Synopses & Reviews
A unique introduction to the holistic view of the Earth. Stresses the systems approach, showing the energy flows and links between the Earth's different parts—the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and the solid Earth—and the balance in the global environment that exists as a result of these interactions. Every chapter opens with a topical essay dealing with research on the subject matter and closes with a guest essay written by a researcher in the field. Special attention has been paid to select full-color artwork and photographs which illuminate discussions.
Synopsis
The image of the Earth on the front cover was acquired from the GOES-8 Imager by the Laboratory for Atmosphere at NASA'S Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. It was taken on September 2, 1994, using two channels for the Imager to produce a "natural color" effect. The photos shown here on the back cover illustrate the four spheres of the Earth system - the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere - together with changes being produced by human activities.
Table of Contents
Partial table of contents:
THE EARTH IN SPACE.
Fellow Travelers in Space: Earth's Nearest Neighbors.
THE EARTH BENEATH OUR FEET.
Earthquakes and the Earth's Interior.
The Heat Within: Magma and Volcanoes.
The Earth's Evolving Crust.
THE EARTH'S BLANKET OF WATER AND ICE.
The World Ocean.
The Changing Face of the Land.
THE EARTH'S GASEOUS ENVELOPE.
Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere.
The Earth's Climate System.
THE DYNAMICS OF LIFE.
Dynamics of the Global Ecosystem.
Evolution of the Biosphere.
LIVING ON THE EARTH.
Resources from the Earth.
Global Change: A Planet Under Stress.
Appendices.
Glossary.
Index.