimentary basins around the world. This is an important book for students, researchers, and professionals working in the geography of East Asia. The study of sedimentary basins can help advance basic understanding of how the Earth's crust developed, as well as offer insights into the influence of environmental and climate change. Sedimentary basins are also of interest due to their importance in the exploration and recovery of natural resources, including oil and gas, water, and industrial minerals.
  • Dynamic Well Testing in Petroleum Exploration and Development

    • 1st Edition
    • Huinong Zhuang
    • English
    Data accumulation, analysis, and interpretation technology are critical in hydrocarbon exploration and extraction to maximize petroleum recovery and development. Dynamic Well Testing in Petroleum Exploration and Development presents modern petroleum exploration and well testing interpretation methods, emphasizing their application and development under special geological and development conditions in oil and gas fields. More than 100 case studies and 250 illustrations—many in full color—aid in the retention of key concepts. Extensive analysis of pressure data acquired from well testing through advanced interpretation software can be tailored to specific reservoir environments. This timely, state-of-the-art reference will be of particular interest to petroleum geoscientists and engineers working for oil and gas companies worldwide.
  • Mineral Exploration

    Principles and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Swapan Kumar Haldar
    • English
    Globally, mineral exploration has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the rapid acceleration in prices for gold and diamonds since 2004 and the emergence of a middle class in both China and India—aggressively increased demand. Despite this resurgence, no single book has been published that takes an interdisciplinary approach in addressing the full scope of mineral exploration—from mining and extraction to economic evaluation, policies, sustainability, and environmental impacts. Mineral Exploration: Principles and Applications accomplishes this by presenting each topic with theoretical approaches first followed by specific applications that can be immediately implemented in the field.
  • Ostracoda as Proxies for Quaternary Climate Change

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 17
    • English
    Ostracod crustaceans, common microfossils in marine and freshwater sedimentary records, supply evidence of past climatic conditions via indicator species, transfer function and mutual climatic range approaches as well as the trace element and stable isotope geochemistry of their shells. As methods of using ostracods as Quaternary palaeoclimate proxies have developed, so too has a critical awareness of their complexities, potential and limitations. This book combines up-to-date reviews (covering previous work and summarising the state of the art) with presentations of new, cutting-edge science (data and interpretations as well as methodological developments) to form a major reference work that will constitute a durable bench-mark in the science of Ostracoda and Quaternary climate change.
  • Unconventional Petroleum Geology

    • 1st Edition
    • Caineng Zou
    • English
    Unconventional Petroleum Geology is the first book of its kind to collectively identify, catalog, and assess the exploration and recovery potential of the Earth's unconventional hydrocarbons. Advances in hydrocarbon technology and petroleum development systems have recently made the exploration of unconventional hydrocarbons—such as shale gas, tight sandstone oil and gas, heavy oil, tar sand, and coalbed methane—the hottest trend in the petroleum industry. Detailed case studies act as real-world application templates, making the book's concepts immediately practical and useful by exploration geologists. The logical and intuitive three-part approach of systematically identifying an unconventional hydrocarbon, cataloguing its accumulation features, and assessing its exploration and recovery potential can be immediately implemented in the field—anywhere in the world.