Viva-facts On File: The Encyclopedia Of Earth Science

Earth science is a challenging and, ultimately, rewarding branch of science that is more than merely a collection of facts and definitions- it is a way to understand the history of the planet as the global system of land, sea, air, ice and life. Encyclopedia of Earth Science is a fine contribution to the scientific literature, articulated at a level and presented in a formt ideal for high school and colleges students and general readers. In addition to the broad subdisciplines of Earth Science – such as oceanography, structural geology, weather, climate and geomorphology – the book also provides information on concepts, theories and hypotheses, places and events, and the major periods of geological time, as well as technology and instruments, people who have made significant contributions to the field, occupations and careers, organizations, and field locations. With approximately 700 cross-referenced entries, most of which conclude with sources for further reading, the encyclopedia features 19 prose essays, interspersed throughout the text, that discuss the formation of Earth and the solar system, life on Mars, coping with the sea level rise in coastal cities, earthquake warning systems, and other topical issues. Enhanced by more than 200 black-and-white illustrations, photographs, and charts, entries include • asteroid • convection and the Earth’s mantle • Charles Darwin • El Nino and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) • flood •. mass extinctions • geochronology • metamorphism • greenhouse effect • Rocky Mountains • Himalaya Mountains • jet streams • life’s origins and early evolution • mass extinctions • metamorphism • Rocky Mountains • storm surges • uniformitarianism • volcanic bomb The encyclopedia also includes five helpful appendixes-the Periodic Table of Elements, the Geologic Time Scale, Classifications of Species, Solar System Data, and Evolution of Life and the Atmosphere-as well as extensive index