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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.

  • Coal and Coalbed Gas

    Fueling the Future
    • 1st Edition
    • Romeo M. Flores
    • English
    Bridging the gap in expertise between coal and coalbed gas, subfields in which opportunities for cross training have been nonexistent, Coal and Coalbed Gas sets the standard for publishing in these areas. This book treats coal and coalbed gas as mutually inclusive commodities in terms of their interrelated origin, accumulation, composition, distribution, generation, and development, providing a balanced understanding of this energy mix. Currently considered a non-renewable energy resource, coalbed gas, or coalbed methane, is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent years, countries have begun to seek and exploit coal for its clean gas energy in an effort to alleviate environmental issues that come with coal use, making a book on this topic particularly timely. This volume takes into account processes of coalification, gasification, and storage and reservoir characterization and evaluation and looks at water management and environmental impacts as well.
  • Inverse Problem Theory

    Methods for Data Fitting and Model Parameter Estimation
    • 1st Edition
    • A. Tarantola
    • English
    Inverse Problem Theory is written for physicists, geophysicists and all scientists facing the problem of quantitative interpretation of experimental data. Although it contains a lot of mathematics, it is not intended as a mathematical book, but rather tries to explain how a method of acquisition of information can be applied to the actual world.The book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date description of the methods to be used for fitting experimental data, or to estimate model parameters, and to unify these methods into the Inverse Problem Theory. The first part of the book deals with discrete problems and describes Maximum likelihood, Monte Carlo, Least squares, and Least absolute values methods. The second part deals with inverse problems involving functions.The book is almost completely self-contained, with all important concepts carefully introduced. Although theoretical concepts are strongly emphasized, the author has ensured that all the useful formulas are listed, with many special cases included. The book will thus serve equally well as a reference manual for researchers needing to refresh their memories on a given algorithm, or as a textbook in a course for undergraduate or graduate students.
  • Seismic Stratigraphy and Depositional Facies Models

    • 1st Edition
    • P.C.H. Veeken
    • English
    The 2e of Seismic Stratigraphy and Depositional Facies Models summarizes basic seismic interpretation techniques and demonstrates the benefits of integrated reservoir studies for hydrocarbon exploration. Topics are presented from a practical point of view and are supported by well-illustrated case histories. The reader is taken from a basic level to more advanced study techniques. The presented modern geophysical techniques allow more accurate prediction of the changes in subsurface geology. Dynamics of sedimentary environments are discussed their relation to global controling factors, and a link is made to high-resolution sequence stratigraphy. The interest in seismic stratigraphic techniques to interpret reflection datasets is well established. The advent of sophisticated subsurface reservoir studies and 4D monitoring for optimizing the hydrocarbon production in existing fields demonstrate the importance of the 3D seismic methodology. The added value of reflection seismics to the petroleum industry has clearly been proven over the last few decades. Seismic profiles and 3D cubes form a vast and robust data source to unravel the structure of the subsurface. Larger offsets and velocity anisotropy effects give access to more details on reservoir flow properties like fracture density, porosity and permeability distribution. Elastic inversion and modeling may tell something about the change in petrophysical parameters. Seismic investigations provide a vital tool for the delineation of subtle hydrocarbon traps, and they are the basis for understanding the regional basin framework and the stratigraphic subdivision. Seismic stratigraphy combines two very different scales of observation: the seismic and well control. The systematic approach applied in seismic stratigraphy explains why many workers are using the principles to evaluate their seismic observations.
  • The Mendip Caves

    • 3rd Edition
    • H. E. Balch
    • English
    The Mendip Caves examines the demographic features of Wookey Hole caves, and the Cheddar gorge and caves. This book contains eight chapters that discuss the history of the places and the caves. The first chapters addresses some important exploration of the subterranean river, Cox’s cave, Gough’s cave, Swallet caves, Rock shelters, and the Badger Hole. The succeeding chapters describe the great Cave of Wookey Hole; characteristics and personalities of the people living in the cave; description of the noises heard inside the cave; the discovery and historical background of the cave; and detailed description of Valley of Wookey Hole and the Gorge of Ebbor. Other chapters examine the artefacts discovered in the cave, the traditions and daily activities done inside the cave, and the antiquity of the caves of Mendip. The last chapters explore the caves and shelters of eastern Mendip, as well as the Levvy of Sandford Hill. The book can provide useful information to the archaeologists, explorers, students, and researchers.
  • Microclimate for Cultural Heritage

    Conservation, Restoration, and Maintenance of Indoor and Outdoor Monuments
    • 2nd Edition
    • Dario Camuffo
    • English
    Microclimate for Cultural Heritage: Conservation and Restoration of Indoor and Outdoor Monuments, Second Edition, is a cutting-edge, theoretical, and practical handbook concerning microclimate, environmental factors, and conservation of cultural heritage. Although the focus is on cultural heritage objects, most of the theory and instrumental methodologies are common to other fields of application, such as atmospheric and environmental sciences. Microclimate for Cultural Heritage, Second Edition, is a useful treatise on microphysics and a practical handbook for conservators and specialists in physics, chemistry, architecture, engineering, geology, and biology who work in the multidisciplinary field of the environment, and, in particular, in the conservation of works of art. Part I, devoted to applied theory, is a concise treatise on microphysics, which includes a survey on the basic ideas of environmental diagnosis and conservation. The second part of the book focuses on practical utilization, and shows in detail how field surveys should be performed, with many suggestions and examples, as well as some common errors to avoid.
  • Annotated Bibliographies of Mineral Deposits in Africa, Asia (Exclusive of the USSR) and Australasia

    • 1st Edition
    • John Drew Ridge
    • English
    Annotated Bibliographies of Mineral Deposits in Africa, Asia (Exclusive of the USSR) and Australasia brings together annotated bibliographies of mineral deposits in Africa, Asia (with the exception of the USSR), and Australasia. Each bibliography is followed by notes to show the deposit's location; geological framework; age and type; structural and stratigraphic relations; conditions of formation; and position in the modified Lindgren classification. Comprised of 25 chapters, this volume begins with an introduction to the more important sources of references in the bibliographies, set down in alphabetical order with the number of references provided by each source. The distribution of deposits by continent and country follows. The deposits include molybdenum, nickel, copper, lead, and tin. Eruptive rocks, the metamorphic cycle, and the mineralization process are addressed, along with liquid immiscibility between silicate magmas and sulfide melts; the geology, mineralogy, and petrology of ore deposits in various mines; and the significance of mineralized breccia pipes. This book will be of value to mineralogists, geologists, and earth and mineral scientists as well as students interested in ore deposits.
  • Alluvial Prospecting and Mining

    • 2nd Edition
    • S. V. Griffith
    • English
    Alluvial Prospecting and Mining (Second Revised Edition) focuses on the emergence of improved mining techniques and methods used in the excavation of alluvial deposits. The book first offers information on the prospecting methods, sampling, and valuation. Discussions focus on preliminary systematic prospecting, drilling in difficult ground, supervision of drilling, rate of excavation, pitting and drilling compared, sampling of bore holes, and calculation of reserves. The publication then examines water supply, including earth dams, spillways, leats, ditches, or canals, and design of pipelines. The manuscript ponders on sluicing and dry concentration of minerals. Topics include rock pavements, undercurrents, false bottoms, glean up, tailings, ground sluicing, water required, exploitation of plants, electrostatic separation, and high intensity magnetic separators. The book also reviews forward preparation of overburden, hydraulic mining, and gravel pumping. The publication is a dependable reference for miners and readers interested in alluvial prospecting and mining.
  • Principles of Geochemical Prospecting

    Techniques of Prospecting for Non-Ferrous Ores and Rare Metals
    • 1st Edition
    • I. I. Ginzburg
    • Earl Ingerson
    • English
    International Series of Monographs on Earth Sciences, Volume 3: Principles of Geochemical Prospecting: Techniques of Prospecting for Non-Ferrous Ores and Rare Metals covers the developments of theoretical premises of geochemical prospecting based on existing theories of endogenic and exogenic ore-formation. This volume is divided into 13 chapters, and begins with a presentation of the problems originating in geochemical prospecting. The next chapters evaluate the relative importance of different prospecting methods. Considerable chapters are devoted to a generalized view of prospecting work in different geologic, pedologic, climatic, and orographic environments. The remaining chapters are concerned with the clarification and an explanation of certain regularities, which could serve as the basis of a rational orientation of geochemical prospecting. This book is an invaluable source for geochemical prospectors, geologists, and geophysicists.
  • Basic Cartography: For Students and Technicians; Exercise Manual

    • 1st Edition
    • R W Anson + 1 more
    • English
    Basic Cartography: For Students and Technicians; Exercise Manual
  • Trends in Geography

    An Introductory Survey
    • 1st Edition
    • Ronald U. Cooke + 1 more
    • English
    Trends in Geography: An Introductory Survey reviews trends in geography, including physical geography, human geography, and applied geography. Topics covered include progress in geomorphology, meteorology, climatology, hydrology, historical geography, transport geography, and industrial geography, along with the geography of rural settlements and the ecology of agricultural systems. The importance of geography in area studies is also discussed. This book is comprised of 26 chapters and begins by tracing developments in the field of geography, followed by a discussion on the study of soils in geography and the economic geography of agriculture. The following chapters explore the diversity of urban geography; the role of geography in physical planning and economic planning; planning studies in rural areas; and geographical research on local government. A cultural and historical perspective in area studies is presented by citing the case of Latin America. The final chapter is devoted to geographical studies of developing areas, focusing on the case of tropical Africa. This monograph will be of interest to teachers, students, and practitioners of geography.