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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.

  • Gemmology

    • 1st Edition
    • P. G. Read
    • English
    Gemmology is a text for students preparing for the Gemmological Association's Preliminary and Diploma examinations. The book is more expansive and up-to-date than the author's earlier book, Beginner's Guide to Gemmology. The book deals with the practical and theoretical sides of gemmology. Tracing the background and science of gemmology, the book covers the gem material, geological formation, and occurrence of gemstones on the earth. The composition of gemstones from the atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds comprising them is analyzed, and the relationship between chemical composition and durability of the stone is explained. The basics of crystallography is mentioned as a tool toward understanding gemmology after which cleavage, parting, and fracture are done. A gemstone's durability and hardness and how the latter influences engineering tests and the mining techniques are compared. An important test technique to identify unmounted stones is the measure of specific gravity using displacement measurement methods and hydrostatic methods. After more descriptive details are given in identification of gemstones, whether these are synthetic or simulants, through a comprehensive explanation of the materials found in these other gemstones, the fashioning, through shaping or polishing, of gemstones is explained. Emphasis is given on the critical angle in which light rays pass in different rock densities, and then the cutting styles, gemstone polishing, and grading are discussed. Students studying for the Gemmological Association's Preliminary and Diploma examinations, jewelers, lapidarists, and diamond cutters, as well as those engaged in the hobby of gemmology, will find this book helpful and full of information toward their endeavors and hobbies.
  • Advances in Hydroscience

    Volume 8
    • 1st Edition
    • Ven Te Chow
    • English
    Advances in Hydroscience, Volume 8, provides an overview of the state of knowledge in hydroscience. The book contains six chapters and opens with a study on seiches—a phenomenon that frequently occurs in large enclosed bodies of water and that can result in serious destruction of shore structures and bring sudden death to innocent swimmers. This phenomenon bears certain resemblances to the tsunamis and storm surges over the open sea. Subsequent chapters deal with the basic principles underlying the techniques in isotope hydrology; statistical models for ocean waves and wave forces; fluvial sediment transport; impulsive waves; and channel networks. This contribution will prove particularly useful to hydrologists, since most work in this field has been done by physicists or other non-hydrologists.
  • NMR Techniques & Applications in Geochemistry & Soil Chemistry

    • 1st Edition
    • M.A. Wilson
    • English
    The book provides an in-depth review of the state of the art of NMR spectroscopy as applied to a wide range of geochemical problems. It is intended to assist geochemists and spectroscopists working at the interface between geochemistry and NMR, and almost all areas of organic and inorganic geochemistry where NMR has had an influence are discussed.
  • Theory of Planetary Atmospheres

    An Introduction to Their Physics and Chemistry
    • 2nd Edition
    • Volume 36
    • John Marshall + 1 more
    • English
    For advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in atmospheric, oceanic, and climate science, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics is an introductory textbook on the circulations of the atmosphere and ocean and their interaction, with an emphasis on global scales. It will give students a good grasp of what the atmosphere and oceans look like on the large-scale and why they look that way. The role of the oceans in climate and paleoclimate is also discussed. The combination of observations, theory and accompanying illustrative laboratory experiments sets this text apart by making it accessible to students with no prior training in meteorology or oceanography.
  • Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential

    Proceedings of the Norwegian Petroleum Society Conference, 15-17 August 1990, Tromso, Norway
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • T.O. Vorren + 6 more
    • English
    Since the search for hydrocarbon resources in the Arcticstarted in the 1930's the exploration activity has expandedinto many of the Arctic regions, and several of the Arcticsedimentary basins have proven to be important sources ofhydrocarbon. Nevertheless, the Arctic continental margins andadjacent onshore areas are still largely unexplored in thecontext of petroleum, and are therefore considered to be oneof the few regions in the world where significant undiscoveredsources of hydrocarbon may exist. The aim of the book is togive an updated overview of the geology of the Arcticsedimentary basins and their petroleum potential. Although thedifferent basins vary significantly as regards sedimentary fill and tectonic evolution, many of the basins share some ofthe characteristics needed to become prolific oil and gasprovinces.The book contains 45 extensively illustratedarticles. It starts with papers on the Mesozoic source rocks,and oceanic natural gas clatrates in the Arctic, respectively.Then follow articles on the regional and petroleum geology ofthe main regions; Greenland, North American Arctic, SovietArctic and the Barents Sea. Particular emphasis is placed onthe Barents Sea. The two last chapters comprise articles onsalt dynamics and methods. The book closes with a paper oninternational law in the Arctic. This volume will be ofinterest to both students and professional earthscientists/petr... explorationists working in the northernlatitudes. It will allow the readers to stay abreast of thedevelopment in this climatic region of the world.
  • Thematic Mapping From Satellite Imagery: A Guidebook

    • 1st Edition
    • J. Denègre
    • English
    Thematic Mapping from Satellite Imagery: A Guidebook discusses methods in producing maps using satellite images. The book is comprised of five chapters; each chapter covers one stage of the process. Chapter 1 tackles the satellite remote sensing imaging and its cartographic significance. Chapter 2 discusses the production processes for extracting information from satellite data. The next chapter covers the methods for combining satellite-derived information with that obtained from conventional sources. Chapter 4 deals with design and semiology for cartographic representation, and Chapter 5 presents examples of applications. The book will be of great use to cartographers who want to utilize satellite imaging in generating a map.
  • Geographic Information Systems

    The Microcomputer and Modern Cartography
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • D.R. Fraser Taylor
    • English
    Technological changes are revolutionising cartography and there is a growing convergence between geographic information systems and computer assisted cartography. This book describes in detail the relationship between geographic information systems and modern cartography and considers all aspects from data collection to presentation and applications. Written by some of the world's leading cartographers, the book examines the emergence of electronic mapping systems and stresses both analysis and visualisation.
  • Advances in Hydroscience

    Volume 11
    • 1st Edition
    • Ven Te Chow
    • English
    Advances in Hydroscience, Volume 11 -1978 covers topics on the progressive development in water science, including stochastic hydrology, the numerical analysis for hydrodynamic modeling, solid-state hydrology, and subsurface waters. The book presents topics on the theory and examples to model lumped quasi-stochastic and stochastic watershed systems; the progress made in the area of multidimensional numerical modeling of hydrodynamic and water-quality processes in estuary and coastal sea systems; and the physical principles governing the flow of water through snow. The text also includes articles on the state of the art of the finite-element modeling techniques in surface and subsurface hydraulic problems; the developments in the area of rainfall-runoff relations and physically-based stochastic hydrologic analysis; as well as well hydraulics in heterogeneous aquifer formations. Hydrologists, ocean engineers, hydraulic engineers, and subsurface engineers will find the book invaluable.
  • The Structure of Western Europe

    • 1st Edition
    • J. G. C. Anderson
    • English
    After a brief account of the stratigraphy in each case, the author summarises the structure of the main tectonic units of Western Europe, the units being defined within the framework of Precambrian, Caledonian, Hercynian and Alpine structures. The work provides accounts of these structural units both for geological study in general and for field visits for advanced school level and research students. A useful complementary volume to 'The Structure of the British Isles' (Anderson and Owen).
  • Groundwater Ecology

    • 1st Edition
    • Jack A. Stanford
    • English
    Groundwater has long been an object of intense scrutiny. Only recently have methods become available that permit ecologists, hydrologists, and environmental scientists to assess the biotic and abiotic status of these all-important aquifers.