Geology: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0192526634
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (925 download)

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Book Synopsis Geology: A Very Short Introduction by : Jan Zalasiewicz

Download or read book Geology: A Very Short Introduction written by Jan Zalasiewicz and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018-07-16 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ranging across the 4.6 billion year history of the planet, geology is the subject that encompasses almost all that we see around us, in one way or another, and also much that we cannot see, beneath our feet, and on other planets. The fruits of geology provide most of the materials that give us shelter, and most of the energy that drives our modern lives. Within the study of geology lie some of the clues to the extraordinary impact our species is going to play out on the planet, in centuries and millennia to come. In this Very Short Introduction Jan Zalasiewicz gives a brief introduction to the fascinating field of geology. Describing how the science developed from its early beginnings, he looks at some of the key discoveries that have transformed it, before delving into its various subfields, such as sedimentology, tectonics, and stratigraphy. Analysing the geological foundations of the Earth, Zalasiewicz explains the interlocking studies of tectonics, geophysics, and igneous and metamorphic petrology and geochemistry; and describes how rocks are dated by radiometric dating. Considering the role and importance of geology in the finding and exploitation of resources (including fracking), he also discusses its place in environmental issues, such as foundations for urban structures and sites for landfill, and in tackling issues associated with climate change. Zalasiewicz concludes by discussing the exciting future and frontiers of the field, such as the exploration of the geology of Mars. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Earth: A Very Short Introduction

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Author :
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 019157774X
Total Pages : 160 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (915 download)

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Book Synopsis The Earth: A Very Short Introduction by : Martin Redfern

Download or read book The Earth: A Very Short Introduction written by Martin Redfern and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2003-06-26 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For generations, the ground beneath the feet of our ancestors seemed solid and unchanging. 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. As the astronomer Fred Hoyle had predicted, this 'let loose an idea as powerful as any in history'. Suddenly, the Earth began to be viewed as a single entity; a dynamic, interacting whole, controlled by complex processes we scarcely understood. It began to seem less solid. As one astronaut put it, 'a blue jewel on black velvet; small, fragile and touchingly alone'. Geologists at last were able to see the whole as well as the detail; the wood as well as the trees. This book brings their account up to date with the latest understanding of the processes that govern our planet. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191614157
Total Pages : 152 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (916 download)

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Book Synopsis Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction by : Andrew Goudie

Download or read book Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction written by Andrew Goudie and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2010-08-26 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What were the landscapes of the past like? What will landscapes look like in the future? Landscapes are all around us, but most of us know very little about how they have developed, what goes on in them, and how they react to changing climates, tectonics and human activities. Examining what landscape is, and how we use a range of ideas and techniques to study it, Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles demonstrate how geomorphologists have built on classic methods pioneered by some great 19th century scientists to examine our Earth. Using examples from around the world, including New Zealand, the Tibetan Plateau, and the deserts of the Middle East, they examine some of the key controls on landscape today such as tectonics and climate, as well as humans and the living world. They also discuss some key 'landscape detectives' from the past, including Charles Darwin who did some important, but often overlooked, research on landscape. Concluding with the cultural importance of landscape, and exploring how this has led to the conservation of much 'earth heritage', they delve into the future and look at how we can predict the response of landscapes to climate change in the future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0192511386
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (925 download)

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Book Synopsis Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction by : Erle C. Ellis

Download or read book Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction written by Erle C. Ellis and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018-02-22 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The proposal that the impact of humanity on the planet has left a distinct footprint, even on the scale of geological time, has recently gained much ground. Global climate change, shifting global cycles of the weather, widespread pollution, radioactive fallout, plastic accumulation, species invasions, the mass extinction of species - these are just some of the many indicators that we will leave a lasting record in rock, the scientific basis for recognizing new time intervals in Earth's history. The Anthropocene, as the proposed new epoch has been named, is regularly in the news. Even with such robust evidence, the proposal to formally recognize our current time as the Anthropocene remains controversial both inside and outside the scholarly world, kindling intense debates. The reason is clear. The Anthropocene represents far more than just another interval of geologic time. Instead, the Anthropocene has emerged as a powerful new narrative, a concept through which age-old questions about the meaning of nature and even the nature of humanity are being revisited and radically revised. This Very Short Introduction explains the science behind the Anthropocene and the many proposals about when to mark its beginning: the nuclear tests of the 1950s? The beginnings of agriculture? The origins of humans as a species? Erle Ellis considers the many ways that the Anthropocene's "evolving paradigm" is reshaping the sciences, stimulating the humanities, and foregrounding the politics of life on a planet transformed by humans. The Anthropocene remains a work in progress. Is this the story of an unprecedented planetary disaster? Or of newfound wisdom and redemption? Ellis offers an insightful discussion of our role in shaping the planet, and how this will influence our future on many fronts. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Geology for Archaeologists

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Publisher : Archaeopress Publishing Ltd
ISBN 13 : 1784916889
Total Pages : 148 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (849 download)

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Book Synopsis Geology for Archaeologists by : J.R.L. Allen

Download or read book Geology for Archaeologists written by J.R.L. Allen and published by Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2017-10-11 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This short introduction aims to provide archaeologists of all backgrounds with a grounding in the principles, materials, and methods of geology. Each chapter ends with a short reading list, and many have selected case-histories in illustration of the points made. Included is a glossary of technical terms.

Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0191028967
Total Pages : 144 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction by : Tim Lenton

Download or read book Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction written by Tim Lenton and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-02-25 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When humanity first glimpsed planet Earth from space, the unity of the system that supports humankind entered the popular consciousness. The concept of the Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, soil, and rocks operating as a closely interacting system has rapidly gained ground in science. This new field, involving geographers, geologists, biologists, oceanographers, and atmospheric physicists, is known as Earth System Science. In this Very Short Introduction, Tim Lenton considers how a world in which humans could evolve was created; how, as a species, we are now reshaping that world; and what a sustainable future for humanity within the Earth System might look like. Drawing on elements of geology, biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, Lenton asks whether Earth System Science can help guide us onto a sustainable course before we alter the Earth system to the point where we destroy ourselves and our current civilisation. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Geology

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780191842771
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (427 download)

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Book Synopsis Geology by : J. A. Zalasiewicz

Download or read book Geology written by J. A. Zalasiewicz and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jan Zalasiewicz introduces the field of geology, its fundamental role in understanding the Earth and other planets, and its economic importance in the finding and exploitation of resources. He explains how geologists work today, and describes major discoveries such as plate tectonics, and the field's exciting frontiers such as the geology of Mars.

Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191043966
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction by : Peter Molnar

Download or read book Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction written by Peter Molnar and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 1960s revealed a new and revolutionary idea in geological thought: that the continents drift with respect to one another. After having been dismissed for decades as absurd, the concept gradually became part of geology's basic principles. We now know that the Earth's crust and upper mantle consist of a small number of rigid plates that move, and there are significant boundaries between pairs of plates, usually known as earthquake belts. Plate tectonics now explains much of the structure and phenomena we see today: how oceans form, widen, and disappear; why earthquakes and volcanoes are found in distinct zones which follow plate boundaries; how the great mountain ranges of the world were built. The impact of plate tectonics is studied closely as these processes continue: the Himalaya continues to grow, the Atlantic is widening, and new oceans are forming. In this Very Short Introduction Peter Molnar provides a succinct and authoritative account of the nature and mechanisms of plate tectonics and its impact on our understanding of Earth. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Geophysics

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198792956
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (987 download)

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Book Synopsis Geophysics by : William Lowrie

Download or read book Geophysics written by William Lowrie and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 1. What is geophysics? -- 2. Planet Earth -- 3. Seismology and the Earth's internal structure -- 4. Siesmicity--the restless Earth -- 5. Gravity and the figure of the Earth -- 6. The Earth's heat -- 7. The Earth's magnetic field -- 8. Afterthoughts

Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199586454
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (995 download)

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Book Synopsis Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction by : David C. Catling

Download or read book Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction written by David C. Catling and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-10-24 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the origins of life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life, through an understanding of the factors that have allowed life to exist on this planet and the commonalities on others that may enable life elsewhere.

Geography: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191578681
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (915 download)

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Book Synopsis Geography: A Very Short Introduction by : John A. Matthews

Download or read book Geography: A Very Short Introduction written by John A. Matthews and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2008-05-22 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modern Geography has come a long way from its historical roots in exploring foreign lands, and simply mapping and naming the regions of the world. Spanning both physical and human Geography, the discipline today is unique as a subject which can bridge the divide between the sciences and the humanities, and between the environment and our society. Using wide-ranging examples from global warming and oil, to urbanization and ethnicity, this Very Short Introduction paints a broad picture of the current state of Geography, its subject matter, concepts and methods, and its strengths and controversies. The book’s conclusion is no less than a manifesto for Geography’s future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Biogeography: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0192590251
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (925 download)

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Book Synopsis Biogeography: A Very Short Introduction by : Mark V. Lomolino

Download or read book Biogeography: A Very Short Introduction written by Mark V. Lomolino and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2020-07-23 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biogeography is the study of geographic variation in all characteristics of life - ranging from genetic, morphological and behavioural variation among regional populations of a species, to geographic trends in diversity of entire communities across our planet's sufrace. From the ancient hunters and gatherers to the earliest naturalists, Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace, and scientists today, the search for patterns in life has provided insights that proved invaluable for understanding the natural world. And many, if not most, of the compelling kaleidoscope of patterns in biological diversity make little sense unless placed in an explicit geographic context. The Very Short Introduction explains the historical development of the field of biogeography, its fundamental tenets, principles and tools, and the invaluable insights it provides for understanding the diversity of life in the natural world. As Mark Lomolino shows, key questions such as where species occur, how they vary from place to place, where their ancestors occurred, and how they spread across the globe, are essential for us to develop effective strategies for conserving the great menagerie of life across our planet. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199295514
Total Pages : 169 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (992 download)

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Book Synopsis Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction by : Thomas Dixon

Download or read book Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction written by Thomas Dixon and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2008-07-24 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The debate between science and religion is never out of the news: emotions run high, fuelled by polemical bestsellers like iThe God Delusion/i and, at the other end of the spectrum, high-profile campaigns to teach 'Intelligent Design' in schools.Yet there is much more to the debate than the clash of these extremes. As Thomas Dixon shows in this balanced and thought-provoking introduction, a whole range of views, subtle arguments, and fascinating perspectives can be taken on this complex and centuries-old subject. He explores not only thekey philosophical questions that underlie the debate, but also highlights the social, political, and ethical contexts that have made 'science and religion' such a fraught and interesting topic in the modern world. Along the way, he examines landmark historical episodes such as the Galileo affair,Charles Darwin's own religious and scientific odyssey, the Scopes 'Monkey Trial' in Tennessee in 1925, and the Dover Area School Board case of 2005, and includes perspectives from non-Christian religions and examples from across the physical, biological, and social sciences.

Rocks: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0191038318
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Rocks: A Very Short Introduction by : Jan Zalasiewicz

Download or read book Rocks: A Very Short Introduction written by Jan Zalasiewicz and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-12-01 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rocks, more than anything else, underpin our lives. They make up the solid structure of the Earth and of other rocky planets, and are present at the cores of gas giant planets. We live on the rocky surface of the planet, grow our food on weathered debris derived from rocks, and we obtain nearly all of the raw materials with which we found our civilization from rocks. From the Earth's crust to building bricks, rocks contain our sense of planetary history, and are a guide to our future. In this Very Short Introduction Jan Zalsiewicz looks at the nature and variety of rocks, and the processes by which they are formed. Starting from the origin of rocks and their key role in the formation of the Earth, he considers what we know about the deep rocks of the mantle and core, and what rocks can tell us about the evolution of the Earth, and looks at those found in outer space and on other planets. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Atmosphere

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198722036
Total Pages : 153 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (987 download)

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Book Synopsis The Atmosphere by : Paul I. Palmer

Download or read book The Atmosphere written by Paul I. Palmer and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this Very Short introduction Paul Palmer looks at the structure and basic physics and chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere, comparing it to the atmospheres of other planets, particularly our neighbours, Venus and Mars. Palmer looks at the effects of pollutants and climate change, and what may happen to our atmosphere in the future.

The Ice Age

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199580693
Total Pages : 185 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (995 download)

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Book Synopsis The Ice Age by : Jamie Woodward

Download or read book The Ice Age written by Jamie Woodward and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In an era of warming climate, the study of the ice age past is now more important than ever. This book examines the wonders of the Quaternary ice age - to show how ice age landscapes and ecosystems were repeatedly and rapidly transformed as plants, animals, and humans reorganized their worlds." --Publisher.

Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction

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Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191029114
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction by : Mark Maslin

Download or read book Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction written by Mark Maslin and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2014-10-23 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change is still, arguably, the most critical and controversial issue facing the world in the twenty-first century. Previously published as Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction, the new edition is now Climate Change: A Very Short introduction, reflecting an important change in the terminology of the last decade. In the third edition, Mark Maslin includes crucial updates from the last few years, including the results of the 2013 IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, the effects of ocean acidification, and the impact of changes to global population and health. Exploring all of the key topics in the debate, Maslin makes sense of the complexities climate change involves, from political and social issues to environmental and scientific. Looking at its predicated impacts, he explores all of the controversies, and also explains the various proposed solutions. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.