Why Geology Matters: Decoding the Past, Anticipating the Future - Brossura

Macdougall, Doug

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0520272714 ISBN 13: 9780520272712

Casa editrice: University of California Press, 2011

Riassunto

Volcanic dust, climate change, tsunamis, earthquakesgeoscience explores phenomena that profoundly affect our lives. But more than that, as Doug Macdougall makes clear, the science also provides important clues to the future of the planet. In an entertaining and accessibly written narrative, Macdougall gives an overview of Earths astonishing history based on information extracted from rocks, ice cores, and other natural archives. He explores such questions as: What is the risk of an asteroid striking Earth? Why does the temperature of the ocean millions of years ago matter today? How are efforts to predict earthquakes progressing? Macdougall also explains the legacy of greenhouse gases from Earths past and shows how that legacy shapes our understanding of todays human-caused climate change. We find that geoscience in fact illuminates many of todays most pressing issuesthe availability of energy, access to fresh water, sustainable agriculture, maintaining biodiversityand we discover how, by applying new technologies and ideas, we can use it to prepare for the future.

Su questo libro

Informazioni sull?autore

Doug Macdougall is Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Natures Clocks: How Scientists Measure the Age of Almost Everything; Frozen Earth: The Once and Future Story of Ice Ages (both from UC Press); and A Short History of Planet Earth.

Dal risvolto di copertina interno

Macdougall does a masterful job of exploring the questions, dilemmas, and insights that have led to todays scientific understanding of the composition of our planet. His approach is not rocks on a shelf science; its a compelling, interdisciplinary peek at Earths prehistoryincluding those processes that support so much of modern civilization.-Ernest Zebrowski, author of Global Climate Change and Category 5: The Story of Camille

The story of Earth is told in such geologic forms as rock strata, volcanic eruptions, meteor craters, fossils, ocean currents, and ice flows. Macdougall gives these disparate elements voice and puts them into a perspective that emphasizes why Earth science is important in our understanding of both the planets history and our role in its tomorrow.-Jeff Kanipe, author of The Cosmic Connection: How Astronomical Events Impact Life on Earth

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: University of California Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0520272714
• ISBN 13: 9780520272712
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 304
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: non disponibile