The Earth. Its birth and growth / Земля. Рождение и развитие

Recent environmental problems and natural disasters have given cause for increasing concern over the future habitability of our planet. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a clear understanding of the Earth's past evolution can provide the key to its possible future development. The Earth: Its Birth and Growth explores the evolution of the Earth over 4.6 billion years using basic reasoning and simple illustrations to help explain the underlying physical and chemical principles and major processes involved.Now fully updated and revised, this rigorous but accessible second edition includes three completely new chapters and additional illustrations. It incorporates recent exciting developments in isotope geology, placing results from these advances within a wider framework of Earth evolution and plate tectonics. Some background in physics and chemistry is assumed, but basic theories and Earth evolution processes are explained concisely in self-contained sections. The book also illustrates specific topics with short accounts of the work of eminent scientists at different stages of discovery in the field. Key research papers and review articles are fully referenced in each chapter to enable readers to explore further.
This book is ideal as a supplementary text for undergraduate and graduate students in isotope geochemistry, geodynamics, plate tectonics, and planetary science. It also provides an enjoyable overview of the Earth's evolution for professional scientists and general readers. <...>