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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.

  • Biological Experiments in Space

    30 Years Investigating Life in Space Orbit
    • 1st Edition
    • Galina Nechitailo + 1 more
    • English
    Biological Experiments in Space: 30 Years Investigating Life in Space Orbit covers investigations of plant, algae, animals, fish, microorganisms and tissue cultures on space flights, beginning with the first orbital space station on Salyut 1. The book includes results on the influence of the entire complex of physical factors associated with spaceflight on biological systems, including analysis of the impact of microgravity on organisms, as well as the effects of electric and magnetic fields. This book offers important insights for researchers of space biology and astrobiology, as well as space agency and industry specialists developing future space stations and missions. Lack of gravity, temperature and chemical gradients, magnetic and electrical fields, spectral composition and intensity of light, and high-energy cosmic radiation influence many important metabolic and physiological processes in animals, plants, and microorganisms, as well as transfer phenomena in and around them. Success of future space exploration depends on understanding the effects of these factors on biological organisms and developing appropriate countermeasures, aimed at improving growth, development, and reproduction in microgravity.
  • Ocean Currents

    Physical Drivers in a Changing World
    • 1st Edition
    • Robert Marsh + 1 more
    • English
    Ocean Currents: Physical Drivers in a Changing World opens with a general introduction to the character, measurement, and simulation of ocean currents, leading to a physical and dynamical framework for understanding the wide variety of flows encountered in the oceans. The book comprises chapters covering distinct aspects of contrasting ocean currents: broad and slow, deep and shallow, narrow and swift, large scale and small scale, low latitudes and high latitudes, and moving in horizontal and vertical planes. Through this approach the authors cover a wide range of applications, from local to global, with considerable geographical context.
  • Hydrocarbon Fluid Inclusions in Petroliferous Basins

    • 1st Edition
    • Vivekanandan Nandakumar + 1 more
    • English
    Hydrocarbon Fluid Inclusions in Petroliferous Basins trains readers to detect Hydrocarbon Fluid Inclusions (HCFIs) in sedimentary rocks, particularly the wafer preparation techniques to visualize HCFIs, its distinction from aqueous inclusions, petrographic approaches to HCFIs, microthermometric observations on HCFIs, fluorescence emission spectra and Raman spectra of HCFIs, and their interpretations for the petroleum industry. The book features case studies from the Mumbai and Kerala Konkan Basins of the Western Offshore of India - two representative basins where new, non-destructive, fluid inclusion techniques were tested. This book is essential reading for students of petroleum geology and those working in exploration in the oil and gas industry.
  • Methods and Applications in Petroleum and Mineral Exploration and Engineering Geology

    • 1st Edition
    • Said Gaci + 2 more
    • English
    Methods and Applications in Petroleum and Mineral Exploration and Engineering Geology is an interdisciplinary book bridging the fields of earth sciences and engineering. It covers topics on natural resources exploration as well as the application of geological exploration methods and techniques to engineering problems. Each topic is presented through theoretical approaches that are illustrated by case studies from around the globe. Methods and Applications in Petroleum and Mineral Exploration and Engineering Geology is a key resource for both academics and professionals, offering both practical and applied knowledge in resources exploration and engineering geology.
  • Foraminiferal Micropaleontology for Understanding Earth’s History

    • 1st Edition
    • Pratul Kumar Saraswati
    • English
    Foraminiferal Micropaleontology for Understanding Earth’s History incorporates new findings on taxonomy, classification and biostratigraphy of foraminifera. Foraminifera offer the best geochemical proxies for paleoclimate and paleoenvironment interpretation. The study of foraminifera was promoted by oil exploration due to its exceptional use in subsurface stratigraphy. A rapid technological development in the past 20 years in the field of imaging microfossils and in geochemical microanalysis have added novel information about foraminifera. Foraminiferal Micropaleontology for Understanding Earth’s History builds an understanding of biology, morphology and classification of foraminifera for its varied applications. In the past two decades, a phenomenal growth has occurred in geochemical proxies in shells of foraminifera, and as a result, crucial information about past climate of the earth is achieved. Foraminifera is the most extensively used marine microfossils in deep-time reconstruction of the earth history. Its key applications are in paleoenvironment and paleoclimate interpretation, paleoceanography, and biostratigraphy to continuously improve the Geologic Time Scale.
  • Advances in Spectroscopic Monitoring of the Atmosphere

    • 1st Edition
    • Weidong Chen + 2 more
    • English
    Advances in Spectroscopic Monitoring of the Atmosphere provides a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge technologies and monitoring applications. Concepts are illustrated by numerous examples with information on spectroscopic techniques and applications widely distributed throughout the text. This information is important for researchers to gain an overview of recent developments in the field and make informed selections among the most suitable techniques. This volume also provides information that will allow researchers to explore implementing and developing new diagnostic tools or new approaches for trace gas and aerosol sensing themselves. Advances in Spectroscopic Monitoring of the Atmosphere covers advanced and newly emerging spectroscopic techniques for optical metrology of gases and particles in the atmosphere. This book will be a valuable reference for atmospheric scientists, including those whose focus is applying the methods to atmospheric studies, and those who develop instrumentation. It will also serve as a useful introduction to researchers entering the field and provide relevant examples to researchers and students developing and applying optical sensors for a variety of other scientific, technical, and industrial uses.
  • Space Science and Public Engagement

    21st Century Perspectives and Opportunities
    • 1st Edition
    • Amy Paige Kaminski
    • English
    Space Science and Public Engagement: 21st Century Perspectives and Opportunities critically examines the many dimensions of public engagement with space science by exploring case studies that show a spectrum of public engagement formats, ranging from the space science community's efforts to communicate developments to the public, to citizenry attempting to engage with space science issues. It addresses why public engagement is important to space science experts, what approaches they take, how public engagement varies locally, nationally and internationally, and what roles "non-experts" have played in shaping space science. Space scientists, outreach specialists in various scientific disciplines, policymakers and citizens interested in space science will find great insights in this book that will help inform their future engagement strategies.
  • Microbial Communities in Coastal Sediments

    Structure and Functions
    • 1st Edition
    • Salom Gnana Thanga Vincent + 2 more
    • English
    A concise reference on the structural composition and function of microbial communities in coastal environments, especially in relation to natural and anthropogenic impacts. Microbial Communities in Coastal Sediments presents twenty years of coastal microbiology research, grounding it as a vital development in the field of microbial ecology. It is the first book to focus exclusively on the complex microbial ecology and its function in rest of the marine environment. The book outlines the structure, function, and assessment of microbial communities in marine sediments while exploring practical methods of assessment. It is an invaluable resource to aquatic microbiologists, marine ecologists, marine microbiologists, aquatic researchers, and graduate students in this field. Microbial Communities in Coastal Sediments begins with an examination of nutrient sources in the coastal context with a focus on organic matter inputs. The quantity and quality of organic matter in coastal sediments and their impacts on the composition and formation of microbial communities is discussed. The book explores the consequences of anthropogenic changes and human activity on microbial ecology and nutrient cycling. Sections on nutrient availability, green house gas production and biodegradation of persistent organic pollutants provide essential details. Molecular research techniques and methods for assessing microbial community structure and function in coastal sediments are also covered.
  • Preparing a Workforce for the New Blue Economy

    People, Products and Policies
    • 1st Edition
    • Liesl Hotaling + 1 more
    • English
    Preparing a Workforce for the New Blue Economy: People, Products and Policies discusses the Blue Economy, how the industry will develop, and how to train the next generation. The book considers the use of big data, key skillsets, training undergraduate and graduate students, the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) in the US, economic opportunities in African coastal countries, and governmental agencies, non-profits and NGO’s. Finally, a broad range of case studies are provided, covering oil spills, commercial fishing, data protection and harvesting, sustainability and weather forecasting, all presented to highlight the educational requirements of the workforce and potential economic opportunities.
  • Environmental Systems Science

    Theory and Practical Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Daniel A. Vallero
    • English
    Environmental Systems Science: Theory and Practical Applications looks at pollution and environmental quality from a systems perspective. Credible human and ecological risk estimation and prediction methods are described, including life cycle assessment, feasibility studies, pollution control decision tools, and approaches to determine adverse outcome pathways, fate and transport, sampling and analysis, and cost-effectiveness. The book brings translational science to environmental quality, applying groundbreaking methodologies like informatics, data mining, and applications of secondary data systems. Multiple human and ecological variables are introduced and integrated to support calculations that aid environmental and public health decision making. The book bridges the perspectives of scientists, engineers, and other professionals working in numerous environmental and public health fields addressing problems like toxic substances, deforestation, climate change, and loss of biological diversity, recommending sustainable solutions to these and other seemingly intractable environmental problems. The causal agents discussed include physical, chemical, and biological agents, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID-19 virus), and other emerging contaminants.