The Little Book of Planet Earth (Little Book Series)

Acknowledgments chapter 1 The Roots of Earth Sciences 1 Classical Scientific Thought 1 The Copernican Revolution 2 From Physics and Philosophy to Geology 4 The Age of the Earth 6 chapter 2 The Earth in the Context of Our Solar System 9 The Origins of the Solar System The Elements of the Solar System The Planets Circling the Sun chapter 3 The Formation of Earth and Moon 21 Similarities and Differences 21 Exploring the Moon chapter 4 The Interior of the Earth and the Role of Seismology Seismic Waves 28 The Earth’s Interior 36 chapter 5 Rotation and Shape, Gravity and Tides 41 Describing the Earth’s Shape Tides 44 Rotation 44 43 27 23 15 12 10 xiii xi chapter 6 The Earth’s Magnetic Field 47 Establishing a Physical Concept Reversals of the Magnetic Field 51 Paleomagnetism chapter 7 Atom—Mineral—Rock 59 Crystallization 60 Minerals in Crust and Mantle 60 Rocks chapter 8 The Early Ages 71 The Archean 71 The Proterozoic 77 chapter 9 Radioactive Dating The Chemistry of Unstable Elements Determining the Age Applications of Radioactive Dating Techniques Carbon Dating 90 chapter10 Plate Tectonics Twentieth-Century Research Gathering Evidence 95 Drifting Plates 3 Pangea and Beyond 4 chapter11 The Crust of the Earth 7 The Moho 7 The Crust Hydrocarbons 4 Coal 9 Other Subsurface-based Resources 9 12 12 12 108 10 10 10 10 94 93 89 83 81 81 63 52 48 chapter12 Formation of Mountains and Basins Collisions Orogeny Sediment Basins

in The Last Century, Especially In The Last 40 Years, We Have Made Immense Strides In Understanding Not Only The Location, Shape, Size, And Composition Of Earth, But Its Structure And Inherent Dynamism. As Author Rolf Meissner Says, The Ancient Thesis Of Heraclitus -- panta Rhei, Everything Is In Flow. -- Has Proven To Be True Of Our Planet. Earth1s Surface And Inner Structures Are Constantly Moving, Interacting, And Changing In Ways That Define Not Just The Planet1s Shape And Appearance, But Its Atmosphere And Weather, Its Land And Ocean Forms, And, Of Course, The Extraordinary Abundance And Diversity Of Life That It Supports.

the Little Book Of Planet Earth Presents A Concise Description Of The Geological Evolution Of Earth From Its Formation. Meissner Describes In Detailed But Accessible Prose Our Planet1s Features And The Tools That Modern Geologists Use To Explore And Track The Ever-changing Subterranean And Surface Features Of The Planet. With A Particular Gift For Expressing How The Forces In And Around Our Planet Constantly Alter The World We Live In, The Author Introduces Lay Readers To The Key Topics In Modern Earth And Planetary Science: The Creation Of Earth And Its Moon, The Role Of Seismology In Analyzing Earth1s Structure, The Formation Of Mountain Ranges And Basins, The Dynamics Of Plate Tectonics, The Significance Of Earth1s Magnetic Field, And The Complex Relationship Of Our Planet's Geology To The Life Forms Found Here.

for Those Who Want A Clear And Informative Tour Of The Ideas And Technologies Of Modern Geology, This Concise, Engaging, And Up-to-date Introduction Is The Best Possible Choice.

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...provides Critical Insights Into The Nature Of Earth's Composition, Our Understanding Of Earth's Magnetic Field, And Plate Tectonics.

Machine generated contents note: chapter 1: The Roots of Earth Sciences Classical Scientific Thought The Copernican Revolution From Physics and Philosophy to Geology The Age of the Earth chapter 2: The Earth in the Context of Our Solar System The Origins of the Solar System The Elements of the Solar System The Planets Circling the Sun chapter 3: The Formation of Earth and Moon Similarities and Differences Exploring the Moon chapter 4: The Interior of the Earth and the Role of Seismology Seismic Waves The Earth's Interior chapter 5: Rotation and Shape, Gravity and Tides Describing the Earth's Shape Tides Rotation chapter 6: The Earth's Magnetic Field Establishing a Physical Concept Reversals of the Magnetic Field Paleomagnetism chapter 7: Atom-Mineral-Rock Crystallization Minerals in Crust and Mantle Rocks chapter 8: The Early Ages The Archean The Proterozoic chapter 9: Radioactive Dating The Chemistry of Unstable Elements Determining the Age Applications of Radioactive Dating Techniques Carbon Dating chapter 10: Plate Tectonics Twentieth-Century Research Gathering Evidence Drifting Plates Pangea and Beyond chapter 11: The Crust of the Earth The Moho The Crust Hydrocarbons Coal Other Subsurface-based Resources chapter 12: Formation of Mountains and Basins Collisions Orogeny Sediment Basins chapter 13: New Discoveries, New Concepts Discoveries New Seismological Concepts chapter 14: The Phanerozoic: The Last 600 Million Years The Evolution of Life The Eras of the Phanerozoic chapter 15: Biological Evolution A Product of Chance Early Life Hypotheses Multicellular Life Human Evolution and Climate epilogue Our Limited Resources Nuclear Energy Alternative Energy Sources Outlook Further Reading Index. Presenting a concise description of the geological evolution of Earth from its formation, the author describes in detailed but accessible prose not just the planet's features, but the tools that modern geologists use to explore and track the ever changing subterranean and surface features of the planet. He also introduces lay readers to the key topics in modern earth and planetary science. Presents a concise description of the geological evolution of Earth from its formation. Meissner describes in detailed but accessible prose not just the planet's features, but the tools that modern geologists use to explore & track the ever-changing subterranean & surface features of our planet. Meteorologist and geophysicist Meissner presents a chronological description of Earth's evolution in one small, accessible book. He begins with an overview of how geological (and cosmological) theories and disciplines have evolved, then offers fluid and engaging descriptions of the Big Bang, the formation of the Earth and Moon, Earth's geological structure and behavior, tools of geology as well as new discoveries and concepts, and biological evolution. The final chapter briefly discusses nuclear energy and alternative energy sources. Very nicely translated from the original German The Little Book of Planet Earth presents a concise description of the geological evolution of Earth from its formation. Meissner describes in detailed but accessible prose not just the planet's features, but the tools that modern geologists use to explore and track the ever-changing subterranean and surface features of the planet. With a particular gift for expressing how the forces in and around our planet constantly alter the world we live in, the author introduces lay readers to the key topics in modern earth and planetary science: the creation of Earth and its moon (as well as stars and other planets), the role of seismology in analyzing Earth's structure, the formation of mountain ranges and basins, the role of plate tectonics, the significance of Earth's magnetic field, and the complex relationship of our planet's geology to the life forms found there. Presents a chronological description of Earth's evolution, including the development of geological and cosmological theories, the Big Bang, the formation of the Earth and the Moon, geological structure, and biological evolution. "For those who want a clear and informative tour of the ideas and technologies of modern geology, this concise, engaging, and up-to-date introduction is the best possible choice."--BOOK JACKET.