Synopses & Reviews
Around 30 years ago, two things happened that were to revolutionize the understanding of our home planet. First, geologists realized that the continents themselves were drifting across the surface of the globe and that oceans were being created and destroyed. Secondly, pictures of the entire planet were returned from space. Suddenly, the Earth began to be viewed as a single entity; a dynamic, interacting whole, controlled by complex processes we scarcely understood.
This introduction is an all-encompassing look at the Earth: how it was formed and how it works. It explores the emerging geological research and explains how new advances in the understanding of plate tectonics, seismology, and satellite imagery have enabled us to begin to see the Earth for what it is, a dynamic and ever changing planet. It introduces the concepts of plate tectonics, continental drift, the earth's structure, and sea-floor spreading.
Review
"A useful overview of the processes that have shaped our planet. All in all, if you have limited time and only want to dip into a subject, this sort of condensed introduction to a complicated topic like the Earth will hopefully whet your appetite for a more in-depth knowledge."--Katherine Joy, The Astrobiology Society of Britain
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-136) and index.
About the Author
Martin Redfern studied geology at University College London. He has written extensively for magazines and newspapers such as New Scientist, The Economist, the Sunday Times, and the Independent on Sunday.
Table of Contents
1. Dynamic Planet
2. Deep Time
3. Deep Earth
4. Under the Sea
5. Drifting Continents
6. Volcanoes
7. When the Ground Shakes
Epilogue