Book Description

The National Parks of the United States provide some of the world's most spectacular examples of a wide range of geological features. From the shores of Cape Cod to the volcanoes of Hawaii, this book teaches the principles of physical geology by example, re-creating the history of the earth and the development of its landforms, mountains, rivers, and oceans. By presenting a brief outline of the science of geology, and devoting chapters to individual geographical regions, the authors describe in detail the stunning geological features of each park. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Geology of U.S. Parklands, Fifth Edition
I teach a course in geology of America's National Parklands at a community college. I have tried another book for the required text for the course, with mixed success. Therefore when I found out that Geology of U.S. Parklands, fifth edition, was being released, I ordered it for the course even before I had seen my review copy. Previously when traveling I have consulted The Geologic Story of the National Parks and Monuments by the same authors, and was sufficiently impressed with the content, clarity of writing, and extent of coverage that I eagerly ordered the revised version. In my opinion this new book is THE one to use for similar college courses, and should also serve well for travelers with or without geologic training who want to know more about the geology of the magnificent federal parklands of our nation. There is a sufficient short course on general geologic principles in the initial chapter. I like the clarity, accuracy and dry humor of the text, which is better than the style and content in the book previously used - Geology of America's National Park Areas by Brooks Ellwood. Although the latter is quite a bit less expensive and has better quality if not more useful pictures, it is often too simplistic for my use in this course. I may have more to say after having used Kiver and Harris book as a text for a quarter or two, but my initial reaction to it is very favorable. Other books cover the geology of one or a few park areas, but this book has the entire country including Hawaii. However, for some reason the parklands of Alaska are excluded, probably because their inclusion could add many pages to what is already a massive volume (902 pages). I should have liked to see higher quality photographs and a lower cost, but other than those minor quibbles, this book will very likely set the standard to which all others on the subject will strive. ... Read more

Book Description

Environmental Soil Physics is a completely updated and modified edition of the Daniel Hillels previous, successful books, Introduction to Soil Physics and Fundamentals of Soil Physics. Hillel is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, one of the true leaders in the field of environmental sciences. The new version includes a chapter and problems on computational techniques, addresses current environmental concerns and trends.

* Updates and expands the scope of Hillel's prior works, Fundamentals of Soil Physics (1980)and Applications of Soil Physics (1980)
* Explores the wide range of interactions among the phases in the soil and the dynamic interconnections of the soil with the subterranean and atmospheric domains
* Draws attention to historical and contemporary issues concerning the human management of soil and water resources
* Directs readers toward solution of practical problems in terrestrial ecology, field-scale hydrology, agronomy, and civil engineering
* Incorporates contributions by leading scientists in the areas of spatial variability, soil remediation, and the inclusion of land-surface processes in global climate models ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a civil engineer /hydrologist
a great book for reference and detailed study . clear concepts and i believe a must buy for studying transport through soils ... Read more

Book Description

Designed As A Review Text For The New York State Physical Setting/earth Science Course, This Book Covers All Earth Science Topics For High School. The book is organized into three main study units: astronomy; meteorology; and geology. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A MUST BUY!!!
I am a striaght A student, and took earth science in 8th grade. I just didnt understand it. I had an 84 average teh 1st quarter. I bought this book and i had an A every other quarter, and I got a 95 on the regents. It is a great book with many questions that are similar to ones you will see on the real regents. It has many diagrams and even areal past exam. It's a very good, must buy tool.

WOW! TEST SCORES ARE UP^^!!!
Wow!! I am in 8th grade and taking the High School Regent Earth Science course, and before I bought this book I was getting 50s and 60s on tests (my quarter average was a 84) and after I did the review questions in each chapter I havn't gotten anything below a 85 (now my average is a 94)!! This made my average go up 10 points, and if it can work for me, it can definitely work for you. My mom said it was the best money she ever spent, and I also bought the Barron's Regents Earth Science Exams and Answers book, but unfortunately it was a "little" overused and I can't read anything in it.. O WELL THIS REALLY HELPS! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! it even has a full exam in the back and a vocab section that shows vocab words to know for the test, it's really good!

Excellent!
If you've been having trouble understanding the in-depth details of Earth Science and even just regular science, this book is for the new expert. It gives you plenty of details of every topic that you've learned in this course, and gives you many regents questions to study from (for the power pack).

You'll be amazed, just like I was. The book contains a lot of pictures/diagrams/etc. describing what you are learning about to help you comprehend better what you've just sighted out in the units. One thing I appreciated is that if by any chance, if you didn't understand the topic you were learning about, just go back in the index and it will show a secondary page number or a page where it shows more analysis of the particular topic you're studying.

Even though the Regents won't give you the exact same questions from an old exam on a new exam, it is still a very crucial part in studying old Regents questions. GUARENTEED: It will create more skills as a whole in terms of understanding the questions and answers; primarily eliminating answers that you cannot recognize or ones that don't make any sence, and keeping the one answer that makes the most logic or sence... This is a BIG help in trying to get a good grade on your exam. If you get the Regents questions book, you will be provided with answers to all questions, and it can really make you realize why that answer is the way it should be. It'll create more facts in your head.

One thing is for sure, is that you can't miss this book. My point of view is that you should review throughly throughout this book, and review as many questions as you can. I did this, and I received an 86 percent for my average on the regents, and you can even do better that I can!

NOTE: Order this book right when school starts or sooner, so you can be prepared.

earth science
earth science is an exctremely hard subject but with this book u willget straight A's all the tim.get this book and review all the notes, it will helpyou a great deal

A Great Book, which is a great subsitute to the old and....
Listen, this book is mad good. I took the Earth Science Regents in 8th Grade in June 2001, and all of the material was covered by this book. The day before I took the test, I was cramming out of this book. Even though I was getting 95s in science, the material did not make sense. But everyday in May, I studied with another version of this book, and it helped refresh my memory of Earth Science. With this book, it helped me comphrend and ace the regents with flying colors. I was able to get a 88 in the regents exam from this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone that is going to take the Earth Science Regents in New York State. For the difficult comprehender, it will help build connections to topics that will help you pass the regents, and for the forgetful type, it will refresh your memory. Take my word for it, and buy it. Its worth the price it is. ... Read more

Book Description

Raymond S. Bradley provides his readers with a comprehensive and up-to-date review of all of the important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, dating and paleoclimate modeling. Two comprehensive chapters on dating methods provide the foundation for all paleoclimatic studies and are followed by up-to-date coverage of ice core research, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating, tree rings and historical records. New methods using alkenones in marine sediments and coral studies are also described. Paleoclimatology, Second Edition, is an essential textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying climatology, paleoclimatology and paleooceanography worldwide, as well as a valuable reference for lecturers and researchers, appealing to archaeologists and scientists interested in environmental change.

* Contains two up-to-date chapters on dating methods
* Consists of the latest coverage of ice core research, marine sediment and coral studies, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, tree rings, and historical records
* Describes the newest methods using alkenones in marine sediments and long continental pollen records
* Addresses all important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction
* Includes an extensive chapter on the use of models in paleoclimatology
* Extensive and up-to-date bibliography
* Illustrated with numerous comprehensive figure captions ... Read more

Book Description

The brief, paperback version of the best-selling Earth Science, this book offers a user-friendly overview of the physical environment. It retains the hallmarks expected from Fred Lutgens and Ed Tarbuck—a reader-friendly writing style, carefully crafted art program, and coverage of the most recent current events. For the first time, each copy of the book comes packaged with the GEODe: Earth Science CD-ROM.Discusses key topics such as Earth materials, earth's external and internal processes, Earth's history, the global ocean, and the atmosphere.For anyone interested in Earth Science. ... Read more

Book Description

Homework Helpers: Earth Science covers all of the topics typically included in a high school or undergraduate course, including: * How to understand "the language of rocks." * The events that we see in the sky and how they affect us. * Earthquakes and what they can tell us about the inside workings of our world. * How to understand the weather and what the weatherman is saying. Homework Helpers: Earth Science is loaded with practical examples using everyday experiences. Every topic includes a number of simple tricks to make even the toughest ideas understandable and memorable. Each chapter ends with practice questions and explanations of answers. As a reference tool Homework Helpers: Earth Science can be used as a preview of tomorrow's class or a reinforcement of today's. It will leave students with a firm grasp of the material and the confidence that will inspire a deeper understanding. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of one of the hottest areas of chemical research. The treatment of fundamental kinetics and photochemistry will be highly useful to chemistry students and their instructors at the graduate level, as well as postdoctoral fellows entering this new, exciting, and well-funded field with a Ph.D. in a related discipline (e.g., analytical, organic, or physical chemistry, chemical physics, etc.). Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere provides postgraduate researchers and teachers with a uniquely detailed, comprehensive, and authoritative resource. The text bridges the "gap" between the fundamental chemistry of the earth's atmosphere and "real world" examples of its application to the development of sound scientific risk assessments and associated risk management control strategies for both tropospheric and stratospheric pollutants.

Key Features
*Serves as a graduate textbook and "must have"reference for all atmospheric scientists
* Provides more than 5000 references to the literature through the end of 1998
* Presents tables of new actinic flux data for the troposphere and stratospher (0-40km)
* Summarizes kinetic and photochemical date for the troposphere and stratosphere
*Features problems at the end of most chapters to enhance the book's use in teaching
* Includes applications of the OZIPR box model with comprehensive chemistry for student use ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New Horizons
The scope and technical detail of this seminal work covering the cutting edge in Atmospheric chemistry is beyond remarkable. Just the number of references is mind boggling. The book presents the material in a very readable and understandable style. The authors have kept the reader in mind. They also add surprising levity on occasion and show a keen grasp of areas outside chemistry. I know of no other work in this field that is more current, comprehensive, and helpful. If only other scientific works were as thorough and readable. ... Read more

Book Description

B> Designed give readers instruction and practice with basic geologic field and lab skills, this exceptionally affordable--yet high-quality--lab manual/workbook features 68 unique and intuitive exercises that covering 19 key geologic topics. The exercises are based on the principles of scientific inquiry, and challenge readers to think beyond the activity at hand to the larger questions of applied geologic work. Problems range from the simple to complex, and calculations are based on simple arithmetic.ROCK EVOLUTION. Minerals and Rocks. MAPPING THE EARTH. Topographic Maps. Air Photos. Geologic Maps, Structures, and Earth History. Seismic Reflections Reveal Subsurface Geology. SURFICIAL PROCESSES AND THE ENVIRONMENT. Landslides. Streams. Ground Water. Glaciation. Beaches. PLATE TECTONICS. Earthquakes and Seismic Risk. Volcanos and Volcanic Hazards. Earthquakes, Volcanos, and Plate Tectonics. Plate Movements. EARTH MATERIALS. Rock-forming Minerals. Igneous Rocks. Sedimentary Rocks. Metamorphic Rocks. Common Rocks in the Field.For anyone interested in learning geologic field and lab skills. ... Read more

Book Description

Stephen J. Gould, Harvard professor, claims that "professionally trained scientists virtually to a person, understand the factual basis of evolution and don't dispute it."This book refutes that statement with essays from 50 doctorate-holding scientists from around the globe who give sound reasoning and evidence for believing in a literal six-day creation. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

My mind was changed
Relish that the previous reviews are strongly conflicting! I find it humorous and a exciting because authentic issues of faith are rarely clearly resolved. Does this book touch on issues of faith? Certainly!, not as a scientific rebuttal to the theory of evolution but as a sketch from different scientific thinkers as to why Chreation, with it's own untestable mysteries, is convincing to them. If I had no doubt that evolution is an impregnable fortress of truth, and were looking to pick a fight, this book would not change me into a Bible-thumping creationist. Fact is, there are thousands of scientists (not just 50) who believe that a creator God is more than nursery rhymes. There are multiple arguments that stack up agaisnt both creation and evolution. Here, 50 scientists, in one chapter apeice, share the arguments that cast evolution in a fog. To think that each chapter is a complete and convincing appology to evolutionists, as several of the reviewers of this book anticipated, seems to miss the point. The point is that thinking people find faith in the Bible to be as relavent as science. (Let hardcore evolutionists shake their heads here--you will not be convinced by faith or reason).

As for me, I have been an old earth, young creation Bible believer; but this book has moved my mind toward a young earth, young creation persuasion. Some of the arguments in the book will hit you, others may not. The beauty of this book is that it's written by 50 authors--all with qualified scientific credentials. Each took one chapter to share a scetch from their personal story of doubt, reason, and faith. If you want to line your quiver with darts to throw, it might produce a few, but you have missed the target. This book is about the experience of those who have balanced reason and faith and can not disqualify either. I recommend this book to evolutionists and creationists to don't know everything yet.

Is evolution fact or faith?
An earlier reviewer correctly pointed out that creationists have a starting bias with which they use to interpret all data, but he mistakenly seemed to think that evolutionists are somehow more objective in their approach to science. This is a common picture presented to the general public, but is it true? As a previous reviewer documented, the idea of "objective" science exists only in the mind of young (naive and inexperienced) scientists and laymen.

But don’t simply take my word for it. Professor Richard Lewontin, a geneticist (and self-proclaimed Marxist), is a renowned champion of neo-Darwinism, and certainly one of the world's leaders in evolutionary biology. He recently wrote this very revealing comment. It illustrates the implicit philosophical bias against Genesis creation - regardless of whether or not the facts support it...

So here we have one of the world’s leading evolutionists admitting what the general public was never told - that evolutionists have universally accepted a materialistic interpretation scheme as truth. All evidence stands or falls based upon it’s fit with the dogma of evolution. Any data that does not fit within this hypothetical framework is discarded or explained away...

Uselessly biased and inane argumentation
Quoted excerpt from the back cover of this book:

"Science can neither prove nor disprove evolution anymore than it can creation...However, certain factors are present today which are capable of swaying one's beliefs one way or the other."

The object of this book is to obviously induce the scientifically uninitiated into accepting the account of Biblical creationism as true using scientific "evidence" which contradicts the theory of evolution, as an influential source of persuasion.

This book abounds with scientific hypotheses which attempt to discredit evolution yet, once this "evidence" is used to discern the shortcomings of evolutionary theory, these testimonies unscientifically assign these facts as correlating truth-claims regarding the Christian Bible's account of creation.
From the onset Mr. Ashton wants you to accept a fallacious and preconceived dichotomy, one in which you are simply an atheist who believes in evolution, or a Christian who believes in creation. Mr. Ashton fails to note that there may be a variety of alternative explanations (metaphysical or otherwise) derived from such "evidence". This book simply alludes by default a biased interpretation of the evidence, exclusively that of Christianity.
One example of this is biodiversity, which it must be noted that certain religions predating Christianity have made claims of "inextricable oneness" when describing man in relation to the universe.

Another testimonial goes to great length to discount spontaneous generation in support of biogenesis which states that "life *must* come from life." Then proceeds to (fallaciously) presume God's inevitable role in the matter. The problem here is in considering God a life-form.
If you consider God (the entity) a life-form then (via biogenesis), God himself/herself must derive from a previous form of life. (how can this be?) Conversely, if you consider God the fountainhead of life (not a life-form per se) then "God creating life" is in complete contradiction with the biogenesis claim.

Finally, from the dawn of time man has sought to appease some type of God for that which he does not fathom. This book is no different. Science cannot prove how the universe came into existence therefore God must fill the gaps that science has left unexplained. This is simple "God of the gaps" argumentation.

Each testimonial indicate a Christian bias and by assembling this collection the author is disingenuously using science to disclaim any preconceptions held in favor of evolution yet, he expects the uninitiated reader to unscientifically, accept the unsubstantiated preconceptions he holds toward creationism.

In summary: Scientifically it is interesting - Theologically it is useless - Philosophically it is a joke!

A less-than-inspiring format for a compelling topic
"In Six Days", for those wishing to understand "young earth" creation theories, provides thought-provoking questions and answers. As with any book that looks at a highly charged issue, it is important to come to it with an open mind. That many reviewers here on both sides of the issue cannot keep from vehemently pointing fingers at each other says nothing about the actual content of "In Six Days", unfortunately, so I hope this review can find some middle ground. Rather than making this review simply another in a line of rabid apologetics for one side or the other, I hope to relate whether the book succeeds in accomplishing what it intends.

To create this book, many Christian scientists (of various disciplines) from around the world were asked "Why do you believe in a literal six-day biblical creation as the origin of life on earth?" The fifty best responses ultimately were included.

Sadly, this format makes "In Six Days" less than useful - on any level. The answers provided resemble testimonies rather than useful scientific analyses. Respondents tended to repeat each other, answer too generally, or (conversely) too technically on a single point. Further compounding the problems of the book, the great majority of the scientists refer to points outside their own discipline. If I were looking for serious answers to important questions about a six-day creation, would I want to read a mechanical engineer's musings on organic chemistry? Probably not. This book would be infinitely more helpful if the question had been posed as "What are five discoveries within your field of expertise that point specifically to a six-day creation?" But as phrased here, the original question automatically leads to unfocused answers.

In truth, only about twenty of the respondents provide compelling arguments. Of those twenty, half spoke about ideas outside their disciplines. That doesn't leave the reader with much unimpeachable "ammunition" to counter evolutionists.

This is not to say that nothing here satisfies. Twenty percent of the respondents had compelling information that either casts doubt on treasured pro-evolution precepts or supports a God-inspired young earth. Unfortunately, for those that have some passing knowledge of the Creation vs. Evolution hysteria, few of those ten scientists had anything new to contribute to the body of work out there already in the pro-creation community. For this reason, it must be assumed that this book is intended for people who have never explored the claims of creationists. Given some of the issues already mentioned, the result is less than stellar.

And this is a shame since there are many excellent books that make strong arguments for the creation viewpoint. Several of the scientists quoted in "In Six Days" refer to these books. My question is then: "Why not skip 'In Six Days' and just read those more scholarly and better-constructed books?" One book, "Darwin's Black Box", was mentioned repeatedly - it's probably a good bet.

If you have some knowledge of the debate, pass on this book. If you know someone who is asking questions and doesn't have a tremendously technical bent, "In Six Days" might work for them in spots. Otherwise, there are increasingly more pro-creation, young earth, and intelligent design books out there that offer the reader a better use of their time.

A counter-effective book
This book is the most counter-effective exercise in persuasion that I have met. It appears to provide to people with creationist sympathies the supporting intellectual arguments that they might otherwise lack. In practice, it does the opposite. I admit that I approached the book with evolutionist views but as science provides only probabilistic conclusions and all these merit assault, I was interested to find out what were the best arguments that creationists could assemble. But these! Are these the best the creationists can offer?
There are several arguments that occur many times and all could be demolished even in a review such as this one. I will give one example.
About a quarter of the essayists claim that the second law of thermodynamics prohibits evolution. Dr. Don B. Deyoung states it thus, "It describes unavoidable losses in any process whatsoever which involves transfer of energy. The energy does not disappear but some always becomes unavailable, often as unusable heat. Stated another way, everything deteriorates, breaks down and becomes less ordered with time". This is nearly right but not quite. It states only that the entropy (disorder) of a closed system AS A WHOLE steadily increases. It does not prohibit decreases in entropy (more order) within a closed system provided they are local and temporary. If he and all the other essayists who consistently omit this truth were right, there would be no mountain building, no rain, no tides, no photosynthesis and therefore no life. Agreed that the solar system as a whole (a closed system) is suffering steadily increasing entropy (more disorder) but within it, locally and temporarily, more order is permitted and we are some of it. The denials of this by people with Ph. D. degrees are astonishing or sinister. Take your pick.
There are similar examples relating to the role of chance, the fossil record and dating techniques. If you want to become an evolutionist, read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everything you could possibly want to know.
I've only read a few of the papers, but they are very good.If you know lots of phyics, this book is everything you want to know about Venus and then some.Most papers are using the Magellion data. ... Read more

Book Description

Three hundred spectacular views of Earth taken by the latest generation of satellites.

For orbiting satellites, no place on Earth is isolated. The Himalayas are as easy to photograph as Manhattan. While satellite images are important for science and technical needs, they can also be appreciated for their astonishing beauty.

Earth From Space shows how satellite imaging - also called remote sensing - works and showcases some of the most extraordinary photographs ever published.

In the mid-1990s a new generation of satellites began to orbit the Earth. More powerful and accurate than ever, they can record the effects of human and natural forces, and how the planet is changing through time can be clearly seen.

The book also dispels popular misconceptions like those used in Hollywood movies for dramatic effect such as exaggerated surveillance capabilities of orbiting satellites. However, what the satellites do see is nothing short of spectacular.

Earth From Space presents stunning color photographs of: - Coastal ports and major world cities - Military installations such as the Russian Pacific submarine fleet - Rebuilding lower Manhattan and the Pentagon after 9/11 - Landscapes of wars including Iraq and Iran - Rain forests, wetlands, coral reefs, rivers and mountains - Effects of deforestation and desertification

Earth From Space covers subjects ranging from aeronautics to history to ecology with unforgettable illustrations - an expansive big picture view of the world. ... Read more

Book Description

In the best-selling tradition of Smithsonian Animal, this extraordinary survey of our planet provides unrivaled insight into the forces and processes that formed our environment and which continue to influence its evolution. With thousands of breathtaking photographs and unique visual catalogues of the features and phenomena that take place on Earth -- such as rocks, minerals, and mountains to tropical rain forests and the different types of clouds -- Earth contains the most up-to-date ideas on how our world works, a compelling review on the health of the planet, and unbelievable images of the world's most stunning features. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another DK Winner with the Smithsonian "Earth"
It seems that DK and the Smithsonian have teamed up to produce a sure winner with their new book "Smithsonian Earth". It is profusely graphic with superb full color photographs and illustrations throughout.

This book is divided into five major subjects: (1) Planet Earth (2) Land (3) Ocean (4) Atmosphere and (5) Tectonic Earth. It is extremely well organized with a comprehensive index and glossary. One will find "thematic panels" scattered throughout the text, which might in other works be referred to as "sidebars". They serve three functions: They are used to highlight science (how scientists have learned about different aspects of the workings of our planet), biography (notable earth scientists, explorers and others are profiled) and environment (the ways humans are changing the Earth). These panels are color-coded. For instance, all biography entries have a light gray background.

Having indexed some books myself in the past, this comprehensive feature was much appreciated. It was impressive in that even the "thematic panels" are indexed as well as the regular text. The index in boldface type refers to the most prominent page. For instance, copper's indexed entry referred to the "thematic panel" that noted that copper is extremely malleable and can be formed into intricate patterns that are invaluable for covering domes, spires and cupolas. Furthermore, it notes that the copper roofs last for centuries - all this in a small thematic panel!

The first part of the book deals with the Earth's past with a colored timeline extending over several pages dating from the Big Bang. The color reflects the temperature and the environment.

One outstanding feature of this book is the use of what they call "double pages" (facing pages) that are used for subjects of a global nature, for instance, such as "The Solar System", "The Earth and the Sun" and "The Earth and the Moon". This is the same format that DK used expertly in their superb Concise Atlas of the World. This format eliminates the annoying necessity of distractive page flipping.

The Planet Earth section is broken down into the Earth's Past, the Earth in Space, the Anatomy of the Earth and The Changing Earth. Each of these subjects is further subdivided.

The Land section focuses on Mountains and Volcanoes, Rivers and Lakes, Glaciers, Deserts, Forests, Wetlands, Grasslands and Tundra, Agricultural Areas, Urban Areas and Industrial Areas.

The Ocean section covers Oceans and Seas and Coasts. These are also further subdivided. Coasts, for instance, are broken down into Tides and Waves, Coasts and Sea Level and Erosions and Depositional Coastlines topics.

In reviewing this book, I first ran a readability test to determine the reading level (the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level) and it showed that it was written on the 12th grade level.

In other words, this book is appropriate for seniors in high school and above and "advanced" young readers. It's good to see an educational book that has not been "dumbed down" to the lowest common denominator! For instance, because of its high quality, this book might be used in an AP Geography course in high school.

In short, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in our Mother Earth and its many themes, vistas and environmental problems.

As a former social studies teacher, I can see that it should meet many needs, especially in our schools as both a reference work and as a textbook. To be quite honest, it's a sheer joy to read and to just "look"! Enjoy!

Earth is amazing!
The Smithsonian's Earth is a wonderful book. I recently looked through it for a while at a local bookstore, and I was amazed at how much information was packed into it. This book is over 500 pages long, and it is packed with information about our planet, everything from nature's effects to urban influences. It is filled with magnificant photos that left me feeling as if I had traveled the world after viewing them. This is a marvelous book that I think anyone who is interested in our planet should read. ... Read more

Book Description

The subject of turbulence, the most forbidding in fluid dynamics, has usually proved treacherous to the beginner, caught in the whirls and eddies of its nonlinearities and statistical imponderables. This is the first book specifically designed to offer the student a smooth transitionary course between elementary fluid dynamics (which gives only last-minute attention to turbulence) and the professional literature on turbulent flow, where an advanced viewpoint is assumed.

Moreover, the text has been developed for students, engineers, and scientists with different technical backgrounds and interests. Almost all flows, natural and man-made, are turbulent. Thus the subject is the concern of geophysical and environmental scientists (in dealing with atmospheric jet streams, ocean currents, and the flow of rivers, for example), of astrophysicists (in studying the photospheres of the sun and stars or mapping gaseous nebulae), and of engineers (in calculating pipe flows, jets, or wakes). Many such examples are discussed in the book.

The approach taken avoids the difficulties of advanced mathematical development on the one side and the morass of experimental detail and empirical data on the other. As a result of following its midstream course, the text gives the student a physical understanding of the subject and deepens his intuitive insight into those problems that cannot now be rigorously solved.

In particular, dimensional analysis is used extensively in dealing with those problems whose exact solution is mathematically elusive. Dimensional reasoning, scale arguments, and similarity rules are introduced at the beginning and are applied throughout.

A discussion of Reynolds stress and the kinetic theory of gases provides the contrast needed to put mixing-length theory into proper perspective: the authors present a thorough comparison between the mixing-length models and dimensional analysis of shear flows. This is followed by an extensive treatment of vorticity dynamics, including vortex stretching and vorticity budgets.

Two chapters are devoted to boundary-free shear flows and well-bounded turbulent shear flows. The examples presented include wakes, jets, shear layers, thermal plumes, atmospheric boundary layers, pipe and channel flow, and boundary layers in pressure gradients.

The spatial structure of turbulent flow has been the subject of analysis in the book up to this point, at which a compact but thorough introduction to statistical methods is given. This prepares the reader to understand the stochastic and spectral structure of turbulence. The remainder of the book consists of applications of the statistical approach to the study of turbulent transport (including diffusion and mixing) and turbulent spectra. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent and refreshingly brief discussion of turbulence
This book ranks among the classics for people who actually work with turbulent flows. It is a brief but well composed discussion of many of the most fundamental concepts describing turbulence. It is approachable and accurate. It is slightly dated and does not provide as many modeling details as would be useful, but it is excellent as a conceptual discussion.

Excellent Introduction to Subject of Turbulence
This book is an excellent introduction to the subject of turbulence for any newcomer in the field. The book is focus on the true heart of turbulence with the emphasis on the physical insight. Justified by physical simplification, the scaling argument/similarity methods are basic tools to solve turbulence problem in the book. The solution from such methods give you the impression of the key physical mechanism behinds turbulent flows and hence the better understanding of the flows. Follow the way authors solve the problem closely, you will know how to do a hand combat with a real world turbulence problem.

The book requires only a knowledge of basic calculus as well as tensor notation. You only need a simple tensor operation. There is no requirement of statistical/stochastic tool knowledge. You can start this book right after you finish reading a advance fluid mechanics book e.g. Batchelor(1967), Panton(1996) and White(1991).

With my long experience in turbulence subject, I would say if I have to choose only one book for general purpose, I will defintely have "A First Course in Turbulence by Tennekes and Lumley". I have been reading the book more than 3--4 times but I find the book never ceases to give me a new insight of turbulence everytime I read.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for the bible of turbulence. I really mean the bible. You might consider having "Statistical Fluid Mechanics Vol 1 and 2 by Monin and Yaglom".

Introductory level textbook
A good basic textbook about turbulent fluid flows, recommended for undergraduate and early graduate students. Not a high-level reference (should look at Hinze's for that) and a few topics, ideas, etc. are somewhat outdated now.

Good Intro to Turbulence
Tennekes and Lumley provide a very good introductory look into turbulent fluid flow. If you only have one turbulence book on your shelf, this is a good one. ... Read more

Book Description

A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year; Library Journal, Honorable Mention for Best Book of the Year; Delta Kappa Gamma Society Educator's Award 2000; American Association for the Advancement of Science, Best Books and Films of 1999; ;Americans love to colonize their beaches. But when storms threaten, high-ticket beachfront construction invariably takes precedence over coastal environmental concerns -we rescue the buildings, not the beaches. As Cornelia Dean explains in Against the Tide, this pattern is leading to the rapid destruction of our coast. But her eloquent account also offers sound advice for salvaging the stretches of pristine American shore that remain. The story begins with the tale of the devastating hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, in 1900 -the deadliest natural disaster in American history, which killed some six thousand people. Misguided residents constructed a wall to prevent another tragedy, but the barrier ruined the beach and ultimately destroyed the town´s booming resort business.From harrowing accounts of natural disasters to lucid ecological explanations of natural coastal processes, from reports of human interference and construction on the shore to clear-eyed elucidation of public policy and conservation interests, this book illustrates in rich detail the conflicting interests, short-term responses, and long-range imperatives that have been the hallmarks of America´s love affair with her coast. Intriguing observations about America´s beaches, past and present, include discussions of Hurricane Andrew´s assault on the Gulf Coast, the 1962 northeaster that ravaged one thousand miles of the Atlantic shore, the beleaguered beaches of New Jersey and North Carolina´s rapidly vanishing Outer Banks, and the sand-starved coast of southern California. Dean provides dozens of examples of human attempts to tame the ocean -as well as a wealth of lucid descriptions of the ocean´s counterattack. Readers will appreciate Against the Tide´s painless course in coastal processes and new perspective on the beach. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A "must read" book!
After taking Geology 111 last year and then watching several videos about the destruction of our nation's beaches, this book appealed to me. Cornelia Dean does an excellent job of speaking in a language that everyone can understand. Her material is well-researched; this is very interesting and educational reading. If you live near the coast, you need to read this book and be informed about what is happening in your area.

Interesting but unfair
Extremely biased toward a non-property owner viewpoint. Although the government is spending money to keep sand and retain structures, it is also acting in the interest of public safety. Also, many government agencies are limiting what property owners can do with their own money, on their own property, to save their investments. Both sides of the argument are not presented evenly.

Another Sad Tale of How Humans Foul Their Nests
An astounding book that will not be read by enough people. Ms. Dean provides us with a well-researched book on the physics (don't let that word throw you off; she makes it all quite understandable) of beaches, and how, in one century, we have managed to destroy them. Quite simply the ocean cannot and should not be conquered. While capable of causing intense damage to our shores, the ocean, given time, will also inevitably repair the damage it has caused. But, build houses, hotels and other structures as well as jetties, revetments, seawalls, and groins on the beaches and you will ultimately destroy them.

The truly sad part of this book is not just that we have destroyed thousands of miles of our beaches, but that we are led by ignorant, self-serving politicians and greedy commercial and private interests to build even more damaging structures on what's left of our shores. To add insult to injury the taxpayer continues to be dunned for the money to pay for continued "beach management" (read: mismanagement), and for rebuilding destroyed structures in areas where nothing should be built. I no longer have the slightest sympathy for people whose shorefront homes are destroyed by storms. Move inland where you belong.

A must read for the concerned citizen.

Cornelia Dean Deserves The Pulitzer Prize!
I don't know Cornelia Dean but I wish she was my neighbor. This daring, wonderful, woman should be given a national award for her works in "Against the Tide." She blows the whistle on widespread negligent coastal management practices that are evident everywhere. It was extremely unsettling to me to read about almost identical patterns of coastal abuse that I have observed where I live at Alligator Point, Florida. A revetment was constructed in 1994 despite the warnings of coastal experts that it would contribute further to erosion rather than preventing it. This was done at a staggering waste of taxpayers' money and with the permission of county, state, and federal governments. Today, the beach area that once provided recreation and a protective buffer is gone because of revetment-caused erosion. Turtle areas are destroyed. Dwellings are sitting dangerously in water. The road is ruined and unsafe. And, there is no required accountabilty for removing the wall. It is now a permanent monument to disaster. Cornelia Dean articulately reveals how shamefully common this is. She has superbly documented the inept practices of coastal management efforts that are prevalent all along America's coasts. Nothing was written, however, about how to undo this American tragedy. I will, therefore, offer one suggestion based on Cornelia Dean's numerous contacts and her rapport with coastal planners. She should be given a special Presidential appointment to head up a commission to consolidate all coastal management agencies and to develop and enforce a unified set of standards. Ms. Dean's outstanding book certainly qualifies her for such a step.

Beautifully written and explained.
This book is a must-have for anyone interested in beach erosion and overdevelopment. The author clearly lays out the arguments against such beachfront "improvements" as armoring, sandtrapping, etc. As a hydrologist, I was already well aware of the futility of most attempts to preserve beaches in their existing configurations, yet this book explains these issues in a very compelling and succinct fashion. The author also describes those rare occasions when intervention can indeed be helpful, and the special circumstances under which it is justifiable. Yet what is most compelling is the overall argument that in the majority of cases, most attempts at beach and property preservation actually hasten the destruction of the very things requiring protection. Ultimately, a particular beach structure is by its very nature a transient thing, yet it is most durable in its present form if left alone. Unfortunately, with beachfront development continuing at its currently rapid pace, it is unlikely that much of this important information will be heeded. Nevertheless, it is necessary to disseminate this knowledge. Perhaps this book can help inform the public of the need to let beaches be beaches. ... Read more

Book Description

Hardbound. This monograph is essentially an atlas, illustrated by 375 figures (mainly photomicrographs) presenting the most common and significant textures of the metamorphic-metasomatic rocks from many important regions of the world.The book as a whole covers the wide spectrum of metamorphic processes and the basic relation of metamorphic processes and textures is emphasised.

Metamorphism-metasomatism is seen as an integral system where every textural intergrowth is the result of a particular process.In addition, principles of comparative anatomy (widely accepted in bioscience) are applied in metamorphic petrology and conclusions are reached inductively, based on textural analysis.The comparative anatomy approach aims at finding ideas and principles that will attempt to unify diverse, textural patterns of an evolving system (as rocks are) and integrate them into concepts of wide application.

Emphasis is put on the significance of crystalloblaste ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is the best introductory guide I've ever used.
You can throw away those rock and mineral guides you've been collecting through the years; this well-written and well-thought out guide makes them pale and obsolete. I bought this for myself, then needed another one for a young niece who was captivated by its straightforward style and unbelievable photos. It is clean and organized and easy to use as a reference. It would also make a great text for self-education as it places rocks and minerals in context, including photos and descriptions of famous cliffs, sills, and other geologic formations around the world. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents systematic, integrated A-to-Z coverage of state-of-the-art unsaturated zone hydrology. Multi-disciplinary in approach, it provides both a soil physics and an engineering approach to unsaturated zone hydrology. Coverage begins with the basic physical properties and the behavior of clays, and moves on to contaminant transport and other parameters such as spatial variability, scaling, and fractals in the earth sciences. KEY TOPICS: Details analytical solutions for seven analytical infiltration models. Provides a comprehensive description and equations for performing a detailed water balance used to size and design water-storage facilities, reclamation zones for waste-storage facilities, and other water-management facilities. Presents five analytical models for both deterministic and probabilistic solutions to liquid/vapor flow in the unsaturated zone -- including unique coverage of the derivation and use of a three-dimensional analytical solution for flow of NAPLs in the unsaturated zone. Presents eight analytical models to assess unsaturated zone contaminant levels which are permissible to regulators for protection of underlying ground water. Includes a detailed description of the current technology of site characterization and monitoring devices used in unsaturated zone research -- including illustrations, diagrams of connections, and advantages and disadvantages of each. Illustrates real-world problems typical of sites the authors have worked with during the last 10 years.A reference for practicing engineers and environmental law firms. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

An outstanding book that is very well written.
This book does an outstanding job of presenting the concepts and principles used in dealing with unsaturated zone transport problems. It uses an environmental approach of the problems found in this field of study and is ideally suited as both a teaching and reference text. I find this book superior to others such as "Soil Physics" by Jury, Gardner, Gardner; "Environmental Soil Physics" by Hillel (including the other 3 soil physics books by Hillel), "Vadose Zone Hydrology" by Stephens, and several others. Indeed, when compared to the books listed by Jury, et al., and Hillel, this book contains more information and is superior to both of them if combined together, i.e., "Soil Physics" and "Environmental Soil Physics."

The text includes a wealth of information not found in other texts dealing with this subject. This includes hazardous waste site characterization, bioremediation of the vadose zone, LNAPL's and DNAPL's, an excellent treatment of modeling water, solute, and vapor movement in the unsaturated zone, use of fractals in unsaturated zone studies, and other topics. I enjoyed several major points of this text. First, in addition to a detailed coverage of the topics, questions are asked within various sections of each chapter, and answers to these questions are given at the end of the chapter to reinforce learning skills by the student. Second, in addition to the answered questions, more questions are given to which there are no answers. However, answers to these questions are given in a separate solutions manual available to the instructor. Third, rather than a theoretical text, the book has an excellent blend of both practical and theoretical information. Fourth, I really like the appendices that cover site characterization and monitoring devices, a mathematics review that has questions with answers given in the solutions manual, and one of the most complete set of conversion tables I have ever seen. Finally, this book should be considered as a pre-programed self-learning tool that will serve the student, instructor, and consultant very well.

If you are an instructor and desire a book that has a logical topic progression of unsaturated zone hydrology, and if you want a book the students will love, that will not only promote learning, but will ease your teaching time commitment, this is the book for you. Whether you teach soil physics, unsaturated zone hydrology, or fracture flow, the information you need is here. If you are a consultant, practicing scientist, or an engineer that needs a complete reference for this field, this text is it! The preface even lists the author contact. This book is easy to use, reasonably priced, and extremely well written, I only wish I had access to this text when I studied unsaturated zone hydrology. I now use this book as a reference for unsaturated zone studies, and even though I obtained my copy in late 1998, it has been very useful. I commend the authors for such a fine work.

Kenneth J. Lull, Hydrologist, United States Geological Survey

Good text on vadose zone hydrology.
It is my impression as a soil physics professor that these authors have done an excellent job in presenting the concepts and principles necessary for assisting the reader or student in mastering the subject of soil physics. I teach in a traditional department and have found that for the past several years, my class is composed of more students from environmental study areas whose goal is to learn about methods for characterizing and studying unsaturated zone hydrology. Tindall and Kunkel have an obvious grasp on these changes as is evidenced by the title of their book and the manner in which the material is presented. This new text is environmental in approach and can be used by students and professionals in many fields of study.

Rather than a simple reiteration of soil physics, Tindall and Kunkel have written their text using a new approach. The text includes new material and chapters not found in previous texts including hazardous waste site characterization and case studies, use of fractals in vadose zone science, bioremediation, discussion of LNAPLs and DNAPLs, as well as many other topics. Not only are these covered in detail, but questions are presented so that the reader is allowed to develop confidence in solving problems. Appendices are included which describe site characterization and monitoring devices as well as challenges associated with their selection and use. There is a math review for those students who come from non-traditional fields of study or those who are simply rusty in their math ability. A list of symbols and unit conversion tables are also included at the end of the text.

In essence, the authors of this book have done an outstanding job covering the typical problems encountered in this field. Example problems are given in the text with answers at the end of each chapter along with additional questions. These additional questions are solved in an instructor's manual available to course instructors. Some problems may be too advanced for introductory students; however, the text can be easily adapted for an introductory or advanced course. I used this text during the Fall 1998 semester and have reordered it for the Fall 1999 semester. Not only did I enjoy the text, but my students enjoyed it as well. The book is complete, up-to-date, and well written. I heartily recommend this text to instructors of soil physics as well as professionals in the environmental industry who require a good reference text.

Splendid Text
Like calculus, unsaturated zone hydrology can only be made so easy. As a soils professor and instructor of this subject, I have waited for 20 years for a text of this sort to come along. It gives me the flexibility to teach both undergraduate and graduate classes. For the students there are many worked examples and for the instructors a great manual that you can order separately. I get the best of both worlds and the students have what is in my opinion, the finest text and reference in this field. Many kudos to the authors for a job well done!

Great text for both teaching and students
I was unable to attend a college in my area that offered an unsaturated zone hydrology or soil physics course. As a result, I purchased several books on the subject including those by Hillel, Jury, and Stephens. While they were useful, it was difficult to grasp the material within certain areas then, at the suggestion of a friend I purchased this book. I found it much easier to follow than other texts and very informative both as a study tool and a professional reference for instructors and consultants.

I must admit that the previous review from the skier guy in Denver kinda turned me off, but I bought the book anyway and have never regretted it. Actually, I was able to discuss some aspects with the authors and found their insights particularly useful. Without doubt the material is difficult, but it's laid out well here. I found the answered questions very useful before trying the additional questions to which no answers are given.

While the book is likely not perfect I can say to the guy from Denver that if you were lucky enough to take this class from the author then, kudos to you. Also, one thing I have learned is that it's extremely difficult to have as he put it "a decent and intense class" without a good text. My experience has been that the class generally follows the text. If one is poor, usually both are poor.

My recommendation is that this is a great text and one won't go wrong by purchasing it. In my opinion the best chapters are 1-3, 7-10, and 13, but that those are where my skills are concentrated and they are all well thought out and well written. The list of symbols is also very useful although quite lengthy as they include soil science, hydrology, and engineering symbols for the same areas. I didn't catch that at first. I really like the book compared to others I've studied. Best of all, it helped me master this area and gained me a $10k per year raise in my firm.

4.5 stars? You have got to be kidding me.
Without question, this book is useful to professional vadose zone scientists as a refrence. I'll even go so far as to say it's the least-bad unsaturated zone book on the market. It scores points for being comprehensive and thorough. The book also looks nice and has good diagrams. Many of us have it on our book shelves here at work. I find myself referring to it occasionally, years after I first studied the text in grad school.
BUT
After *extensive* study of this text, I hate it. It is very hard to follow for even the sharpest of grad students / hydrologists. For instance, the index of symbols has over 500 entries (thank god there is an index). I found the explanations to be "on a different level" from 95% of the audience of the book, which severely limits its usefulness. This is no "Freeze and Cherry" textbook. And no, I'm no dummy who got frustrated w/ the content and gave up on it - I took Dr. Tindall's unsaturated zone course, persevered, and recieved an A for my efforts.

Once again, the book is good for a refrence if you already know your unsaturated zone science, but forget trying to learn unsat zone hydrolgy from this text unless you have a great prof or 170 IQ. Looking at my book shelf, I have to put this text in the bottom 40%, 2 stars. ... Read more

Book Description

The breathtaking landscapes of America's national parks reveal the processes that shape our planet.

Many of our national parks, monuments, and seashores were established because of their inspiring geological features. The geysers of Yellowstone, the volcanoes of Hawaii, and the granite peaks of Yosemite bear witness to the "national park idea" as one of our country's greatest contributions to society. Parks and Plates explains the fascinating geological processes that formed the mountain ranges, volcanoes, shorelines, and other dramatic landscapes of America's national treasures.

Robert J. Lillie, a gifted teacher and expert on park geology, takes a unique approach to the subject. By structuring each section of Parks and Plates around major geological features, Lillie highlights geologic patterns across many different parks. He explains these fascinating landforms using examples from over 100 park sites to introduce and illustrate plate tectonics, a simple yet eloquent way to visualize geological processes. Lavishly illustrated throughout with full color photographs, diagrams, and maps, Parks and Plates will enrich the National Park experience for curious travelers and armchair explorers alike. 336 full-color illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Wyoming Rock History at its Best
John McPhee joins geologist David Love for a tour of the Wyoming countryside. Well at least, McPhee uses their drive along Interstate 80 as a jumping off point to spin a tale or two. Painting on a broad canvas, he pieces together a detailed picture of Wyoming from its rich geological history, to the hearty characters that settled there. And the focal point for all this is David Love. And why not? Love's history with the area is indeed the stuff that can fill a book.

The descriptions of Love's parents (especially his dad) and how they cut their teeth in the ranching business on the unforgiving landscape proved the most entertaining for me. The time spent looking for lost sheep, and moving herds put David Love on a path to his ultimate passion.... The geology of Wyoming. For Love, the Wyoming landscape appeared more interesting and mysterious than anything else. To his credit, Love is the only person to build a complete geological survey of an entire state. Not to mention probably one of the most complex.

McPhee wraps up the book by looking at the challenges that face a place rich in resources such as coal, shale, and uranium. As a geologist, Love reflects on the interesting role his life work plays in this regard. For me, the story reveals two competing forces. One being how a land like Wyoming can influence and shape a man's entire life, and conversely how that same man's life work can change our view and understanding of a complex landscape such as Wyoming.

Great Historical Family Story
In preparation for a motorcycle trip to the Black Hills and Yellowstone, I read this wonderful book by John McPhee. It's largely a story about the geologist John Love and the Love Ranch in Wyoming. Mixes in the story of his mother and father's trials and tribulations in building the family ranch in the early 1900's with the story of his life and the unique geography of Wyoming. This is a book I would recommend to anyone, even if they were not on their way to Wyoming. Love's mother was a graduate of Wellesley College with a Phi Beta Kappa key who came to Wyoming in 1905 as a school teacher. The frontier was still everywhere and she's one of the real hero's of the book. The story of her life is woven in with the geology and history of the region. John Love grew up on the family ranch, went to Yale for a Ph. D. in geology and became famous for his geological work in the West, and in particular the Grand Teton and Jackson Hole area. The descriptions of family life on the ranch are wonderful. You may want to skim some of the heavier geological descriptions of the state, but even they are full of interesting information. You can't read the book without a renewed appreciation of the geological wonders of our country and the resilience and tenacity of our western pioneers.

A fascinating tour of Wyoming through the geological ages
I'm not a slow reader, but I rarely read a book in the same 24 hours. This one was an exception. I was immediately drawn in (and by a subject that is not of more than general interest to me), and I more or less did not put the book down until I'd read to the last page.

As a teacher, I'm first of all impressed by how McPhee makes an academic and scientific subject (geology) not just interesting but gripping. For the most part, he personalizes it, introducing an eminent field geologist, David Love, who takes him and us on a tour around Love's home-state, Wyoming, describing over 2 billion years of the geological past as revealed in the cuts along Interstate 80 and in a side trip to Jackson Hole, outside Yellowstone Park. Love is very much a product of his upbringing on an isolated ranch in central Wyoming, his mother educated at Wellesley, his father an immigrant from Scotland who quotes William Cowper and Sir Walter Scott.

Love is independent, old school, hands-on, tireless, scrupulous, an innovative thinker who has made a significant impact over a lifetime in his field, choosing to work for the US Geological Survey after a short period of unhappy employment for an oil company. McPhee captures his very individual point of view, his dedication to science, and his Western perspective in character sketches and fragments of conversation between them. He has a dry sense of humor, colorful turns of phrase, and a toughness that goes along with long periods of field work and sleeping rough under the stars. He's also a grand-nephew of John Muir.

The book actually begins with his mother's wintery journey by horse-drawn coach from Rawlins to central Wyoming, where she has accepted a teaching job at a one-room school. It segues between the story of his parents' courtship in the first decade of the 20th century and his travels with McPhee over 70 years later, finally devoting a long section to Love's own boyhood, growing up on his parents' ranch, with an older brother, among cowboys raising both sheep and cattle. The accounts of surviving blizz