Skip to main content

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.

  • Shale-Slate Metamorphism in Southern Appalachians

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 10
    • C.E. Weaver
    • English
    Developments in Petrology, Volume 10: Shale-Slate Metamorphism in Southern Appalachians provides information pertinent to shale-slate metamorphism. This book aims to develop a paleothermometer for shales and to be able to predict the reactions that would arise in response to an increase in temperature. Organized into 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the mineral, isotopic, chemical, petrographic, and structural changes that occur during late-stage diagenesis. This text then examines the petrology and texture of a series of physilites ranging from the middle diagenesis zone to the greenschist facies. Other chapters consider the X-ray analyses of the Conasauga samples, which show that most of the parameters that can be measured have a systematic trend that can be related to increasing grade of metamorphism. This book discusses as well chlorite as a common component of shales and low-grade metamorphic rocks. The final chapter deals with the carbonate rocks. This book is a valuable resource for petrologists.
  • Paleotemperature Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • Robert Bowen
    • English
    Methods in Geochemistry and Geophysics, 2: Paleotemperature Analysis focuses on the paleotemperature-ana... method, including the use of oxygen isotopes in carbonate analysis and in advancing knowledge on paleoclimates. The manuscript first offers information on the isotopes of oxygen as climatic indicators and sampling of fossil organisms, as well as oxygen and paleotemperatures, belemnoidea, and other fossils. The book also ponders on chemical techniques and mass spectrometric methods. Discussions focus on thermal and acid decomposition of carbonates, slow formation of carbonate solids, precipitation of carbonate, and mass spectrometry. The text examines paleotemperature scales and magnesium and strontium concentrations. Topics include salinity, standards, magnesium and strontium contents, history of sea water, and Mccrea's carbonate paleotemperature scale. The publication also takes a look at paleozoic, Jurassic, cretaceous, and tertiary and Pleistocene paleotemperatures. The publication is a dependable reference for readers interested in paleotemperatures.
  • Spatial Database Transfer Standards

    Current International Status
    • 1st Edition
    • H. Moellering
    • English
    Since the 1960's individuals and organisations throughout the world have been building geographic databases used in conjunction with geographic hardware and software systems to collect, analyse, display and archive digital data. Through the years it was recognised that efficiencies could be gained if the geographic database built by one group could be used by multiple users across different computer systems and formats. Therefore, it was acknowledged that spatial database transfer standards were needed to facilitate the exchange and transfer of digital geographic data.Throughout the 1980's several organisations worldwide began working on the problem of producing spatial database transfer standards. As this work was initiated, research workers began to informally compare notes and developments. The International Cartographic Association [ICA], recognising the worldwide importance of standards, organised a Standards Working Group. The initial goal of this working group was to produce a monograph reporting on the present state of development in digital database transfer standards.This book is a unique collection of reports by individual nations and international organisations that describe existing geographic standards and summarize efforts to develop geographic database transfer standards worldwide.
  • Cloud Dynamics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 53
    • Robert A. Houze Jr.
    • Renata Dmowska
    • English
    Clouds play a critical role in the Earth's climate, general atmospheric circulation, and global water balance. Clouds are essential elements in mesoscale meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, atmosphericradiation... and weather forecasting, and thus must be understood by any student or researcher in the atmospheric sciences.Cloud Dynamics provides a skillful and comprehensive examination of the nature of clouds--what they look like and why, how scientists observe them, and the basic dynamics and physics that underlie them. The book describes the mechanics governing each type of cloud that occurs in Earth's atmosphere, and the organization of various types of clouds in larger weather systems such as fronts, thunderstorms, and hurricanes.This book is aimed specifically at graduate students, advanced undergraduates, practicing researchers either already in atmospheric science or moving in from a related scientific field, and operational meteorologists. Some prior knowledge of atmospheric dynamics and physics is helpful, but a thorough overview of the necessary prerequisites is supplied.
  • Kimberlites I : Kimberlites and Related Rocks

    Proceedings of the “Third International Kimberlite Conference", Volume-I
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 11A
    • J Kornprobst
    • English
    Developments in Petrology 11A, Volume A: Kimberlites I: Kimberlites and Related Rocks covers the proceedings of the Third International Kimberlite Conference, held in Clermont Ferrand, France in September 1982. Separating 75 papers into three parts and 28 chapters, this volume focuses on Western Australian lamproites and kimberlites. Significant chapters are also devoted to Alpine type ultramafic bodies. The occurrence, detection, geology, petrology, and synthesis of these precious rocks are discussed. Other general topics covered include diatremes, diamonds, and mantle sample.
  • Arctic Communications

    Proceedings of the Eighth Meeting of the AGARD Ionospheric Research Committee, Athens, Greece, July 1963
    • 1st Edition
    • B. Landmark
    • English
    Arctic Communications is a compilation of the proceedings of the Eighth Meeting of the Ionospheric Research Committee of NATO's Advisory Group for Aeronautical Research and Development, held in Athens, Greece in July 1963. The meeting provided a forum for discussing advances in communications equipment used to conduct research in the Arctic and covered a wide range of topics such as the physical properties of the Arctic ionosphere; Arctic high-frequency communications; soundings and field strength measurements; and observations in the Arctic during nuclear tests. This book is comprised of 25 chapters and begins with a discussion on experimental studies of high latitude absorption phenomena, including auroral absorption, polar cap absorption, and sudden commencement absorption. Direct measurements of D-region electron densities during the absorption periods are also presented. Subsequent chapters focus on the ionospheric absorption of cosmic noise observed at geomagnetically conjugate points; ionospheric ionization produced by solar flares; military communication facilities in the Canadian Arctic; and radio noise problems in Arctic regions. Phase instabilities on a very-low-frequency transmission path passing through the auroral zone are also considered. This monograph will be of particular value to scientists and researchers with interest in the Arctic.
  • Petrology of Metamorphic Rocks

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 9
    • M. Suk
    • English
    Reviews Central European opinions about the origin and formation of metamorphic rocks and their genetic systems, incorporating the works of such distinguished European scientists as Rosenbusch, Becke, Niggli, Sander, Eskola, Barth and others with present-day knowledge and the results of Soviet and American investigations.
  • The Physics of the Earth's Core

    An Introduction
    • 1st Edition
    • P. Melchior
    • English
    An expanded version of a course on the physics of the Earth's interior by an internationally recognised expert in the field. It is a reference text providing condensed information on those essential physical topics needed by both the non-specialist scientist and student to follow the most recent developments in internal geophysics. It is a key to understanding papers covering theoretical geophysics where the basic formulae, definitions and theorems cannot be explained in detail due to the limited space and thus enables the reader to remain aware of the continuous progress being made in studying the Earth's interior.
  • Helium Isotopes in Nature

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 3
    • B.A. Mamyrin + 1 more
    • W.S. Fyfe
    • English
    Developments in Geochemistry, Volume 3: Helium Isotopes in Nature presents the isotopic investigations of noble gases. This book describes the origin, the history, and the contemporary distribution of isotopes of helium. Organized into 11 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of mass-spectrometric methods and measurements of the helium isotope abundance. This text then discusses the methods of collecting various terrestrial samples as well as the apparatus for helium extraction, volumetric measurements, and purification. Other chapters consider the isotope composition of primordial, radiogenic, and spallogenic light noble gases. This book discusses as well the origin and distribution of helium isotopes in meteorites, in the Earth's mantle, the crust and ocean, and in the atmosphere. The final chapter deals with the scientific and applied problems that can be resolved to the progress in helium isotope geochemistry. This book is a valuable resource for scientists. Research workers and students interested in the geochemistry of helium will also find this book useful.
  • Principles and Methods for Determining Ecological Criteria on Hydrobiocenoses

    Proceedings of the European Scientific Colloquium, Luxembourg, November 1975
    • 1st Edition
    • R. Amavis + 1 more
    • English
    Principles and Methods for Determining Ecological Criteria on Hydrobiocenoses is a collection of papers presented at the 1975 European Scientific Colloquium on Principles and Methods for Determining Ecological Criteria on Hydrobiocenoses, held in Luxembourg. This Colloquium aims to define a scientific basis for assessing the results of pollution on aquatic fauna and flora, as well as the biological methods to be used in assessing the extent of such pollution. This book is organized into four parts encompassing 29 chapters. After a brief overview of a series of parameters for the specific uses of different water classifications and regional evaluation of water pollution, this book goes on examining the ecological consequences of water pollution establishment of criteria and the ecological variable and their effect on aquatic fauna. These topics are followed by a discussion of the value of aquatic plants in water quality characterization, as well as the principles of the methods used. The succeeding parts highlight the concepts and practical methods used in the biological monitoring of surface waters. These parts particularly consider the benefits of using bioindicators and laboratory bioassays. The concluding discusses a comparative study of biological-ecologica... water assessment methods of water quality. This book will be of value to environmental scientists, engineers, and researchers.