Book Description

Ice is one of the most abundant and environmentally important materials on Earth, and its unique and intriguing physical properties present fascinating areas of study for a wide variety of researchers. This book is about the physics of ice, by which is meant the properties of the material itself and the ways in which these properties are interpreted in terms of water molecules and crystalline structure. Although ice has a simple crystal structure its hydrogen bonding results in unique properties, which continue to be the subject of active research. In Physics of Ice, the physical principles underlying the properties of ice are carefully developed at a level aimed at pure and applied researchers in the field.Importanttopics like current understandings of the electrical, mechanical and surface properties, and the occurrence of many different crystalline phases are developed in a coherent way for the first time. An extensive reference list and numerous illustrations add to the usefullness and readability of the text. ... Read more

Book Description

The Seismic Wavefield provides a guide to the understanding of seismograms in terms of physical propagation processes within the Earth. The focus is on the observation of earthquakes and man-made sources on all scales, for both body waves and surface waves. Volume I begins with a survey of the structure of the Earth and the nature of seismic wave propagation using examples of observed seismograms. The second part provides a full development of the theoretical background for seismic waves. Volume II (to be published later) will cover local and regional seismic events, global wave propagation, and the three-dimensional earth. ... Read more

Book Description

Now in a greatly expanded second edition, this book relates fractals and chaos to a variety of geological and geophysical applications and introduces the fundamental concepts of fractal geometry and chaotic dynamics. In this new edition, Turcotte expands coverage of self-organized criticality and includes statistics and time series to provide a broad background for the reader. Topics include drainage networks and erosion, floods, earthquakes, mineral and petroleum resources, fragmentation, mantle convection, and magnetic field generation. The author introduces all concepts at the lowest possible level of mathematics consistent with their understanding, so that the reader requires only a background in basic physics and mathematics. He includes problems for the reader to solve. This book will appeal to a broad range of readers interested in complex natural phenomena. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Un libre excelente, an excellent book!
El Profesor Donald Turcotte desde principios de los 80 ha venido trabajando en el modelamiento de problemas geológicos con fractales y caos, y su libro es una de las mejores introducciones al tema. Desde su Capítulo 1 se ve claramente el estilo concreto y práctico que lo caracteriza, y la manera como introduce el concepto de la dimensión fractal por medio de ejemplos sencillos es sin duda invaluable. El capítulo de fragmentación presenta algunos modelos interesantes de este complejo fenómeno, y los ejercicios son muy ilustrativos al respecto. El capítulo de sismicidad y tectónica presenta algunos de los más importantes resultados en la caracterización de fallas y terremotos, aunque se queda un poco corto en los avances recientes a nivel de evolución de sistemas de fallamiento. El capítulo de relación entre el tenor y el tonelaje para yacimientos minerales aún tiene su vigencia dado lo poco que se ha realizado en este campo. Su relación con los procesos magmáticos de diferenciación es muy interesante y se puede realizar mucha investigación al respecto. Su capítulo de Geomorfología presente avances interesante como el concepto de ordenamiento de tokunaga, pero también se queda un poco corto en los recientes avances en este campo. El capítulo de fractales auto-afines es una de las mejores introducciones a esta temática. El autor explica de manera clara algunos conceptos importantes como el exponente de Hurst, movimiento fraccionado browniano y cálculo de dimensiones fractales con transformada de fourier, además de introducir algunos conceptos de procesos estocásticos. El profesor Turcotte dedica algunos capítulos para hablar acerca de la teoría de sistemas dinámicos no lineales y sus posibles aplicaciones en ciencias de la Tierra. Esta vez son las inversiones del campo geomagnético y la convección en el manto los fenómenos que presentan este tipo de comportamiento y sus implicaciones en la geología y la geofísica son profundas. Su capítulo de criticalidad autoorganizada presenta claramente los conceptos fundamentales de lo que hoy en día ha llegado a ser uno de los grandes paradigmas científicos. Este capítulo permite entender la manera como se aplican este tipo de ideas al entendimiento de los terremotos, y en un futuro se extenderá a muchos otros campos de las ciencias de la tierra. Enhorabuena que el Profesor Turcotte haya publicado una obra como esta, que se convertirá en obra de referencia para la futura generación de investigadores en ciencias de la Tierra.

Superb application and explanation of chaos and fractals
Dr. Turcotte explains and applies fractals to a wide variety of geological and geophysical phenomena. The writing is accessible to any educated reader who is willing to follow the mathematics. I have found it very useful in applying fractals and chaos to my own fields of study. The second edition is a great improvement over the first: it is much expanded and clearer and begins at a more basic level. The book conveys a lapidary concision of thought that is impressive even in a pure theoretical scientist. Dr. Turcotte is to be congratulated in this important contribution, which is so very useful to scientists in other fields. ... Read more

Book Description

This textbook and reference outlines the fundamental principles of thermodynamics, emphasizing applications in geochemistry.The work is distinguished by its comprehensive, balanced coverage and its rigorous presentation.The authors bring years of teaching experience to the work, and have attempted to particularly address those areas where other texts on the subject have provided inadequate coverage.A thorough review of the necessary mathematics is presented early on, both as a refresher for those with a background in university calculus, and for the benefit of those coming to the subject for the first time.The text is written for students in advanced undergraduate or graduate-level geochemistry as well as for all researchers in this field. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Thermodinamics in geochemistry
Its a good book, very philosophical, the author goes in depth into all mathematical aspects. The examples used by the author are very creative. I highly recommend purchasing of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Rapid progress during the last twenty years has created a host of new technologies for studying electrical storms, including lightning mapping systems, new radars, satellite sensors, and new ways of measuring electric field and particle charge. This book explains how these advances have revolutionized our understanding.The books provides enough background material to make it accessible to a wide audience. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Part of the Problem
The book, THE ELECTRICAL NATURE of STORMS, appears oblivious to interpretation of simple evidence that the earth is negatively charged. (It would be most unlikely for the sun to leave us with a perfect balance, with thermionic emission, solar wind, etc.) Such comprehension would then suggest how electrons leach their way down from the ionosphere as part of negatively charged ions to produce the prevailing lightning to ground that remains uncontested. These ions cluster up during the condensation of moisture and continue to intensify in density as raindrops combine because of their confinement to raindrop surface areas. This sometimes raises high voltages sufficient for thunderbolt production, using energy tapped from convectional forces of storms. Note that new ion production is definitely not required for lightning to be formed. How can experts so presume to explain a technology without mastering the bottom line? Not to kill the messenger: The authors did not create the admittedly flawed technology, and may have been simply reporting it.

With respect to the book: It is suggested here that little more need be spent speculating how storms might proceed to manufacture ionic material (Ch 3, Ch 4): The violent winds have all they can do to spawn sufficient high voltage from existing raw materials before the game is all over. The fact that the vertical mileage embraced by a thunderstorm covers broad temperature ranges does not necessarily establish temperature as a major player in lightning formation (Ch 3). The capacitance between solid/liquid earth and the ionosphere has nothing to do with sustained dc current in the global electrical circuit (Ch 1). Positively charged clouds are no mystery to the casual electronics technician (Ch 3): A good thunderbolt or so from a negatively charged cloud can easily produce a good one by flywheel effect aka inductive kick. An electron in air, being pulled or pushed by other charges, will travel: Conductance be damned (Ch 1).

Contemplate the Faraday cage, in its static state, and in its dynamic formative state. Overcome the subconscious kink that readily supposes repulsive force would alienate all free electrons from each other forever. Earth nets them into an array at the edge of space where they nab molecules that ballast them for descent back into our atmosphere. Scattered ions of moisture are gathered together during rain formation absorbing wind energy that accounts for the consequential increased potentials of static electricity.

The bottom line: The fair weather current; upward negative current flow of some 2 picoamps per square meter is that simple evidence of negative earth charge as mentioned above. All agree that prevailing thunderbolts bring electrons to ground (they strike earth "all of the time"). Naturally, these electrons go back up to complete the circuit. Tell your weatherman that this doesn't require a positive sky. Electrons always travel toward the cathode (negative terminal) inside a power supply! Those electrons are already almost home within the radius of the ionosphere as they emerge. Electrons above push back at them, but not as hard as the greater sky below/behind (ignore the solid earth for now). The electrons above push less against our fair weather electron than all those behind it. For that reason, a positive ionosphere would call an electron down to the center (keep ignoring solid earth) where attractions would balance out. Hence, we have a dynamic Faraday cage. Our electron needn't shun the journey, none of those already up there did.

Here is a tip of the hat to the profound tome under discussion for all its fine detail, but connecting the dots just didn't get me to where they were going. Methinks they chopped the chicken feathers too fine to ever get them put back together again. Where it is here affirmed that the endothermic kernel of lightning formation is compression of like charges, THE ELECTRICAL NATURE of STORMS professes separation of opposite charges for such conversion. What do they do for an encore? The separation concept leads to dispersal (and early termination) of charged particles without a shot at concatenation, whereas the necessary convergence of energy and reiterations of the process are conspicuous advantages of the compression theory. Nevertheless, there is strong reason to believe that our taxes support pursuit of false doctrine conveyed in this book. The writer hereby makes an appeal for thinking people to enlighten our government on this matter. The National Science Foundation apparently faults my theory on the basis of its noncompliance with doctrine from THE ELECTRICAL NATURE of STORMS. Another thing, I hate the pathetic perennial disclaimer that scientists cannot agree on what causes lightning. Show your kids the truth I bring you here. It took me 72 years to stumble upon it! ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the first of three volumes in which the recent knowledge of the extent and chronology of Quaternary glaciations has been compiled on a global scale. This information is seen as a fundamental requirement, not only for the glacial workers, but for the wider user-community of general Quaternary workers. In particular the need for accurate ice-front positions is a basic requirement for the rapidly growing field of palaeoclimate modelling. In order to provide the information for the widest-possible range of users in the most accessible form, a series of digital maps was prepared.

The glacial limits were mapped in ArcView, the Geographical Information System (GIS) used by the work group. Included with the publication is a CD with digital maps, showing glacial limits, end moraines, ice-dammed lakes, glacier-induced drainage diversions and the locations of key sections through which the glacial limits are defined and dated. For major parts of Europe also the extent of the maximum Eemian transgression has been indicated. The digital maps in this volume cover all of Europe and parts of northwestern Siberia.
Both overview maps and more detailed maps at a scale 1: 1,000,000 are provided.

Also available:
Part II:North America, ISBN 0-444-51592-5
Part III: South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, ISBN 0-444-51593-3 ... Read more

Book Description

Soils and Geomorphology, now in its third edition, remains popular among soil scientists, geomorphologists, geologists, geographers, and archaeologists.While retaining the useful "factors of soil formation format," it has been extensively revised, incorporating a considerable amount of new research and offering a greater number of topics and examples -- particularly in the chapters "Weathering and Soil Development with Time" and "Topography: Soil Relations with Time in Different Climatic Settings."Greater emphasis is placed on the role of dust in pedogenesis, and new data are included on tropical soil development, global soil-loess relations, neotectonics, and reduction processes. The text discusses field applications such as the use of soils in recognizing climate change, estimating the age of geological deposits, and dealing with environmental problems such as acid rain. New "how-to" appendices on soil descriptions and calculating the profile development index are also included. Soils and Geomorphology is an ideal text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in courses on pedology, soil science, Quaternary geology, archeology, and sedimentary petrology. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

soil from earth
I read this book for one of my graduate courses. Totaly this is a good book for people who know about soil science, but the weakness of this book is using too much terms which are not explained in this book. So, if you do not have a very good back ground in geology, it will be difficult for you to understand some parts of this book and you need a geology dictionary to read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book focuses on the methods and techniques of shallow subsurface geophysical exploration. The book weighs the relative utility of various methods, including seismic methods, refraction seismology, the new technique of reflection seismology, electrical resistivity, and micro-gravity investigations, and details their application to exploration activities at shallow depths. Applications to shallow as well as deep survey are elucidated, compared, and contrasted. Throughtout, the book presents examples, case histories, and computer programs for the Macintosh designed to help the reader gain hands-on experience at shallow target exploration. In addition, spreadsheet templates that support data reduction techniques are included, with instructions on how to access the templates, change cell values, and study the effects. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is how textbooks should be written!
Of the 5 books I own that explain Seismic Refraction principles, Professor Burger is the only one who took the time to walk you thru step-by-step on interpreting a Seismogram. That is the sign of a true teacher and an Author who's not afraid of a little extra effort to help his students practically apply the knowlege. I only wish I lived closer to attend his classes!
I do agree with the others in that an IBM PC version of the diskettes is long overdue, but this book still gets my 5 star rating!

Great Book!
The book is very detailed. Seismic theory and practice is quite cogent and is the strongest area (about half the book). Strong descriptions are given on; Electrical Resistivity, Gravity, and Magnetics. IP, Spontaineous Potential, Magnetotelluric and Telluric and EM Surveying are barely mentioned. Not mentioned are; VLF, Ground Penetrating Radar, Remote Sensing and Radiometrics. I agree with the previous reviewer that it would be nice to have the Xcel spread sheets in both Mac & PC formats.

This book is marvelous
Excellent book for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in shallow geophysics. My only wish is that the disks could also be in IBM format and not only Mac format. ... Read more

Book Description

Oceans play a pivotal role in our weather and climate. Ocean-borne commerce is vital to our increasingly close-knit global community. Yet we do not fully understand the intricate details of how they function, how they interact with the atmosphere, and what the limits are to their biological productivity and their tolerance to wastes. While satellites are helping us to fill in the gaps, numerical ocean models are playing an important role in increasing our ability to comprehend oceanic processes, monitor the current state of the oceans, and to a limited extent, even predict their future state.
Numerical Models of Oceans and Oceanic Processes is a survey of the current state of knowledge in this field. It brings together a discussion of salient oceanic dynamics and processes, numerical solution methods, and ocean models to provide a comprehensive treatment of the topic. Starting with elementary concepts in ocean dynamics, it deals with equatorial, mid-latitude, high latitude, and coastal dynamics from the perspective of a modeler. A comprehensive and up-to-date chapter on tides is also included. This is followed by a discussion of different kinds of numerical ocean models and the pre- and post-processing requirements and techniques. Air-sea and ice-ocean coupled models are described, as well as data assimilation and nowcast/forecasts. Comprehensive appendices on wavelet transforms and empirical orthogonal functions are also included.
This comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the field should be of interest to oceanographers, atmospheric scientists, and climatologists. While some prior knowledge of oceans and numerical modeling is helpful, the book includes an overview of enough elementary material so that along with its companion volume, Small Scale Processes in Geophysical Flows, it should be useful to both students new to the field and practicing professionals.

* Comprehensive and up-to-date review
* Useful for a two-semester (or one-semester on selected topics) graduate level course
* Valuable reference on the topic
* Essential for a better understanding of weather and climate ... Read more

Reviews (3)

overpriced and not necessarily useful
This is a suprisingly overpriced and depth-lacking
book. I am stunned, definitely stunned.

It may probably be used to some advantage by beginners
and/or practitionners of ocean modeling, but as an in
depth guide it just does not do.

I found myself wanting to use it when I picked up knowledge
on the Bryan-Semtner-Cox ocean model from the perspective
of an independent model developer and I found out that
the book was on the whole pretty useless in its content
and structure (i.e. layout).

It probably deserves more than one star, but the
massively exaggerated price just isn't justified.

Instead I would recommend the books by Haidvogel,
Beckman or Kowalik and Murty (both at WSPC) in
addition to some OGCM user guides and papers on the
WEB.

Anyway, similar remarks do apply to Kantha's other
book on Small-scale processes in GFD, although I
found that slightly more useful.

Nevertheless, I should acknowledge the authors' great
courage in attempting so ambitious and potentially
most useful projects. Maybe getting together in a
larger team with better articulated competences would
have helped here.

the best example to buid a model
This book is not only for ocean's specialists but all people concerned with environemental activities. Anyway I'am a teacher in advanced economics in France and I use this book as the best example of complex and multivariables model. The authors demonstrate clearly (read the foreword) the necessity for students to enlarge the field of their scientifics investigations to biochemical, numerical analysis, computing, climate. This book could be read by anyone with a little background in mathematics and with a lot of curiosity.

A great book in modeling
This book is amazing. You can learn basic physics from chapter, you can learn powerful analysis techiques from appendixs. Obviously authors can clearify very complicate physics phenomena in a simple way, with the help of modeling work. ... Read more

Book Description

Covering spectral analysis as well as inversion of geophysical data, David Gubbins introduces the necessary theory and techniques and then demonstrates how they may be practically applied to interpret various types of geophysical signals, including seismic, magnetic and gravity data. Featuring summary boxes, extensive mathematical and computing exercises (solutions and software available on the Internet), and a set of mathematical appendices, this textbook will prove invaluable to geophysics students and instructors. ... Read more

Book Description

In the past 40 years geophysicists have found that it is possible to construct images and even determine important physical characteristics of rocks that can yield information about oil and gas bearing structures in the earth. To make these images and extract this information requires the application of an advanced understanding of the mathematical physics of wave propagation. The oil and gas industry labels a major collection of the necessary seismic data processing methods by the name seismic "migration." This text is the first to treat many kinds of migration in a unified mathematical way. The audience is mathematically oriented geophysicists or applied mathematicians working in the field of "inverse scattering imaging." The text can serve as a bridge between the applied math and geophysics community by presenting geophysicists with a practical introduction to advanced engineering mathematics, while presenting mathematicians with a window into the world of the mathematically sophisticated geophysicist. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Vulcanology is not the sexiest of sciences, despite Hollywood movies in which clenched-jawed heroes tame ferocious floods of lava that are busily swallowing up some crowded metropolis or another, racing against the clock to save humankind from the elements. It turns out that those movies aren't really so far-fetched, though, and in the pages of Volcano Cowboys the world's small corps of magma hunters acquire well-deserved élan.

The study of volcanoes, Time magazine writer Dick Thompson notes, is largely an observational and not theoretical science; where the vital memory of a molecular biologist "generally drops off after a decade," a vulcanologist will carry reams of data about the behavior of the earth gleaned from reports stretching back to the time of Plato and Pliny the Elder, those amateur volcano-watchers of antiquity. They've had plenty more to do in recent years, though, than to quote the ancients. Thompson's vigorous narrative begins with the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, an event that U.S. Geological Survey scientists had been able to predict with some accuracy. They lacked, however, a coordinated means to effect an evacuation of the area, and 57 people died. Battling institutional inertia and struggling for funding, teams of these scientists, the "volcano cowboys" of Thompson's title, set about trying to develop methods to predict more accurately dangerous volcanic events and to trim the body count when such events took place. His story recounts their eventual victory when, in 1991, the Philippine volcano Pinatubo exploded--but, thanks to the work of these dedicated field scientists, "less than one quarter of one percent of those at risk had died during the eruption."

Tens of millions of people around the world live within the reach of volcanoes. Thompson's narrative reveals that the "volcano cowboys" have made their lives safer--and it's much better than the movies. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Fascinating Inside Look at the Evolution of Volcanology
This book is a fascinating look into the world of the USGS volcanologists and the progress made in the science of volcanology through the eruptions of Mt. St. Helens, Nevado Del Ruiz, and Pinotubo. The most interesting part of this book however, was not just the science, but the inside workings of the USGS and how politics, power, and money have influenced research on active volcanoes.

Dick Thompson did a great job of bringing the reader inside the heads of the various scientists as they struggled with interpreting the data they were receiving on each volcano. Through the fiasco of the non-eruption at Mono Lakes, the failure to save lives at Nevado Del Ruiz and their ultimate success in accurately predicting the eruption at Mt. Pinotubo in the Philippines, the volcanologists of the USGS learned to respond to volcano crises around the world. One chapter, which Thompson has entitled "They'll Think You're A Hero," sums up the pressures these volcanologists were under to accurately predict what Pinatubo would do next. If the volcano erupts as predicted they all become heroes, but if not, they lose their credibility and thousands of lives are needlessly disrupted.

I have read many books on volcanoes and their eruptions but this book clarified aspects of eruptions and the difficulties in interpreting data being collected from an active volcano. It also clarified the difficulties in bringing various methods of observation together to form one cohesive picture of a pending eruption. Dick Thompson also captured the humor of these volcanologists in stressful situations which brought the book to life.

Overall, this was an entertaining, insightful look at the science of volcanology. I couldn't put it down.

Really a Winner
This is a first-rate book -- interesting subject matter, exciting tales well told, and an extremely well-informed easy-to-grasp look at modern volcanology.

The book follows the adventures of a dozen or so United States Geological Survey geologists (the "volcano cowboys") from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, focusing on two major episodes -- the Mt. St. Helens eruption of 1980 and the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.

Mr. Thomspon, a long-time science correspondent for Time Magazine, has really done it right. The stories and travails of the researchers are related in an interesting and intimate manner, but never mined for soap opera or cheap drama. The power of volcanic eruptions is made vividly clear (I've been a lifelong geo buff, but I had no idea). And Mr. Thompson has a particuar flair for explaining complete scientific matters with such grace and economy that you hardly notice that you're absorbing technical material. He knows precisely how much detail to leave out for the general audience -- his perfect two-sentence description of why geologist study road cuts (bottom of page 294) should be studied by every science writer.

This is not a book that will satisfy someone looking for extremely fine-grained detail on volcanology, but presumably if you are looking for information on mathematical modelling of particle-size interaction in pyroclastic flows, you'll go to the scientific literature. As someone who knows a fair amount about geology, but didn't know much about volcanoes, I was entirely satisfied. My only gripe -- I would have loved a list of further reading & resources. This book left me hungry for more info!

I also thought it had just enough info on the political context of volcanology -- the explanation of how and why the USGS fouled up an attempt at eruption prediction near Mammoth Lakes, Californa was a great little tale. Once again, Thompson gives you enough, but not too much. This book is the work of an extremely talented writer with a great sense of balance and control.

Great book, even for geologists!
Volcano Cowboys is an excellent book about the real people behind the science. If you are looking for a book about how volcanoes form - this is not it, but it you are looking for a book about how real science is done read Volcano Cowboys!! These guys aren't the stereotypical geeky scientists we often picture sequestered in labs and pale-skinned from lack of sunlight. This is what field geology is all about - getting your feet dirty (and your pants and shirt and hands and hair)! This book is also a candid view of the politics involved in science and also the fact that volcanology, like all science, is a work-in-progress. No, we don't know everything there is to know about how volcanoes work - and that is what makes geology so very exciting!

My one disappointment with the book were the pictures/figures. I want to see a diagram of Mt. St. Helens after the eruption to compare with the nice diagram of "before"!!! The photos are also a little hard to see in the paperback version.

Applied science at it's best
This was simply the best (non-technical) volcano book I have ever read! I could not put it down.

The main portion of the book details the first rumblings of two famous volcanoes and follows events up to their climatic eruptions. Even if you are familiar with the individual volcanoes physical history you'll be fascinated with how earth science is truly applied in the "real world" and how many other pressures (political, social and economic) scientists in this field have to deal with.

When you are done reading this book you will get a glimpse of what kind of passion, dedication and craziness is needed for those working in the field.

Fast paced science and a wonderful read
Writing about volcanoes may well be a subject that intrigues, but to follow the science of it, and personalise to the vulcanologists and their different schools, in the way that is done here, is no mean feat. This is a fast paced read, reflecting the thrill and horror of the big bang. What a great book! ... Read more

Book Description

The seismic ray method plays an important role in seismology, seismic exploration, and in the interpretation of seismic measurements. Seismic Ray Theory presents the most comprehensive treatment of the method available. Many new concepts that extend the possibilities and increase the method's efficiency are included. The book has a tutorial character: derivations start with a relatively simple problem, in which the main ideas are easier to explain, and then advance to more complex problems. Most of the derived equations are expressed in algorithmic form and may be used directly for computer programming. This book will prove to be an invaluable advanced text and reference in all academic institutions in which seismology is taught or researched. ... Read more

Book Description

This book brings the practice of petroleum geostatistics into a coherent framework, focusing on tools, techniques, examples, and guidance.It emphasizes the interaction between geophysicists, geologists, and engineers. Intended as a reference text for practitioners, the book is also appropriate for "short courses" and advanced undergraduate or graduate courses in reservoir characterization. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Practising Reservoir Engineer
This is an excellent book. Covers the details of how geostatistical models are put together. Readable. ... Read more

From the publisher

Interactions between the sun, solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technologies, and endanger human life and health. Here is the state-of-the-art resource on our observational knowledge, theoretical understanding, and numerical capability about space weather. From discussions on broad scientific, technological, industrial, commercial, and programmatic issues to reviews of current research, Space Weather offers a rich perspective for a variety of scientists. Solar, heliosphere, and magnetosphere physicists, aeronomers, astronomers, and more will find this book an invaluable research and teaching tool. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not for the faint of heart....
In the field of meteorology, there are few individuals who understand how space weather impacts industrial concerns from a day to day operational standpoint. Attempting to educate my coworkers, I requested this text. Essentially, it's a well-organized collection of full research papers (some hitting the target near-center, and some partially if not completely in left field). It'll do, but I really wanted to share something more concise and more direct with my fellow mets. My next attempt in finding a suitable source will be "Storms from the Sun: The Emerging Science of Space Weather" by Michael Carlowicz, Ramon Lopez. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Primary Reconnaissance
To any serious observer and critic of the current 'State of the Earth'-this book is a crucial resource. Carl Mitcham, in a review that also lives on this site, has done an even-handed job of highlighting particular articles and their merits. I would agree with and refer you back to his observations, but for one point. Mitcham's own essay is not a weak link in the collection, but, in fact, brings up the central concern of the volume eloquently:

"Rather than being hyperactive cheerleaders for the future or sullen critics of the present we must attempt to think it, to recognize ever more clearly what has happened and what is at stake--in part, through a studied dialogue with ancestors and alternatives..."

"Earth Matters" provides a quality forum for studied dialogue, alternative ways of thinking through and naming things, and collapsing traditional boundaries in search of progressive, adaptive and compassionate responses to what most see as a precarious state in environmental affairs. Reading it is entering the forum and participating in the dialogue, for many of the questions begin with an examination of self. These authors are indeed 'the adults-in-the-room'-deeply respected and serious writers from across several disciplines. There isn't a hint of brash extremism here, but rather, a disciplined, contemplative and often poetic approach to subtle and complex issues.

Thinking the geosciences
First, in the interests of full disclosure, I should note that an essay of mine is included in this volume. However, I think my contribution is among the weaker in the book, and I give this volume the rating I do because of the high quality of the other contributions. Also, I am one of two people to whom the editor graciously dedicated the book, a compliment for which I am grateful but which I have tried to set aside as an influence on this review.

What makes this book outstanding is its attempt to advance philosophical reflection on the earth sciences. Martin Heidegger once made a remark to the effect that the sciences do not think, they simply analyze and re-present. This book attempts to move beyond Heidegger by engaging in interdisciplinary philosophical reflection on the nature and meaning of the geosciences. These reflections range from hydrologist Victor Baker's semiotics of the earth sciences and philosopher Kristin Shrader-Frechette's critique of positivist epistemology in geological modelling to Bruce Foltz's careful phenomenological attention to how the geosciences can help provide human orientation in the world and Albert Borgmann's expressions of concern for the implications of the digitalization of information in geology. Christine Turner provides an introduction to the experience of the field sciences. Daniel Sarewitz critiques excessive attempts to rely on objectivity. Scott McLean, Eldrige Moores, and David Robertson examine how geology is manifest in the poetry of Gary Snyder. Alphonso Lingis examines "ecological emotions." And more. This is, truly, a most remarkable book, that advances not just the development of a philosophy of the geosciences but the philosophy of science.

Weaknesses: The book deserves a much more robust and programatic introduction; and a good annotated bibliography would have been a very serviceable addition. ... Read more