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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.

  • Sample Return Missions

    The Last Frontier of Solar System Exploration
    • 1st Edition
    • May 10, 2021
    • Andrea Longobardo
    • English
    Sample Return Missions: The Last Frontier of Solar System Exploration examines the discoveries and results obtained from sample return missions of the past, present, and future. It analyses the results in the context of the current state of knowledge and their relation to the formation and evolution of planetary bodies, as well as to the available technologies and techniques. It provides detailed descriptions of experimental procedures applied to returned samples. Beginning with an overview of previous missions, Sample Return Missions then goes on to provide an overview of facilities throughout the world used to analyze the returned samples. Finally, it addresses techniques for collection, transport, and analysis of the samples, with an additional focus on lessons learned and future perspectives. Providing an in-depth examination of a variety of missions, with both scientific and engineering implications, this book is an important resource for the planetary science community, as well as the experimentalist and engineering communities.
  • Landscape Evolution

    Landforms, Ecosystems, and Soils
    • 1st Edition
    • April 30, 2021
    • Jonathan D. Phillips
    • English
    Landscape Evolution: Landforms, Ecosystems and Soils asks us to think holistically, to look for the interactions between the Earth’s component surface systems, to consider how universal laws and historical and geographical contingency work together, and to ponder the implications of nonlinear dynamics in landscapes, ecosystems, and soils. Development, evolution, landforms, topography, soils, ecosystems, and hydrological systems are inextricably intertwined. While empirical studies increasingly incorporate these interactions, theories and conceptual frameworks addressing landforms, soils, and ecosystems are pursued largely independently. This is partly due to different academic disciplines, traditions, and lexicons involved, and partly due to the disparate time scales sometimes encountered. Landscape Evolution explicitly synthesizes and integrates these theories and threads of inquiry, arguing that all are guided by a general principle of efficiency selection. A key theme is that evolutionary trends are probabilistic, emergent outcomes of efficiency selection rather than purported goal functions. This interdisciplinary reference will be useful for academic and research scientists across the Earth sciences.
  • Applied Techniques to Integrated Oil and Gas Reservoir Characterization

    A Problem-Solution Discussion with Geoscience Experts
    • 1st Edition
    • April 9, 2021
    • Enwenode Onajite
    • English
    Over the past several years, there has been a growing integration of data – geophysical, geological, petrophysical, engineering-related, and production-related – in predicting and determining reservoir properties. As such, geoscientists now must learn the technology, processes, and challenges involved within their specific functions in order to optimize planning for oil field development. Applied Techniques to Integrated Oil and Gas Reservoir Characterization presents challenging questions encountered by geoscientists in their day-to-day work in the exploration and development of oil and gas fields and provides potential solutions from experts. From basin analysis of conventional and unconventional reservoirs, to seismic attributes analysis, NMR for reservoir characterization, amplitude versus offset (AVO), well-to-seismic tie, seismic inversion studies, rock physics, pore pressure prediction, and 4D for reservoir monitoring, the text examines challenges in the industry as well as the techniques used to overcome those challenges. This book includes valuable contributions from global industry experts: Brian Schulte (Schiefer Reservoir Consulting), Dr. Neil W. Craigie (Saudi Aramco), Matthijs van der Molen (Shell International E&P), Dr. Fred W. Schroeder (ExxonMobil, retired), Dr. Tharwat Hassane (Schlumberger & BP, retired), and others.
  • Ultraviolet Astronomy and the Quest for the Origin of Life

    • 1st Edition
    • March 27, 2021
    • Ana I. Gomez de Castro
    • English
    Ultraviolet Astronomy and the Quest for the Origin of Life addresses the use of astronomical observations in the ultraviolet range to better understand the generation of complex, life-precursor molecules. The origin of RNA is still under debate but seems to be related to the generation of pools of complex organic molecules submitted to heavy cycles of solution in water and drying. This book investigates whether these cycles require a planetary surface or may occur in space by examining both the theoretical and observational aspects of the role of UV radiation in the origin of life. This book offers the latest advances in these studies for astronomers, astrobiologists and planetary scientists.
  • Climate Change and Extreme Events

    • 1st Edition
    • February 26, 2021
    • Ali Fares
    • English
    Climate Change and Extreme Events uses a multidisciplinary approach to discuss the relationship between climate change-related weather extremes and their impact on human lives. Topics discussed are grouped into four major sections: weather parameters, hydrological responses, mitigation and adaptation, and governance and policies, with each addressed with regard to past, present and future perspectives. Sections give an overview of weather parameters and hydrological responses, presenting current knowledge and a future outlook on air and stream temperatures, precipitation, storms and hurricanes, flooding, and ecosystem responses to these extremes. Other sections cover extreme weather events and discuss the role of the state in policymaking. This book provides a valuable interdisciplinary resource to climate scientists and meteorologists, environmental researchers, and social scientists interested in extreme weather.
  • GPS and GNSS Technology in Geosciences

    • 1st Edition
    • February 18, 2021
    • George P. Petropoulos + 1 more
    • English
    GPS and GNSS Technology in Geosciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to applying advances in GPS/GNSS technology for geoscience research and practice. As GPS/GNSS signals can be used to provide useful information about the Earth’s surface characteristics and land surface composition, GPS equipment and services for commercial purposes continues to grow, thus resulting in new expectations and demands. This book provides case studies for a deeper understanding of the operation and principles of widely applied approaches and the benefits of the technology in everyday research and activities.
  • Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks, and Disasters

    • 2nd Edition
    • February 12, 2021
    • Wilfried Haeberli + 2 more
    • English
    Snow and Ice-Related Hazards, Risks, and Disasters, Second Edition, provides you with the latest scientific developments in sea level rise, permafrost degradation, rock/ice avalanches, glacier surges, glacial lake outburst floods, ice shelf collapses, climate change implications, causality, impacts, preparedness and mitigation. The book takes a geo-scientific approach to the topic while also covering current thinking about directly related social scientific issues that can affect ecosystems and global economies. Special emphasis is placed on the rapidly progressing effects from global warming on the cryosphere, perspectives for the future and latest scientific advances, and technological developments.
  • Nonlinear Ocean Dynamics

    Synthetic Aperture Radar
    • 1st Edition
    • February 9, 2021
    • Maged Marghany
    • English
    Nonlinear Ocean Dynamics: Synthetic Aperture Radar delivers the critical tools needed to understand the latest technology surrounding the radar imaging of nonlinear waves, particularly microwave radar, as a main source to understand, analyze and apply concepts in the field of ocean dynamic surface. Filling the gap between modern physics quantum theory and applications of radar imaging of ocean dynamic surface, this reference is packed with technical details associated with the potentiality of synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The book also includes key methods needed to extract the value-added information necessary, such as wave spectra energy, current pattern velocity, internal waves, and more. This book also reveals novel speculation of a shallow coastal front: named as Quantized Marghany's Front. Rounding out with practical simulations of 4-D wave-current interaction patterns using using radar images, the book brings an effective new source of technology and applications for today’s coastal scientists and engineers.
  • Petroleum Economics and Risk Analysis

    A Practical Guide to E&P Investment Decision-Making
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 71
    • January 29, 2021
    • Mark Cook
    • English
    Petroleum Economics and Risk Analysis: A Practical Guide to E&P Investment Decision-Making, Volume 69, is a practical guide to the economic evaluation, risk evaluation and decision analysis of oil and gas projects through all stages of the asset lifecycle, from exploration to late life opportunities. This book will help readers understand and make decisions with regard to petroleum investment, portfolio analysis, discounting, profitability indicators, decision tree analysis, reserves accounting, exploration and production (E&P) project evaluation, and E&P asset evaluation.
  • The Volcanoes of Mars

    • 1st Edition
    • December 5, 2020
    • James R. Zimbelman + 3 more
    • English
    The Volcanoes of Mars offers a clear, cohesive summary of Mars volcanology. It begins with an introduction to the geology and geography of the red planet and an overview of its volcanic history, and continues to discuss each distinct volcanic province, identifying the common and unique aspects of each region. Incorporating basic volcanological information and constraints on the regional geologic history derived from geologic mapping, the book also examines current constraints on the composition of the volcanic rocks as investigated by both orbiting spacecraft and rovers. In addition, it compares the features of Martian volcanoes to those seen on other volcanic bodies. Concluding with prospects for new knowledge to be gained from future Mars missions, this book brings researchers in volcanology and the study of Mars up to date on the latest findings in the study of volcanoes on Mars, allowing the reader to compare and contrast Martian volcanoes to volcanoes studied on Earth and throughout the Solar System.