Synopses & Reviews
Geophysics is a broad subject that encompasses not only the physics of the Earth, but also the physics of the atmosphere and oceans. The heart of geophysics, however, is the theory of the solid Earth. The Solid Earth is a general introduction to the study of modern physics of the solid Earth, including the workings of both the Earth's surface and its deep interior. The book begins with a brief historical introduction to developments in geophysics. The next chapter discusses the important theory of plate tectonics, and is followed logically by a chapter on geomagnetism and palaeomagnetism. Subsequent chapters deal with the subjects of seismology, gravity, radioactivity and the age of the Earth and heat flow in the Earth. The book concludes with chapters on the physics of the oceanic and continental lithospheres. The emphasis throughout the discussion is on basic physical principles rather than instrumentation or data handling. Many helpful worked examples are given in the text, and, in addition, there are problems of various degrees of difficulty at the end of each chapter. Appendices explain more advanced mathematical topics and theories of seismology for mathematically inclined students.
Review
"...excellent both for teachers and for those seeking a review of these processes from a geophysical point of view." Nature"Anyone looking through the book will immediately feel that here is a quality textbook which will long be remembered by both teachers and students...I consider that the book is essential for all students seriously commencing a course in geology or geophysics." The Leading Edge, Ronald Green
Synopsis
A fully up-dated edition of this acclaimed undergraduate geophysics textbook.
Synopsis
The second edition of this acclaimed textbook has been brought fully up-to-date to reflect the latest advances in geophysical research. It is designed for students in introductory geophysics courses who have a general background in the physical sciences, including introductory calculus. New to this edition are a section of color plates and separate sections on the earth's mantle and core. The book also contains an extensive glossary of terms, and includes numerous exercises for which solutions are available to instructors from
[email protected]. First Edition Hb (1990): 0-521-37025-6 First Edition Pb (1990): 0-521-38590-3
About the Author
Mary Fowler is a Professor and Head of the Department of Geology at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Table of Contents
Preface; Acknowledgements; Sources; 1. Introduction; 2. Tectonics on a sphere: the geometry of plate tectonics; 3. Past plate motions; 4. Seismology: measuring the interior; 5. Gravity; 6. Geochronology; 7. Heat; 8. The deep interior of the Earth; 9. The oceanic lithosphere: ridges, transforms, trenches and oceanic islands; 10. The continental lithosphere; A1. Scalars, vector and differential operators; A2. Theory of elasticity and elastic waves; A3. Geometry of ray paths and inversion of earthquakes body wave time-distance curves; A4. The least-squares method; A5. The error function; A6. Units and symbols; A7. Numerical data; A8. IASP91 Earth model; A9. Preliminary reference Earth model isotropic version - PREM; Glossary; Index.