Earth Environments - Past, Present and Future

Klappentext This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the major topics within undergraduate study programmes in geosciences! environmental science! physical geography! natural hazards and ecology.This text introduces students to the Earth's four key interdependent systems: the atmosphere! lithosphere! hydrosphere and biosphere! focussing on their key components! interactions between them and environmental change.Topics covered include: An earth systems model; components systems and processes: atmospheric systems; oceanography! endogenic geological systems and exogenic geological systems! biogeography and! aspects of the Earth's Record.The impact of climate and environmental change is discussed in a final chapter which draws together Earth's systems and their evolution and looks ahead to future earth changes and environments and various time periods in the geological record.Throughout the book geological case studies are used in addition to the modern processes. Zusammenfassung This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the major topics within undergraduate study programmes in geosciences! environmental science! physical geography! natural hazards and ecology.This text introduces students to the Earth's four key interdependent systems: the atmosphere! lithosphere! hydrosphere and biosphere! focussing on their key components! interactions between them and environmental change.Topics covered include: An earth systems model; components systems and processes: atmospheric systems; oceanography! endogenic geological systems and exogenic geological systems! biogeography and! aspects of the Earth's Record.The impact of climate and environmental change is discussed in a final chapter which draws together Earth's systems and their evolution and looks ahead to future earth changes and environments and various time periods in the geological record.Throughout the book geological case studies are used in addition to the modern processes. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction.Section One.1 Introduction to Earth Systems.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Section Two.2 Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.3 Energy in the Atmosphere and the Earth Heat Budget.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.4 Moisture in the Atmosphere.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.5 Atmospheric Motion.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.6 Weather Systems.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.7 World Climates.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.8 Ocean Structure and Circulation Patterns.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.9 Atmospheric Evolution and Climate Change.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.10 Principles of Climate Change.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.Section Three.11 Earth Materials: Mineralogy! Rocks and the Rock Cycle.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.12 The Internal Structure of the Earth.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.13 Plate Tectonics and Volcanism: Processes! Products and Landforms.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.14 Geotectonics: Processes! Structures and Landforms.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.Section Four.15 Weathering Processes and Products.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.16 Slope Processes and Morphology.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.17 Fluvial Processes and Landform-Sediment Assemblages.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.18 Carbonate Sedimentary Environments and Karst Processes and Landforms.Learning outcomes.Exercises.References.Further reading.19 Coastal Processes! Landforms and Sediments.Learning outcomes.Exercises.Refere...

List of contents

Introduction.
Section I Introduction to Earth Systems.

1 Introduction to Earth Systems.

1.1 Introduction to the Earth s formation.

1.2 Introduction to Earth spheres.

1.3 Scales in space and time.

1.4 Systems and feedback.

1.5 Open and closed flow systems.

1.6 Equilibrium in systems.

1.7 Time cycles in systems.

Exercises.

References.

Section II Atmospheric and Ocean Systems.

2 Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere.

2.1 Structure of the atmosphere.

2.2 Composition of the atmosphere.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

3 Energy in the Atmosphere and the Earth Heat Budget.

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Solar radiation.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

4 Moisture in the Atmosphere.

4.1 Introduction.

4.2 The global hydrological cycle.

4.3 Air stability and instability.

4.4 Clouds.

4.5 Precipitation.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

5 Atmospheric Motion.

5.1 Introduction.

5.2 Atmospheric pressure.

5.3 Winds and pressure gradients.

5.4 The global pattern of atmospheric circulation.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

6 Weather Systems.

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Macroscale synoptic systems.

6.3 Meso-scale: Local winds.

6.4 Microclimates.

6.5 Weather obseravtion and forecasting.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

7 World Climates.

7.1 Introduction.

7.2 Classification of climate.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

8 Ocean Structure and Circulation Patterns.

8.1 Introduction.

8.2 Physical structure of the oceans.

8.3 Temperature structure of the oceans.

8.4 Ocean circulation.

8.5 Sea-level change.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

9 Atmospheric Evolution and Climate Change.

9.1 Evolution of the Earth s atmosphere.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

10 Principles of Climate Change.

10.1 Introduction.

10.2 Evidence for climate change.

10.3 Causes of climate change.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

Section III Endogenic Geological Systems.

11 Earth Materials: Mineralogy, Rocks and the Rock Cycle.

11.1 What is a mineral?

11.2 Rocks and the rock cycle.

11.3 Vulcanicity and igneous rocks.

11.4 Sedimentary rocks, fossils and sedimentary structures.

11.5 Metamorphic rocks.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

12 The Internal Structure of the Earth.

12.1 Introduction.

12.2 Evidence of the Earth s composition from drilling.

12.3 Evidence of the Earth s composition from volcanoes.

12.4 Evidence of the Earth s composition from meteorites.

12.5 Using earthquake seismic waves as Earth probes.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

13 Plate Tectonics and Volcanism: Processes, Products and Landforms.

13.1 Introduction.

13.2 Global tectonics: how plates, basins and mountains are created.

13.3 Volcanic processes and the global tectonic model.

13.4 Magma eruption.

13.5 Explosive volcanism.

13.6 Petrographic features of volcaniclastic sediments.

13.7 Transport and deposition of pyroclastic materials.

13.8 The relationship between volcanic processes and the Earth s atmosphere and climate.

13.9 Relationships between volcanic eruptions and biotic evolution.

13.10 Plate tectonics, uniformitarianism and Earth history.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

14 Geotectonics: Processes, Structures and Landforms.

14.1 Introduction.

14.2 Tectonic structures.

14.3 Tectonic structures as lines of weakness in landscape evolution.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

Section IV Exogenic Geological Systems.

15 Weathering Processes and Products.

15.1 Introduction.

15.2 Physical or mechanical weathering.

15.3 Chemical weathering.

15.4 Measuring weathering rates.

15.5 Weathering landforms.

Exercises.

References.

Further reading.

16 Slope Processes an

Report

"A wonderful textbook, and one that many people - outside the primary audience of undergraduate students - will find invaluable as a reference. And the proof of a good reference book is that once you dip into it for a piece of information...you can t help but be waylaid, and end up browsing." (WASWAC, 1 March 2011)

"This comprehensive introductory work covers basic information on geology, oceanography, and meteorology/climatology. Huddart and Stott (both, Liverpool John Moores Univ., UK) take a systems approach, and thus focus on the interactions between the major components of the Earth system. The book is divided into six main sections: "Introduction to Earth Systems," "Atmosphere and Ocean Systems," "Endogenic Geological Systems," "Exogenic Geological Systems," "Principles of Ecology and Biogeography," and "Global Environmental Change." Each of the 3 1 chapters is well illustrated with black-and-white and color graphs and a variety of photographic images. Chapters conclude with references for further reading and suggested exercises that can be used to test student comprehension of the material. This clear, concisely written book is more inclusive and extensive than many disciplinary introductory works, and could form the basis for a course lasting at least two semesters. Extensive 17-page subject geographic index." ( CHOICE , December 2010)

"The strength of this book is that it is an up-to-date summary of the major themes in geosciences, as the blurb on the back cover states. As such, it is an ideal book for students to dip in and out of throughout their undergraduate career alongside other key texts. . . there are also good reading lists at the end of each chapter". (The Geographical Journal, 4 December 2010)

Product details

• Authors: David Huddart, David Stott Huddart, Tim Stott
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 02.05.2008
• EAN: 9780471485339
• ISBN: 978-0-471-48533-9
• No. of pages: 912