A quake will happen--in fact it's actually overdue. The Cascadia subduction zone is 750 miles long, running along the Pacific coast from Northern California up to southern British Columbia. In this fascinating book, The Seattle Times science reporter Sandi Doughton introduces readers to the scientists who are dedicated to understanding the way the earth moves and describes what patterns can be identified and how prepared (or not) people are. With a 100% chance of a mega-quake hitting the Pacific Northwest, this fascinating book reports on the scientists who are trying to understand when, where, and just how big THE BIG ONE will be.From the Trade Paperback edition.

    A major theme is how minerals and life coevolved, leading to the unprecedented mineral diversity on our world compared to the other planets in the solar system. Professor Hazen tells this epic story in 48 action-packed lectures that take you from the big bang to the formation of the solar system to the major milestones that marked the evolution of Earth and life. He also looks ahead at what to expect millions to billions of years in the future.It's easy to think that the green Earth dominated by life that we experience today is just as it's always been. But Professor Hazen introduces you to a succession of starkly different Earths, starting with the black, basalt-covered planet of 4.5 billion years ago, and progressing through blue, gray, red, and white phases as Earth, minerals, and life developed in concert.Major episodes covered in these lectures include the formation of the moon from the collision of a Mars-sized body with the early Earth; the Great Oxidation Event, which was sparked by the earliest photosynthetic life and is responsible for Earth's iron and other important mineral deposits; the formation of the first continents; the start of plate tectonics more than 3 billion years ago; the repeating cycles of supercontinent formation; the Cambrian explosion of life, resulting in the first animal shells, bones, and teeth; the great episodes of mass extinction, including the dinosaurs; and the rise of humans - along with much else.Most impressively, Professor Hazen is a pioneer in the study of mineral evolution, which is a unique lens through which to view the development of Earth. He tells the story with authority and with a rare gift for making you see the world in a new, intriguing way.

    It is a hands-on guide to learning about the natural environment of California. Subjects covered include California natural history and geology, native plants and animals, California's freshwater resources and ecosystems, forest and rangeland resources, conservation biology, and the effects of global warming on California's natural communities. The Handbook also discusses how to create and use a field notebook, natural resource interpretation, citizen science, and collaborative conservation and serves as the primary text for the California Naturalist Program.

    Colorado's multihued rocks from white and red sandstones to green shales and pink granites are vividly splashed across the pages in stunning color photographs. Detailed color maps and diagrams clearly distill the state's complex bedrock geology. Updated text includes information about new discoveries, such as the mastodons and other Pleistocene fossils found at Snowmass, and new parks, such as Chimney Rock National Monument. Roadside Geology of Colorado is a must-have for any Colorado rock enthusiast.

    Readers are shown how to use ArcGIS for Desktop software tools to display and present maps and data, and then query and analyze the data. The third edition has been reorganized and includes new topics such as exploring online resources and raster data and contains new exercises, data, and learning tools. Known for its broad scope, clarity, and reliability, Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop is equally well-suited for classroom use, independent study, and as a reference. A data DVD for working through the exercises is included with the book, and access to a 180-day trial of ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop is provided.

    In 35 detailed and densely illustrated road guides, the authors examine Georgia’s fascinating geology and reveal the stories that lie beneath the surface.You’ll be amazed at Georgia’s geological diversity, from its shifting barrier islands along the coast to the sandstone ridges in its northwest corner. At the Cumberland Island National Seashore you’ll find the ruins of Dungeness, the once-magnificent Carnegie estate built of local mineral resources, and encounter wild horses grazing among windswept dunes. In Atlanta, the white whaleback of granite called Stone Mountain will impress you with its protruding “cat’s paw” minerals and stony layers that are sloughing off like the layers of an onion. In the Blue Ridge Mountains you can witness Amicalola Falls, one of the highest cascading waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, and Tallulah Gorge, one the deepest gorges in the eastern United States. And in the iconic Okefenokee Swamp of south Georgia, you’ll wade through the gator-filled blackwater of one of the largest wetlands in North America.With its engaging prose and 250-plus color photos, maps, and figures, Roadside Geology of Georgia takes you beyond the rocks to unearth the billion-year history of the Empire State of the South.

    With poignant chapters from Ken Ham, John Morris, John Whitcomb, Danny Faulkner, Gary Parker, and more!

    Although water is essential to sustaining life and livelihoods, geostrategist Brahma Chellaney argues that it remains the world's most underappreciated and undervalued resource. One sobering fact is that the retail price of bottled water is already higher than the international spot price of crude oil. But unlike oil, water has no substitute, raising the specter of water becoming the next flashpoint for conflict. Water war as a concept may not mesh with the conventional construct of warfare, especially for those who plan with tanks, combat planes, and attack submarines as weapons. Yet armies don't necessarily have to march to battle to seize or defend water resources. Water wars-in a political, diplomatic, or economic sense-are already being waged between riparian neighbors in many parts of the world, fueling cycles of bitter recrimination, exacerbating water challenges, and fostering mistrust that impedes broader regional cooperation and integration. The danger is that these water wars could escalate to armed conflict or further limit already stretched food and energy production. Writing in a direct, nontechnical, and engaging style, Brahma Chellaney draws on a wide range of research from scientific and policy fields to examine the different global linkages between water and peace. Offering a holistic picture and integrated solutions, his book promises to become the recognized authority on the most precious natural resource of this century and how we can secure humankind's water future.

    His first book, Landscapes and Cycles, An Environmentalist's Journey to Climate Skepticism will likewise open your minds. It compares the effects of landscape changes, natural cycles and climate change on polar bears, whales, walruses, penguins, frogs, pika, butterflies and marine ecosystems. Although it is wise to think globally, all wildlife reacts locally and all regions of the earth have been behaving very differently from what a globally averaged statistic might suggest. Despite media horror stories, many species have benefitted from recent climate change. Those species that are struggling have invariably been affected by issues other than climate change and require very different remedies. Controlling our carbon footprints will never address the most pressing issues of habitat loss and watershed degradation. Landscapes and Cycles juxtaposes environmental optimism and with concern. It celebrates the work of conservationists and scientists whose tireless efforts have enabled the full recovery of a great many species. On the other hand it presents withering criticism against the politicization of climate change and those who have hijacked key environmental issues to the detriment of good environmental stewardship. Steele highlights how faulty science and bad models have misguided critical conservation efforts and misrepresented conservation success. Most distressing Landscapes and Cycles reveals how global warming advocates have opposed appropriate conservation efforts simply because the concerned scientists did not blame climate change. Landscapes and Cycles demystifies both climate science and conservation science in a manner easily understood by everyone. In easily grasped terms Steele explains how natural cycles can cause abrupt climate change and extreme weather events and how those events affect wildlife. If we want to be good stewards of the environment, understanding those natural cycles are essential. Landscapes and Cycles outlines how we can build a more resilient environment and provides a much-needed perspective from which we can better separate sincere concerns from the overzealous catastrophic predictions that dominate the media. Landscapes and Cycles highlights what we need to look for during the next 10 years in order to determine if the "control knob" of global climate change is natural cycles or the rising concentration of carbon dioxide. Until then Steele argues now more than ever, we need to have more transparent and respectful debates to move the science forward. Landscapes and Cycles will enlighten anyone concerned with climate change and the fate of endangered species. Not only is it fascinating reading for the general public, it should required reading for every high school and college environmental studies class.

    Superb artwork shows what is happening out of sight beneath Earth's surface in volcanoes, caves, and mines. Specially photographed galleries show off the beauty of rocks and minerals, and a simple key enables readers to identify any rock.

    It describes the states' best rockhounding sites and covers popular and commercial sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide also describes how to collect specimens, includes maps and directions to each site, and lists rockhound clubs in each the state. Rockhounding Pennsylvania and New Jersey offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby and is an invaluable sourcebook.

    Coverage includes geology, planetary science, oceanography, palaeontology, mineralogy, and volcanology, as well as climatology, geochemistry, and petrology.This new edition has been fully updated with 150 new entries added, with expanded coverage of geology and planetary geology terms. Over 130 line drawings accompany the definitions.The Dictionary also provides recommended web links which are listed and regularly updated on a dedicated companion website. Appendices include a revised geological time scale, an updated bibliography, stratigraphic units, lunar and Martian time scales, wind-strength scales, and SI units. This dictionary is essential for students of geography, geology, and earth sciences, and for those in in related disciplines.

    Packed with stunning photography and key information provided by expert contributors, "Nature Guide: Gems" is carefully structured, with catalog entries organized into easily understood groups that the newcomer will have no difficulty in navigating and the more experienced reader will appreciate.

    The authors provide an overview of our current knowledge and discuss some of the unanswered questions at the forefront of research in planetary science and astrobiology today. They combine knowledge of the Solar System and the properties of extrasolar planets with astrophysical observations of ongoing star and planet formation, offering a comprehensive model for understanding the origin of planetary systems. The book concludes with an introduction to the fundamental properties of living organisms and the relationship that life has to its host planet. With more than 200 exercises to help students learn how to apply the concepts covered, this textbook is ideal for a one-semester or two-quarter course for undergraduate students.

    Unimaginable geological forces created these spectacular peaks. Indeed, the crash of the Indian plate into Asia is the biggest known collisionin geological history, giving birth to the Himalaya and Karakoram, one of the most remote and savage places on Earth.In this beautifully illustrated book, featuring spectacular color photographs throughout, one of the most experienced field geologists of our time presents a rich account of the geological forces that were involved in creating these monumental ranges. Over three decades, Mike Searle has transformedour understanding of this vast region. To gather his vital geological evidence, he has had to deploy his superb skills as a mountaineer, spending weeks at time in remote and dangerous locations. Searle weaves his own first-hand tales of discovery with an engaging explanation of the processes thatformed these impressive peaks. His narrative roughly follows his career, from his early studies in the north west Himalaya of Ladakh, Zanskar and Kashmir, through several expeditions to the Karakoram ranges (including climbs on K2, Masherbrum, and the Trango Towers, and the crossing of Snow Lake, the world's largest ice cap outside polar regions), to his later explorations around Everest, Makalu, Sikkim and in Tibet and South East Asia. The book offers a fascinating first-hand account of a major geologist at work-the arduous labor, the eureka moments, and the days of sheer beauty, such ashis trek to Kathmandu, over seven days through magnificent rhododendron forests ablaze in pinks, reds and white and through patches of bamboo jungle with hanging mosses.Filled with satellite images, aerial views, and the author's own photographs of expeditions, Colliding Continents offers a vivid account of the origins and present state of the greatest mountain range on Earth.

    Looking at the region’s current water crisis from the perspective of its climate history, the authors ask the central question of what is “normal” climate for the West, and whether the relatively benign climate of the past century will continue into the future.The West without Water merges climate and paleoclimate research from a wide variety of sources as it introduces readers to key discoveries in cracking the secrets of the region’s climatic past. It demonstrates that extended droughts and catastrophic floods have plagued the West with regularity over the past two millennia and recounts the most disastrous flood in the history of California and the West, which occurred in 1861—62. The authors show that, while the West may have temporarily buffered itself from such harsh climatic swings by creating artificial environments and human landscapes, our modern civilization may be ill-prepared for the future climate changes that are predicted to beset the region. They warn that it is time to face the realities of the past and prepare for a future in which fresh water may be less reliable.Read an excerpt here: The West without Water: What Past Floods, Droughts, and Other Climatic Clues Tell Us about Tomorrow by B. L... by University of California Press

    The park has a rich history of human and ecological stories that continue to unfold. When Yellowstone was established as the world’s first national park in 1872, it sparked an idea that influenced the creation of the National Park Service and the nearly 400 sites across the United States it protects today. Yellowstone National Park also forms the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. At 28,000 square miles, it is one of the largest intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. The park continues to influence preservation and science, and we are pleased to share its stories with you.Many people have dedicated their lives and careers to studying Yellowstone and the park has a long history of study and public interest. This compendium is intended to help you understand the important concepts about its many resources and contains information about the park’s history, natural and cultural resources, and issues. Each chapter is edited and carefully reviewed for accuracy and relevance.

    Recent investigations hint at episodes in the history of life on Earth that rival the most imaginative movies. For example: Could our planet have been seeded with life from elsewhere? Did the development of life create conditions that threatened to poison the biosphere? How have natural forces conspired, over and over, to remove most traces of life from the planet? And how has life itself responded with determination to survive and thrive in a multitude of astonishing forms? Topics:1 The Interconnected Earth2 The Vast Depths of Earth Time3 Fossil Clocks4 Paleontologists as Detectives5 The Shifting Surface of Planet Earth6 Earliest Origins—Formation of the Planet7 Origins of Land, Ocean, and Air8 The Early Chemical Evolution of Life9 Hints of the First Life Forms10 How Life Transformed the Early Earth11 Snowball Earth—Another Crisis12 Metazoans—Life Grows Up13 Incredible Variety—The Cambrian Explosion14 Window to a Lost World—The Burgess Shale15 The Forgotten Fossils in Earth’s Story16 Introduction to the Great Mass Extinctions17 The Collapse of Earth’s First Eden18 Making the Break for Land19 Getting a Backbone—The Story of Vertebrates20 The Evolution of Jaws21 These Limbs Were Made for Walking?22 Tiktaalik—The Search for a Fishapod23 Carboniferous Giants and Coal24 Amniotes—The Shape of Things to Come25 Permian Extinction—Life’s Worst Catastrophe26 Finding the Killer—The Greenhouse Earth27 The Dinosaurs Take Over28 Letting the Dinosaurs Speak—Paleobehavior29 Conquering the Air—The Evolution of Flight30 Monsters of the Deep—Mesozoic Oceans31 The Cretaceous Earth—A Tropical Planet32 The Sky Is Falling—End of the Dinosaurs33 The Collision of North and South America34 The Rise of Mammals and the Last Ice Age35 The Humble Origins of Human Beings36 The Conscious Earth

    Survey the first half of the Paleozoic Era, between 542 and 400 million years ago, when a great green revolution occurred on dry land.

    It covers many of the main events in the nation’s history, including: • Ancient Australia • The Dreaming • Voyages of discovery • Founding colonies • The explorers • The lure of gold • Settling the land • The growth of cities • Federation • Becoming Anzacs • Modern times • The Great Depression • Defending Australia • Building for the future • Controversial issues • The sporting life • Embracing multiculturalism • On the world stage • Through good times and bad Packed with colourful images and interesting facts, The Big Book of Australian History introduces children to the many people and events that have made Australia what it is today. It also encourages them to think about how Australia has evolved as a nation. The book features stunning images from the collections of the National Library of Australia by artists such as Ellis Rowan, John Gould and S.T. Gill. It also tells the stories of some of the most significant contributors to Australia’s cultural, political, sporting and social life, including Captain James Cook, Governor Lachlan Macquarie, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and aviator Charles Kingsford Smith. This is a book to dip into and savour. Author Peter Macinnis’ enthusiastic retelling of Australia’s story is infectious. Among the big events and the great moments that have shaped the country, Macinnis also includes lesser-known, interesting details that bring Australian history to life. For example, did you know that, in 1934, the ABC developed ‘synthetic’ cricket, in which radio broadcasters gave a ball-by-ball description of the game, using sound effects to simulate the sound of bat on ball and the applause of the crowd? The Big Book of Australian History was created with the help of a consultant historian, Indigenous advisor, and experienced history editor and writer Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder, winner of the 2012 NSW Premier’s Young People’s History Prize.(From the publisher's website)

    In Robotic Exploration of the Solar System, Paolo Ulivi and David Harland provide a comprehensive account of the design and management of deep-space missions, the spacecraft involved - some flown, others not - their instruments, and their scientific results.This fourth volume in the series covers the period 2004 to the present day and features:coverage of the Rosetta and Curiosity missions up to the end of 2013coverage of Mars missions since 2005, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Phoenix and Fobos-Grunt, plus a description of plans for future robotic exploration of the Red Planetcoverage of all planetary missions launched between 2004 and 2013, including the Deep Impact cometary mission, the MESSENGER Mercury orbiter, the New Horizons Pluto flyby and the Juno Jupiter orbiterthe first complete description of the Chinese Chang'e 2 asteroid flyby mission ever publishedextensive coverage of future missions, including the European BepiColombo Mercury orbiter and international plans to revisit the most interesting moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

    Geology off the beaten track follows on the successof author Nick Norman’s earlier Geological Journeys(co-authored with Gavin Whitfi eld), which has sold morethan 20 000 copies in the last 6 years.This new book helps readers understand and interpret thegeology along SA’s regional and other less-travelled roads.● It features 13 detailed routes across the country, takingin geologically interesting areas such as the Richtersveld,Cape winelands and the Valley of Desolation nearGraaff-Reinet.● The text is richly illustrated with photos and explanatorydiagrams, making it suitable for armchair travellers too.● Maps for all the routes indicate key geosites, withGPS readings to pinpoint their location.This is a must-have handbook for travellers in the region,or for anyone wanting to know more about our rocksand landforms.