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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.

    • Institute of Applied Geology

      • 1st Edition
      • December 4, 2015
      • Ahmad M. S. Al-Shanti
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 4 8 3 1 4 9 4 9 3
      Evolution and Mineralization of the Arabian–Nubian Shield, Volume 3 presents the exploration for mineral resources in the Precambrian basement terrain underlying large areas of the Middle East. This book discusses the geological investigations of the tectonic evolution, structure, and metallogenesis of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Organized into three parts encompassing 13 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the chronologic scheme for the evolution of the southern part of the Arabian Shied and provides evidence of its genesis at a convergent plate margin between blocks of oceanic lithosphere. This text then examines the granitic crust with associated calc-alkaline volcanics of Pan-African age. Other chapters consider the isotopic ages for the rocks of the Egyptian basement complex. This book discusses as well the distribution, form, and variety of intrusive activity in the Jiddah–Rabigh–Wadi Al-Quaha area. The final chapter deals with the properties of igneous rocks from Jordan. This book is a valuable resource for geologists.
    • Geodynamics of Rifting

      • 1st Edition
      • December 4, 2015
      • P.A. Ziegler
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 1 4 9 3 3 0 6 2 3 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 9 5 0 8 4
      This volume contains papers giving an interdisciplinary review of 12 major rift systems from North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. These papers are written by an international group of academic and industrial specialists each of whom is most knowledgeable about the respective rift. The analyzed rifts were selected on the basis of availability of an as-complete-as-possi... geological and geophysical data base. Thirteen papers deal with geodynamic processes governing the evolution of rifts.A comprehensive digest of the available stratigraphic, structural, geophysical and petrological data, together with an extensive list of references, is provided for each of the analyzed rift systems. The megatectonic setting and dynamics of evolution of each basin is discussed. Geodynamic models are tested against the record of the analyzed rifts.The question of "active" as against "passive" rifting is addressed. The rifts analyzed range in age from Precambrian to Recent and cover a wide spectrum of megatectonic settings. There is discussion of the evolution of rifts in a plate-tectonic frame. The case histories are followed by discussions addressing the global setting of rifts and geodynamic processes active during the development of rifted basins.
    • The First British-Soviet Geographical Seminar

      • 1st Edition
      • December 4, 2015
      • F. E. Ian Hamilton
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 4 8 3 1 4 7 4 2 0
      The First British-Soviet Geographical Seminar contains the scientific reports prepared by the participants of First British-Soviet Geographical Seminar held in Great Britain on May 9-20, 1978. The seminar focuses on tendencies in the development of contemporary trends and methods of scientific geographical studies in Soviet Union and Great Britain. Organized into 16 chapters, this book begins with a discussion on the contemporary British geography and modern Soviet geography. Subsequent chapters explore the use of minicomputers in geography teaching; expanded model of curriculum development and diffusion in education; postgraduate research students in British universities; research and application in British geomorphology; and the Soviet physical and biological geography. Other chapters detail landscape protection and development control; aims and implementation in British urban and regional planning; main methods of systems analysis relevant to urban and regional modeling; problems of the inner city; and the statistical and cartographic methods of analyzing spatial patterns of mortality. The geography of mineral supply; socio-economic geography in the U.S.S.R.; and the possibilities for future British-Soviet co-operation in geography are also addressed.
    • Rock Dynamics and Geophysical Exploration

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 8
      • December 4, 2015
      • L.N. Persen
      • English
      • Paperback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 5 6 4 0 6 1
      • eBook
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      Rock Dynamics and Geophysical Exploration: Introduction to Stress Waves in Rocks deals with a theoretical tool for predicting stress waves in rocks. The book considers both elastic and Kelvin type materials, and also explains some experiments of stress waves in rocks. The book reviews concepts in the analysis of stresses and deformations, the fundamental equations used to examine the propagation of stress waves in certain types of solids, and the characteristics features of plane waves in elastic mediums. The text explains wave propagation in rocks due to a detonating charge (resulting in stress waves with a spherical symmetry), the response of a cylinder to an outside excitation (resulting in a cylindrical wave), or a harmonically oscillating stress from an outside excitation (resulting in a harmonic input pulse). The text explains Kelvin materials as a generalization of the behavior of the material where a damping effect is incorporated with the elastic medium being studied. The book also compares experimental results of the application of stress waves in rocks with theory, and explains the sensitivity criteria for tunnels. The text cites as an example, the significance of the interaction between tunnels and shock waves before any tunnel expansion can be made by engineers. The book will prove valuable for geologists or for structural, civil, and mining engineers.
    • Regolith Exploration Geochemistry in Tropical and Subtropical Terrains

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 4
      • December 4, 2015
      • C.R.M. Butt + 1 more
      • English
      • eBook
        9 7 8 1 4 8 3 2 9 1 2 2 2
      The use of exploration geochemistry has increased enormously in the last decade. The present volume specifically addresses those geochemical exploration practices appropriate for tropical, sub-tropical and adjacent areas – in environments ranging from rainforest to desert. Practical recommendations are made for the optimization of sampling, and analytical and interpretational procedures for exploration according to the particular nature of tropically weathered terrains. The underlying theme is the recognition that regions between 35°N and 35°S in particular have a common history of deep chemical weathering and lateritization during the late Mesozoic and early Tertiary. This has had a profound and lasting effect, so that the surface geochemical expressions of mineralization throughout these regions have many similar features, with local modification due to more recent weathering under changed climates.The volume discusses the data derived from numerous research and case studies in terms of exploration and dispersion models based on the weathering and geomorphological history. The models permit valid comparisons between equivalent terrains that may be geographically widely separated and situated in quite different climatic environments. The basis of the volume is to view geochemical dispersion within the context of a genetic understanding of the evolution of landforms and the regolith (i.e. landscape geochemistry) and to develop exploration procedures based on this understanding.This book should be of interest to exploration geochemists, economic geologists, soil scientists, geomorphologists and environmental geochemists.
    • Global Physical Climatology

      • 2nd Edition
      • December 3, 2015
      • Dennis L. Hartmann
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 1 2 3 2 8 5 3 1 7
      • eBook
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      Global Physical Climatology, Second Edition, provides an introduction to the science of climate and climate change that spans the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface, and the interactions among them. It begins with a basic introduction to the climate system, and then introduces the physics of the climate system, including the principles and processes that determine the structure and climate of the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface. More advanced topics apply the basic knowledge introduced to understanding natural variability of the climate in both the present and past, the sensitivity of climate to external forcing, explanations for the ice ages, and the science of human-induced climate change. The physical principles and computer models necessary for understanding past climate and predicting future climate are also discussed. This book is recommended for upper division undergraduates and graduates in meteorology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and other environmental fields. It is also suitable for students with a background of at least one year of college physics and calculus as well as researchers in academia, government (military, NOAA, NWS), and policymakers.
    • Physical Properties of Rocks

      • 2nd Edition
      • Volume 65
      • November 26, 2015
      • Juergen H. Schön
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 0 8 1 0 0 4 0 4 3
      • eBook
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      The interpretation of geophysical data in exploration geophysics, well logging, engineering, mining and environmental geophysics requires knowledge of the physical properties of rocks and their correlations. Physical properties are a "key" for combined interpretation techniques. The study of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether related to geophysical, geotechnical, hydrological or geological methodology. Physical Properties of Rocks, 2nd Edition, describes the physical fundamentals of rock properties, based on typical experimental results and relevant theories and models. It provides readers with all relevant rock properties and their interrelationships in one concise volume. Furthermore, it guides the reader through experimental and theoretical knowledge in order to handle models and theories in practice. Throughout the book the author focuses on the problems of applied geophysics with respect to exploration and the expanding field of applications in engineering and mining geophysics, geotechnics, hydrology and environmental problems, and the properties under the conditions of the upper Earth crust.
    • Earth as an Evolving Planetary System

      • 3rd Edition
      • November 25, 2015
      • Kent C. Condie
      • English
      • Paperback
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      • eBook
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      Earth as an Evolving Planetary System, Third Edition, examines the various subsystems that play a role in the evolution of the Earth, including subsystems in the crust, mantle, core, atmosphere, oceans, and life. This third edition includes 30% new material and, for the first time, includes full color images in both the print and electronic versions. Topics in the great events chapters are now included in the beginning of the book, with the addition of a new feature of breakout boxes for each event. The second half of the book now focuses on a better understanding of Earth's history by looking at the interactions of the subsystems over time. The Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, crustal and mantle evolution, the supercontinent cycle, great events in Earth history, and the Earth in comparison to other planets are also covered.
    • Fluvial-Tidal Sedimentology

      • 1st Edition
      • Volume 68
      • November 25, 2015
      • English
      • Hardback
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 3 5 2 9 7
      • eBook
        9 7 8 0 4 4 4 6 3 5 3 9 6
      Fluvial-Tidal Sedimentology provides information on the ‘Tidal-Fluvial Transition', the transition zone between river and tidal environments, and includes contributions that address some of the most fundamental research questions, including how the morphology of the tidal-fluvial transition zone evolves over short (days) and long (decadal) time periods and for different tidal and fluvial regimes, the structure of the river flow as it varies in its magnitude over tidal currents and how this changes at the mixing interface between fresh and saline water and at the turbidity maximum, the role of suspended sediment in controlling bathymetric change and bar growth and the role of fine-grained sediment (muds and flocs), whether it is possible to differentiate between ‘fluvial’ and ‘tidally’ influenced bedforms as preserved in bars and within the adjacent floodplain and what are the diagnostic sedimentary facies of tidal-fluvial deposits and how are these different from ‘pure’ fluvial and tidal deposits, amongst other topics. The book presents the latest research on the processes and deposits of the tidal-fluvial transition, documenting recent major field programs that have quantified the flow, sediment transport, and bed morphology in tidal-fluvial zones. It uses description of contemporary environments and ancient outcrop analogues to characterize the facies change through the tidal-fluvial transition.
    • Air Pollution V1

      • 3rd Edition
      • November 24, 2015
      • Arthur C. Stern
      • English
      • Paperback
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      • eBook
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