Introduction to earth science

The Earths remarkable origins are chronicled in this insightful volume, which also examines the prehistoric organisms from bacteria to dinosaurs that populated the planet long before humans arrived.

The classification systems that have been developed to comprehend the different types of climatic activity and the incredible range of effects it can have on the planet are the subjects of this insightful volume.

Some of the planets most destructive forces including earthquakes and volcanic activity are caused by the same factors that helped shape much of the Earth as it is today. Plate tectonics, movement of the Earth's outer layers, can occur in a number of different ways and produce a range of results, some minor and others far more devastating.

Together, minerals, rocks, and fossils communicate much about Earths history. Readers are invited to take a closer look at the materials that have, in many ways, facilitated life, and to explore the types and categories of minerals, rocks, and fossils alike.

Detailed illustrations and photographs, interesting sidebars, and the topical narrative of this volume examine the conditions associated with different types of weather and the methods used to measure and forecast weather data.

The subzero temperatures and glacial conditions to which the polar regions of the Earth are often subject would make it difficult for many of us to survive there, yet life is present in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Journey alongside some of the early expeditions and will learn about the conditions and life that comprise the polar ecosystems.

Describes the desert, grassland, and rainforest biomes of the Earth, including their different geological and environmental characteristics, where they are located on Earth, and the plants and animals that live there.

This informative volume describes the features and properties of the bodies of water that make up 70 percent of the worlds surface as well as the various branches of oceanography dedicated to studying all aspects of the ocean and its life forms.