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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.
  • Advances in Irrigation

    Volume 1
    • 1st Edition
    • Daniel Hillel
    • English
    Advances in Irrigation, Volume 1 covers updated comprehensive elucidations of the various topics of contemporary interest and importance related to the rapidly advancing science and engineering practice of irrigation. The book presents articles on the conjunctive use of rainfall and irrigation in semiarid regions; the theory and the practical aspects of irrigation scheduling; and canopy temperature and crop water stress. The text also includes articles on the use of solute transport models to estimate salt balance below irrigated cropland; level-basin irrigation; as well as the applications of flow measurement flumes to irrigation water management. The principles, practices, and potentialities of trickle (drip) irrigation are also encompassed. Hydraulic engineers and people working in the field of irrigation will find the book useful.
  • Afrique de l'Ouest

    Introduction Géologique et Termes Stratigraphiques
    • 1st Edition
    • J.M. Bertrand + 2 more
    • J. Fabre
    • English
  • Progress in Surface and Membrane Science

    Volume 13
    • 1st Edition
    • D. A. Cadenhead + 1 more
    • English
    Physics: 1901-1921 presents the Nobel lectures, presentation addresses, and biographies of scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Physics during the years 1901-1921. These Nobel laureates include Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, Antoine Henri Becquerel, Pierre and Marie Curie, Joseph John Thomson, Gabriel Lippmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Max Planck, and Albert Einstein. Their lectures cover topics ranging from the theory of electrons and the propagation of light to radioactivity, cathode rays, and carriers of negative electricity. This volume begins with the presentation speech by C. T. Odhner, president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and former rector of the National Archives, for Röntgen, followed by Röntgen's lecture. This is followed by presentation speeches, lectures, and biographies of other physicists such as Hendrik Antoon Lorentz, Pieter Zeeman, Antoine Henri Becquerel, Pierre and Marie Curie, Lord Rayleigh, Philipp Eduard Anton von Lenard, Joseph John Thomson, Albert Abraham Michelson, Gabriel Lippmann, Guglielmo Marconi, Carl Ferdinand Braun, Johannes Diderik van der Waals, Wilhelm Wien, Nils Gustaf Dalén, Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, and Max von Laue. Other Nobel Prize winners featured in this book are William Henry Bragg, William Lawrence Bragg, Charles Glover Barkla, Max Planck, Johannes Stark, Charles-Édward Guillaume, and Albert Einstein. This book will be of interest to physicists and other scientists.
  • Random Field Models in Earth Sciences

    • 1st Edition
    • George Christakos
    • English
    This book is about modeling as a prinicipal component of scientific investigations. In general terms, modeling is the funamental process of combining intellectual creativity with physical knowledge and mathematical techniques in order to learn the properties of the mechanisms underlying a physical phenomenon and make predictions. The book focuses on a specific class of models, namely, random field models and certain of their physical applications in the context of a stochastic data analysis and processing research program. The term application is considered here in the sense wherein the mathematical random field model is shaping, but is also being shaped by, its objects.
  • Elastic Analysis of Soil-Foundation Interaction

    • 1st Edition
    • A.P.S. Selvadurai
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 17: Elastic Analysis of Soil-Foundation Interaction focuses on the analysis of the interaction between structural foundations and supporting soil media. The publication first elaborates on soil-foundation interaction problems; idealized soil response models for the analysis of soil-foundation interaction; and plane-strain analysis of an infinite plate and an infinitely long beam. Discussions focus on three-dimensional effects in the infinite beam problem, elastic models of soil behavior, foundation and interface behavior, and elastic-plastic and time-dependent behavior of soil masses. The manuscript then ponders on the analysis of beams of finite length, axisymmetric three-dimensional problem of an infinite plate, and analysis of finite plates. Concerns cover axisymmetric loading of a circular plate, analysis of rectangular plates, axisymmetric three-dimensional problem of the infinite plate, modifications of the thin plate theory, finite beams on a two-parameter elastic medium, and finite beams on an elastic solid medium. The book tackles the determination of soil parameters, experimental investigations and field studies, as well as experimental investigations and field studies and measurement and interpretation of parameters encountered in the idealized soil models in relation to soil-foundation behavior. The publication is a valuable reference for researchers interested in the elastic analysis of soil-foundation interaction.
  • Structures and Stochastic Methods

    • 1st Edition
    • A.S. Cakmak
    • English
    Despite advances in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering, earthquakes continue to cause loss of life and property in one part of the world or another. The Third International Conference on Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 22nd to 24th June 1987, provided an opportunity for participants from all over the world to share their expertise to enhance the role of mechanics and other disciplines as they relate to earthquake engineering. The edited proceedings of the conference are published in four volumes. This volume covers: Structures, Dams, Retaining Walls and Slopes, Underground Structures, and Stochastic Methods. Together with its companion volumes, it is hoped that it will contribute to the further development of techniques, methods and innovative approaches in soil dynamics and earthquake engineering.
  • The Theory of Strata Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 63
    • H. Gil
    • English
    During the last thirty years, the increasing need for extracting coal from new mining fields, especially from unmined protective pillars and seams that are threatened with rock bursts and rock-gas eruptions, has accelerated the development of research in the fundamental mining discipline known as rock mass mechanics or geomechanics. Generally, rock mass mechanics is concerned with rock mass movements and with the phenomena accompanying them. Extensive theoretical, laboratory, and in-situ investigations have resulted in considerable achievements in the field of rock mass mechanics. It is impossible to include all these achievements in a single monograph, and therefore in the present book the author has attempted to contruct a synthetic mathematical description of the rock mass movements and of the strain and stress state induced by mining, in particular when extracting mineral deposits.
  • Formulas and Calculations for Drilling, Production and Workover

    • 1st Edition
    • Norton J. Lapeyrouse
    • English
    This handy book gives you all the formulas and calculations you are likely to need in drilling operations. It is the most complete manual of its kind. Included are formulas for pressure gradient, specific gravity, pump output, annular velocity, and buoyancy factor. In addition, there are calculations for volume and stroke, slug weight, drill string design, cementing, depth of washout, bulk density of cuttings, and stuck pipe. Separate chapters deal with calculations for drilling fluids, pressure control, and engineering. Example calculations are provided throughout.Presented in easy-to-use, step-by-step order, Formulas and Calculations is a quick reference for day-to-day work out on the rig. It also serves as a handy study guide for drilling and well control certification courses.Virtually all the mathematics required out on the drilling rig is included here in one convenient source.