Earth. An introduction to physical geology / Земля. Введение в общую геологию

Earth is a very small part of a vast universe, but it is our home. It provides the resources that support our modern society and the ingredients necessary to maintain life. Therefore, knowledge of our planet is critical to our well-being and, indeed, vital to our survival. The science of geology contributes greatly to our understanding of planet Earth. Media reports frequently remind us of the geological forces at work on our planet. News stories graphically portray the violent force of a volcanic eruption, the devastation generated by a strong earthquake, and the large numbers left homeless by landslides and flooding. Such events, and many others as well, are destructive to life and property, and we must learn to deal with them. Moreover, we also face many basic environmental issues that have a significant geological component. Examples include groundwater contamination, soil erosion, and the many impacts of extracting energy and mineral resources. To understand these issues and try to find solutions to the problems related to them requires an awareness of how science is done and the scientific principles that influence our planet, its rocks, mountains, atmosphere, and oceans.
The ninth edition of Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, like its predecessors, is a college-level text that is intended to be a meaningful non-technical survey for students taking their first course in geology. In addition to being informative and up-to-date, a major goal of Earth is to meet the need of students for a readable and user-friendly text, a book that is a highly usable “tool” for learning the basic principles and concepts of geology <...>