Planet Earth

Klappentext This book explains why we have such a vast array of environments across the cosmos and on our own planet, and also a stunning diversity of plant and animal life on earth. Zusammenfassung This book presents a global picture of our world - how it originated! how it evolved! how it works - and provides the background necessary to assess ways to stabilize it. Although the science is rigorous and quantitative! the book is written in an informal style and is readily accessible. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface; Part I. Prolegomena: Science and Religion: 1. Monumental scientific discoveries, units of measurement and a warning about this book; Part II. Matter and Energy: 2. Atoms and photons; 3. The atomic nucleus; Part III. Cosmology; 4. Birth of the universe; 5. Measuring the universe; 6. The objects in the sky; 7. The solar system; 8. Earth in space; Part IV. Geology: 9. Minerals and gems; 10. Igneous rocks and volcanism; 11. The earth's interior; 12. Plate tectonics; 13. The atmosphere; 14. The hydrosphere; 15. Sediments and sedimentary rocks; 16. Sedimentary environments; 17. Diagenesis, metamorphism and rock deformation; 18. Stratigraphy; Part V. Evolution of Life and Environment: 19. Origin and early evolution of life; 20. The cryptozoic: sections and taxa; 21. Early phanerozoic phyla and related taxa; 22. The paleozoic; 23. The mesozoic; 24. The cenozoic; Part VI. The Historical Perspective; Part VII. Appendixes: A. Physical and chemical data; B. Chemical formulary; Part VIII. References and Subject Index.

Zusammenfassung
This book presents a global picture of our world - how it originated, how it evolved, how it works - and provides the background necessary to assess ways to stabilize it. Although the science is rigorous and quantitative, the book is written in an informal style and is readily accessible.

Inhalt

Preface; Part I. Prolegomena: Science and Religion: 1. Monumental scientific discoveries, units of measurement and a warning about this book; Part II. Matter and Energy: 2. Atoms and photons; 3. The atomic nucleus; Part III. Cosmology; 4. Birth of the universe; 5. Measuring the universe; 6. The objects in the sky; 7. The solar system; 8. Earth in space; Part IV. Geology: 9. Minerals and gems; 10. Igneous rocks and volcanism; 11. The earth's interior; 12. Plate tectonics; 13. The atmosphere; 14. The hydrosphere; 15. Sediments and sedimentary rocks; 16. Sedimentary environments; 17. Diagenesis, metamorphism and rock deformation; 18. Stratigraphy; Part V. Evolution of Life and Environment: 19. Origin and early evolution of life; 20. The cryptozoic: sections and taxa; 21. Early phanerozoic phyla and related taxa; 22. The paleozoic; 23. The mesozoic; 24. The cenozoic; Part VI. The Historical Perspective; Part VII. Appendixes: A. Physical and chemical data; B. Chemical formulary; Part VIII. References and Subject Index.