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Elsevier

Books in Earth and planetary sciences

Elsevier's Earth and Planetary Sciences collection brings together pioneering research on the complexities of our planet and beyond. Covering topics from Earth's structural dynamics and ecosystems to planetary exploration, these titles support advancements in geoscience, environmental science, and space studies, offering essential insights for researchers, professionals, and students.

  • The Lunar Surface Layer

    Materials and Characteristics
    • 1st Edition
    • John W. Salisbury + 1 more
    • English
    The Lunar Surface Layer: Materials and Characteristics focuses on the characteristics, nature, and materials located in the lunar surface layer, including lunar soil mechanics, water vapor adsorption, and soil behavior. The selection first elaborates on soil mechanics considerations in the testing of lunar soil models, an experimental study in lunar soil mechanics, and gravity effects on soil behavior. Discussions focus on cohesion in lunar soils, gravity effect on dynamic shear strength of soils, porosity, soil bearing strength, lunar effects, soil cohesion in the lunar environment, gradation, structure and contact characteristics, and statics and dynamics. The book then examines the investigation of soil adhesion under high vacuum; water vapor adsorption behavior of kaolinite after high-vacuum storage; and sonic velocity and shear strength of possible lunar surface materials. Concerns cover shear strength, sonic velocity, experimental apparatus, and calibration. The manuscript takes a look at the consideration of properties of simulated lunar soil with possible stabilization techniques; feasibility of remote compositional mapping of the lunar surface; thermal emission characteristics of mineral dusts; and thermal properties of postulated lunar surface materials. The selection is highly recommended for researchers wanting to study the lunar surface layer.

  • Fossil and Living Dinoflagellates

    • 1st Edition
    • W. A. S. Sarjeant
    • English
    Fossil and Living Dinoflagellates presents a detailed account of the cell physiology, morphology, and mode of life of dinoflagellates. This book discusses the development in the research, both on fossil and living dinoflagellates. Organized into nine chapters, this book begins with an overview of dinoflagellates as the most important producers of luminescence in the oceans, which sometimes cause tropical seas to glow with phosphorescent light. This text then examines the characteristic feature of dinoflagellates to possess two flagella. Other chapters consider the sequence of events during reproduction in the armored dinoflagellate Glenodinium foliaceum based on culture. This book discusses as well the encystment in non-marine dinoflagellates, which occurs in response to the oncoming of adverse environmental conditions. The final chapter deals with the distribution pattern of dinoflagellate cysts in fossil sediments. This book is a valuable resource for marine biologists, zoologist, paleontologists, micropaleontologists... geologists, taxonomists, microscopists, geneticists, and research workers.

  • The Platyrrhine Fossil Record

    • 1st Edition
    • John G. Fleagle + 1 more
    • English
    The Platyrrhine Fossil Record is a compendium of papers presented in a symposium of the 12th Congress of the International Congress of Primatology held in Brazil. One paper reviews evidence from fossil platyrrhines where the author concludes new dating and environmental data where these animals lived. Another paper describes the major changes pertaining to South American mammalian fauna during the Cenozoic Era, which he relates to global and regional geotectonic changes. Other papers review the paleontology and geology of the Miocene Pintura Formation and reassess the morphological transformations traditionally assumed as having been involved in platyrrhine phylogeny. One author also proposes that a prosimian-like ancestor is probably the predecessors of anthropoids; any similarities and primitive mammals can be evolutionary reversals associated with quadrupedal movements. The text also addresses the issue whether anthropoids, including platyrrhines, evolved from a prosimian ancestor or prosimians are just a group with mammalian postcranial skeletal structure. One author also reviews fossil remains found in the Caribbean, citing seven endemic taxa of platyrrhines in Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica. Anthropologists, researchers involved in anatomical sciences, academicians, and administrators whose works are connected with museums of natural history or institutes of primate research will find this collection valuable.

  • Descriptive Meteorology

    • 2nd Edition
    • Hurd C. Willett + 1 more
    • English
    Descriptive Meteorology, Second Edition describes the principal weather phenomena. This book consists of 10 chapters. Chapter I discusses the composition and vertical extent of the atmosphere. The adiabatic changes and vertical stability of the atmosphere are considered in Chapter II, while the heat balance of the atmosphere and observed temperature distribution are explained in Chapter III. The fourth chapter elaborates the condensation processes in the atmosphere and their respective forms. In Chapter V, the determination of wind velocity and vertical distribution of winds in the atmosphere are analyzed. The formation of characteristic air masses in the general circulation with the migratory types of cyclones, anticyclones, and tropical hurricanes and small-scale circulations which constitute most local weather phenomena are covered in Chapters VI to IX. The last chapter discusses the principles of weather forecasting and modification and present prospects for advances in meteorology. This edition is a good reference for meteorologists and college students familiar with general physics and elementary calculus.

  • Descriptive Micrometeorology

    • 1st Edition
    • R. E. Munn
    • H. E. Landsberg + 1 more
    • English
    Descriptive Micrometeorology compiles views and findings in micrometeorology, which is concerned with the surface boundary layer or thin slice of atmosphere extending from the ground up to a height of approximately 50 meters. This book describes the micrometeorology of soil, short vegetation, forest, water, ice, snow, and built-up urban surfaces. The properties and influence of the planetary boundary layer are not included. The topics discussed include the energy balance at the earth-atmosphere boundary, radiative flux divergence, factors influencing air temperatures, and Kolmogorov similarity theory. The Eddy correlation method for measuring evaporation, radiation balance of snow and ice surfaces, heat storage and horizontal advection in water, and changes in wind patterns are also covered. This publication is intended for meteorologists, but is also a good reference for chemists, engineers, geographers, botanists, hydrologists, health physicists, glaciologists, town planners, limnologists, oceanographers, air pollution control officers, foresters, and ecologists interested in the surface boundary layer.

  • Advances in Geophysical Research

    Volume 2
    • 1st Edition
    • Editorial Committee of Advances in Geoph
    • English
    Advances in Geophysical Research, Vol. 2 introduces the theoretical and applied research on geophysics and seismology, earthquake prediction, and instrumentation in China. This book discusses the frictional resistance of fault slip; analysis of hypocenter location capability of a regional seismic network; and experimental study of electromagnetic emission during rock fracture. The possible triggering mechanism for a type of earthquake swarms; geographical distribution of the gravitational oceanic tidal load on the BTTZ area and mainland, China; and isostasy and crustal structure of Panzhihua-Xiehang Region in Southwestern China are also deliberated. This text likewise covers model 763 long-period seismograph and earthquake prediction research. This publication is a good reference for students and researchers aiming to acquire knowledge on the geophysics and seismology in China.

  • Lithostratigraphic Analysis of Sedimentary Basins

    • 1st Edition
    • C. E. B. Conybeare
    • English
    Lithostratigraphic Analysis of Sedimentary Basins deals with the concepts and methodology of lithostratigraphic analysis used to elucidate various aspects of the geological history of sedimentary layers within a basin. The principles of stratigraphy and sedimentation as well as the influence of tectonism are discussed, along with their relevance to a variety of methods employed in the analysis of sedimentary basins. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with a classification of sedimentary basins and an overview of the methods used in their analysis. Certain lithological features, including sedimentary structures, textures, and assemblages of features that are considered to be diagnostic or indicative of particular depositional environments, are discussed, together with their implications for interpretations of the geologic history of a sedimentary basin on the basis of both macrostratigraphic and microstratigraphic criteria. Other lithologic analyses that are mentioned relate to petrophysical properties such as porosity and permeability and to chemical properties such as trace element, organic, and hydrocarbon content. Methods employed in the examination of outcrops and rock samples are also considered. The final chapter describes the application of sedimentary basin analysis to exploration of oil and gas, coal, and minerals, together with potential storage reservoirs for natural gas. This monograph will be of interest to geophysicists, geologists, geophysicists, and engineers.

  • Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology

    International Series of Monographs on Earth Sciences, Vol. 2
    • 1st Edition
    • Vladimír Pokorný
    • John W. Neale
    • English
    Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology, Volume 2 highlights the morphological, phylogenetic and ecological analysis of microfossils. This book is composed of eight chapters that survey the most important microfossil taxa, their variety of form, evolution, relationships, and distribution. The first chapters describe the general morphology and characteristics of skeletal elements of main groups of sponges, melanoscleritoids, polychaetes, and conodonts. Other chapters deal with the anatomy, reproduction, ecology, phylogenetics, classification, and geological distribution of Ostracod and Echinodermata. The last chapters examine the morphological, phylogenetic, and structural aspects of class Ascidiacea and fish microfossils. This book is of great value to micropalaeontologist... zoologists, phylogeneticists, and taxonomists.

  • The Geology of the U.S.S.R.

    A Short Outline
    • 1st Edition
    • D. V. Nalivkin
    • Earl Ingerson
    • English
    The Geology of the U.S.S.R: A Short Outline is a 10-chapter text that considers the topographical features, the main stratigraphical description, tectonics, magmatism, and economic deposits of U.S.S.R. territories. The entire US.S.R territory covers an area of approximately eight and a half million square miles, or about one-sixth of the total land surface of the Earth. The first chapters explore the geological features of specific territories, including the mainland, Siberian platform, West Siberian lowlands, Ural Mountains, and Western Arctic and Timan. The remaining chapters deal with other territories, such as the Angara, Pacific Ocean, and Mediterranean geosynclines, Central Asia, and North-Western border of the Mediterranean geosyncline. This book will prove useful to practitioners of general geology, petrology, economic geology, and geography.

  • Geophysics in the Affairs of Man

    A Personalized History of Exploration Geophysics and Its Allied Sciences of Seismology and Oceanography
    • 1st Edition
    • Charles C. Bates + 2 more
    • English
    Geophysics in the Affairs of Man: A Personalized History of Exploration Geophysics and its Allied Sciences of Seismology and Oceanography describes many of the key and intriguing developments which took place within several major fields of geophysics. This book is composed of nine chapters that focus on the geophysical enterprise as an interplay of technical, social, and economic factors. After a brief overview of geophysics activity before the World War I, this book goes on the period of the so-called ""golden days"" of exploration geophysics. The succeeding chapter deals with the exploration geophysics during the global war, particularly the classical seismological activity during this time. These topics are followed by discussions of the geophysical activities from 1945 to 1960, as well as the introduction of oceanography field. Other chapters cover the interaction between geophysics and ecology, as well as OPEC during the period of 1970s and early 1980s. The final chapters consider the status and nature of geophysical exploration industry. This book will prove useful to geophysicists, historians, and researchers in the allied fields.

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