Book Description

Gravity waves exist in all types of geophysical fluids, such as lakes, oceans, and atmospheres. They play an important role in redistributing energy at disturbances, such as mountains or seamounts and they are routinely studied in meteorology and oceanography, particularly simulation models, atmospheric weather models, turbulence, air pollution, and climate research.
An Introduction to Atmospheric Gravity Waves provides readers with a working background of the fundamental physics and mathematics of gravity waves, and introduces a wide variety of applications and numerous recent advances.

Nappo provides a concise volume on gravity waves with a lucid discussion of current observational techniques and instrumentation.
An accompanying CD-ROM contains real data, computer codes for data analysis, and linear gravity wave models to further enhance the reader's understanding of the book's material. Foreword is written by Prof. George Chimonas, a renowned expert on the interactions of gravity waves with turbulence.

CD containing real data, computer codes for data analysis and linear gravity wave models included with the text ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Biased Opinion
I am neither a physicist nor a mathematician and, unfortunatly, cannot understand the majority of the thoughts of this book, but with a background in the art industry, I commend the author on his selection of photos and the illustrations he created for the work and especially for the dedication, devotion and time spent in writing it.It is a pleasure to look through it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is for researchers, academics, and professionals with geographic information systems (GIS) experience who need to know more about environmental modeling.It is also intended for environmental modelers who want to know more about GIS, its advantages, and its problems.The first part of the book describes the state of the art in GIS, environmental modeling, spatial statistics, and spatial databases. The second part reviews the state of integration in each of the major "process" areas, ranging from atmospheric to subsurface. Each section includes an overview chapter and case studies.This book will be useful to planners in federal agencies (EPA, DOE, USGS, Parks Service, etc.), academic researchers, environmental consultants, and as a text for advanced GIS courses. ... Read more

Book Description

From about 1600 to 1800 scientists and mariners made increasingly sophisticated attempts to understand the earth's magnetic field and use it in navigation. Europeans had long understood the difference between magnetic and true north, but why did it vary as one traversed the sea? Could this variation be used to pinpoint longitude? Drawing on a wealth of unpublished sources--including manuals, treatises, sailing directions, and logbooks in a half-dozen languages--A. R. T. Jonkers explores these early efforts both for what they reveal about the history of science and navigation and as a unique record of the actual changes in the earth's magnetic field. The result, a masterful combination of science and history, will appeal to a broad audience of specialists as well as general readers. ... Read more

Book Description

The theory of linear poroelasticity describes the interaction between mechanical effects and adding or removing fluid from rock. It is critical to the study of such geological phenomena as earthquakes and landslides and is important for numerous engineering projects, including dams, groundwater withdrawal, and petroleum extraction. Now an advanced text synthesizes in one place, with one notation, numerous classical solutions and applications of this highly useful theory.

The introductory chapter recounts parallel developments in geomechanics, hydrogeology, and reservoir engineering that are unified by the tenets of poroelasticity. Next, the theory's constitutive and governing equations and their associated material parameters are described. These equations are then specialized for different simplifying geometries: unbounded problem domains, uniaxial strain, plane strain, radial symmetry, and axisymmetry. Example problems from geomechanics, hydrogeology, and petroleum engineering are incorporated throughout to illustrate poroelastic behavior and solution methods for a wide variety of real-world scenarios. The final chapter provides outlines for finite-element and boundary-element formulations of the field's governing equations. Whether read as a course of study or consulted as a reference by researchers and professionals, this volume's user-friendly presentation makes accessible one of geophysics' most important subjects and will do much to reduce poroelasticity's reputation as difficult to master. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Landmark book in geomechanics
This book is one of the most useful I have come across in recent years. Poroelasticity is a challenging field, but rewarding to those who make the effort to study it. Wang does an excellent job, leading the reader from basic principles to a detailed understanding-with this book you can leapfrog dozens of more arcane works and get to grips with real problems. Yet, if you need the detail, a wide range of previous works are referenced, and put into historical perspective: a true work of synthesis. I hope this book will stimulate more Earth Scientists and Engineers to follow Wang's lead. Figures are as admirably clear as the writing. Only spoiled by the drab cover! This book covers quasi-static poroelasticity theory-consolidation and so on.
Now all we need is for someone brave to do the same job on dynamic poroelasticity! ... Read more

Book Description

In many physical sciences, the most natural description of a system is with a function of position or time. In principle, infinitely many numbers are needed to specify that function, but in practice only finitely many measurements can be made. Inverse theory concerns the mathematical techniques that enable researchers to use the available information to build a model of the unknown system or to determine its essential properties. In Geophysical Inverse Theory, Robert Parker provides a systematic development of inverse theory at the graduate and professional level that emphasizes a rigorous yet practical solution of inverse problems, with examples from experimental observations in geomagnetism, seismology, gravity, electromagnetic sounding, and interpolation. Although illustrated with examples from geophysics, this book has broad implications for researchers in applied disciplines from materials science and engineering to astrophysics, oceanography, and meteorology.

Parker's approach is to avoid artificial statistical constructs and to emphasize instead the reasonable assumptions researchers must make to reduce the ambiguity that inevitably arises in complex problems. The structure of the book follows a natural division in the subject into linear theory, in which the measured quantities are linear functionals of the unknown models, and nonlinear theory, which covers all other systems but is not nearly so well understood. The book covers model selection as well as techniques for drawing firm conclusions about the earth independent of any particular model. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not very accessible
Although this textbook contains some very useful material, I've found that it really isn't adequate as a textbook for a first course on inverse problems for graduate students in the earth sciences.

Students in my class found the presentation too theoretical, and couldn't relate the material in the book to their own research projects. In particular, many of them found that the book made use of too much advanced mathematics without adequate explanation. Many of the exercises in the book are extremely challenging, but there aren't enough relatively simple exercises to help students build confidence in their understanding of the material. In order to be prepared for this text, students need to have a strong background in linear algebra, numerical computing, and some understanding of basic ideas in functional analysis.

On the other hand, I've found this book to be a useful reference in my own research.

Delightful mix of theory and practice
This book presents inverse theory in gradual steps with practical problems presented at each level. Chapter 1 provides a good theoretical basis for what follows so that the book is (reasonably) self-contained.

What I like most is the way the author reaches into the heart of the problem at each level before going into the nitty gritty math (which is well presented too). The philosophical discussions (especially in chapter 4) are particularly enjoyable. ... Read more

Book Description

The second edition of Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling is a fully revised resource for researchers and practitioners in the growing field of meteorological modeling at the mesoscale.Pielke has enhanced the new edition by quantifying model capability (uncertainty) by a detailed evaluation of the assumptions of parameterization and error propagation.Mesoscale models are applied in a wide variety of studies, including weather prediction, regional and local climate assessments, and air pollution investigations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Author Discussion
I read the Reviewer's comments and appreciate his overall positive review. However, I feel it is necessary to clarify misconceptions regarding the basic physics material which is presented in the review.
The conservation equations that are presented do not mean a quantity such as heat is always conserved. As discussed in the text, there are sources and sinks of heat in the conservation of equation of heat that is presented. A conservation equation for motion is also just as appropriate as writing a conservation equation for momentum. We can write a conservation equation for any quantity, such as a trace gas (e.g. CO2). Source/sink terms can be accounted for in this mathematical framework.
The equations in the book are specifically written for the atmosphere, which is treated as an ideal gas. This is why the qualification is added in the text that the equations are for the atmosphere (and specifically the earth's atmosphere). The equations developed in the book from the first principle of thermodynamics are only appropriate for the earth's atmosphere, since the ideal gas equation for air is used.
The basic phyics text in Chapters 2 and 3 have been extensively reviewed by numerous students and others and has been found to be solidly based in fundamental concepts. The Reviewer did correctly find a typo in that the virtual temperature is greater than the actual temperature whenever water vapor is present. The inequality on page 8 was reversed but the text and the explanation in that paragraph are correct and should be clear to a reader.
Finally, I thank the reviewer for taking the time to complete the review. If there is a third Edition, I certainly will acknowledge that review.

Yes, but . . .
(Revised after reviewer took course in etiquette). "Mesoscale Meteorological Modeling" is the new second edition of the flagship text in the field. It is reasonably priced and seems to be well organized, addressing a lot of important problems. Aside from the discussion of thermodynamics, Professor Pielke's book is lucid and coherent.

To make a more specific criticism, consider section 2.2,entitled "Conservation of Heat." For a start I might complain that heat is not something conserved in atmospheric processes. In the usual thermodynamic usage, heat means energy transferred through thermal processes, is not an exact differential, and is not conserved. I think he means conservation of energy, but why not say so? It gets worse before it gets better. To quote from the first paragraph: "The first law of thermodynamics for the atmosphere states that differential changes in heat content, dQ, are equal to the sum of the work performed by an object, dW, and differential changes in internal energy, dI."

The first law of thermodynamics is universal - applying equally to steam engines (in which context it was first identified) and black holes. The phrase "differential changes in heat content" is nonsensical, since heat is energy transferred, not "contained" energy. The word differential is not only vague but also unnecessary. It would have been more accurate to say that the heat transferred into a system is equal to the sum of the work performed by the system and the increase in the internal energy of the system.

On page 8, he says that the virtual temperature is less than or equal to the sensible temperature, but the opposite is in fact true. On the same page, I found his attempt to discuss perfect differentials confused and confusing. There is both a mathematical and a physical point involved here. The (thermodynamically interesting) perfect differentials are the total differentials of state variables. dQ is not such an exact differential, and that is why it is meaningless to talk about conservation of heat.

Another unfortunate line is "Internal forces are required to account for the dissipation of momentum by molecular motions." (page 16). This is misleading. Momentum is conserved - absolutely - and unlike energy is not usually converted ("dissipated") to a more inconspicuous form, like internal energy. The atmosphere can transfer momentum to other parts of itself, by pressure or friction, to the ocean or the solid Earth (again by friction) or even (in microscopic amounts, by tidal forces) to the sun and moon, but these should be considered external forces. I infer from the succeeding sentences that conversion of energy from one form to another was the point.

I could quibble about the fact that he confuses centripetal and centrifugal acceleration (page 14) or the fact that he for some obscure reason refers to conservation of momentum as "Conservation of Motion," but that might be excessively picky.

Despite this type of flaw, I think the book is potentially useful. Perhaps one should just skip the thermodynamics (and read about it some good elementary physics book, like Sears) and just read the part he apparently cares about - the modeling. Apparently this is as good as it gets on the subject of mesoscale modeling. In any case, I don't begrudge the money I spent on it - I learned some useful things about modeling coordinates in Chapter 6. ... Read more

Book Description

The Dictionary of Geophysics, Astrophysics, and Astronomy provides a lexicon of terminology covering fields such as astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, relativity, geophysics, meteorology, Newtonian physics, and oceanography. Authors and editors often assume - incorrectly - that readers are familiar with all the terms in professional literature. With over 4,000 definitions and 50 contributing authors, this unique comprehensive dictionary helps scientists to use terminology correctly and to understand papers, articles, and books in which physics-related terms appear. ... Read more

Book Description

Geophysical imaging methods provide solutions to a wide variety of environmental and engineering problems: protection of soil and groundwater from contamination; disposal of chemical and nuclear waste; geotechnical site testing; landslide and ground subsidence hazard detection; location of archaeological artifacts. This book comprehensively describes the theory, data acquisition and interpretation of all of the principal techniques of geophysical surveying: gravity, magnetic, seismic, self-potential, resistivity, induced polarization, electromagnetic, ground-probing radar, radioactivity, geothermal, and geophysical borehole logging. Each chapter is supported by a large number of richly illustrated case histories. This book will prove to be a valuable textbook for senior undergraduates and postgraduates in environmental and applied geophysics, a supplementary course book for students of geology, engineering geophysics, civil and mining engineering, and a reference work for professional earth scientists, engineers and town planners. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Look for alternatives!
This book might work well as an introductive textbook, but the reader will soon be looking for something more comprehensive. Considering the price of this book, a far more valuable alternative is in my opinion Parasnis' "Principles of Applied Geophysics". If you want to get to the core of applied geophysics you should go for Telford's "Applied Geophysics". ... Read more

Book Description

 "Sinkholes and Subsidence"  provides a twenty-first century account of how the various subsidence features in carbonate and evaporite rocks cause problems in development and construction in our living environment. The authors explain the processes by which different types of sinkholes develop and mature in karst terrains. They consider the various methods used in site investigations, both direct and indirect, to locate the features associated with these hazards and risks, highlighting the value of hazard mapping. Various ground improvement techniques and the special types of foundation structures which deal with these problems are covered  in the second half of the text. This book is supplemented with a wealth of actual case studies and solutions, written by invited experts.

Book Description

This workbook is designed to help readers who have no previous training in map interpretation learn how to prepare, read, and interpret geologic maps. The discussion of the types of geologic features found on geologic maps is followed by well-developed exercises based on a set of full-color geologic maps. Reorganizes material, with the inclusion of many new maps and new exercises. Adds new chapters devoted to the preparation of geologic maps, identification and classification of sedimentary rocks, and use of aerial photographs. Adds portions of geologic maps reproduced in full color. An invaluable workbook/reference book for professionals in this field. ... Read more

Book Description

Volcanologists venture to treacherous volcanoes the world over in the pursuit of their science. They work around craters of boiling magma and amidst smoke, flames, scorched rocks, and clouds of noxious gases--balancing personal risk against advancing knowledge about one of nature's most dangerous and unpredictable forces. Richard Fisher, a world-renowned volcanologist, has had more than forty years of experience in the field. In this book, he blends autobiography with clear, accessible science to introduce readers to the basics of volcanology and to the wonders of volcanoes that he has studied and learned to both fear and admire.

In the course of the book, we follow Fisher as he descends into the steaming crater of the Soufri re Volcano on the island of St. Vincent, as he conducts research on lava flows on the desolate south shore of the Island of Hawaii, and as he struggles to understand the explosion at Mount St. Helens. We learn about his pioneering work on pyroclastic flows and surges--the hurricanes of gases, molten lava, and volcanic debris that cause most of the death and destruction when volcanoes explode. He tells of solving a historic scientific problem at Mount Pelee, Martinique, where 29,000 people were killed in a pyroclastic flow in 1902. Fisher also offers a volcanologist's view of the explosion of Mount Vesuvius that devastated Pompeii and Herculaneum. He writes about the cultural rewards and challenges of conducting research in isolated areas of such countries as Argentina, Mexico, and China. And he discusses the early influences that steered him toward volcanology--including his army experiences as a witness to two atom-bomb explosions at Bikini atoll.

Out of the Crater is written in an inviting, nontechnical style. With its deft combination of personal stories and scientific information, it is an inspiring account of a remarkable life and a compelling examination of some of the most spectacular forces shaping the face of the Earth. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Totally Pyroclastic!
Mr. Fisher, besides being a world-renowned volcanologist, is also an amazing storyteller. I enjoyed every page of his book. What is wonderful about this professional journal is its appeal to all types of audiences. A young adult reader to a professional in earth sciences can enjoy this type of non-fiction literature. Not only did I learn general information about volcanology & pyroclastic eruptions, but I also laughed out loud when reading about Mr. Fisher's travelling mishaps -specially about Napoleon, the cantankerous mule he met in Mexico. The career path he chose was a result of significant events in his life, including being witness to two atom bomb explosions at Bikini atoll. The passion he holds for his career is felt as a reader and it truly is "geologically and culturally stimulating" as he describes the culture and geology of his research sites around the world. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume is a thorough introduction to modern ideas on cosmology and on the physical basis of the general theory of relativity. The various theories and ideas in 'big bang' cosmology are discussed in detail, providing an insight into current problems. The book is written at an intermediate level. Beyond that of the many elementary books on cosmology, and provides an introduction to the more advanced works and research literature. ... Read more

Book Description

The simulation of turbulent reacting flows, connected with environmental protection and the design of chemical and mechanical processes, is increasingly important. Statistical Mechanics of Turbulent Flows presents a modern overview of basic ways to calculate such flows. It discusses the fundamental problems related to the use of basic equations and their modifications. Special emphasis is placed on the discussion of very promising statistical methods which provide solutions to these problems by models for the underlying stochastic physics of turbulent reacting flows. Their foundations and important new developments up through current challenges are systematically explained. Students and researchers in atmospheric sciences and oceanography, mechanical and chemical engineering and applied mathematics and physics may use Statistical Mechanics of Turbulent Flows as a guide to solve many problems related, e.g. to the assessment of complex atmospheric chemistry, chemical reactor processes, turbulent combustion, and multi-phase flows. ... Read more

Book Description

This book bridges the gap between the classic texts on potential theory and modern books on applied geophysics. Introductory chapters discuss potential theory with emphasis on those aspects particularly important to earth scientists, such as Laplace's equation, Newtonian potential, magnetic and electrostatic fields, conduction of heat, and spherical harmonic analysis. Later chapters apply these theoretical concepts specifically to the interpretation of gravity and magnetic anomalies, with emphasis on anomalies caused by crustal and lithospheric sources. The book is ideal for graduate students and researchers in applied geophysics. ... Read more

Book Description

This bookUs abundant figures andexercises, combined with the straightforward, concise style of the book, putthe essentials of geophysics well within reach of students whose primarytraining is in geology and who possess only a basic knowledge of physics. It is designed to introduce the principal geophysicalphenomena and techniques—namely seismology, gravity, magnetism, and heatflow. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great introduction to Geophysics
This book achieves exactly what its title says it is - an introduction to geophysics. It balances math and physics with geoscience interpretation such that you don't need to be an expert to learn the main concepts of geophysics. For a science textbook it is extremely easy and enjoyable reading.

Geophysics Text That Really Works!
Lillie has done the earth science and teaching professions an incredible service by writing this book. Whole Earth Geophysics is written and illustratoed in such a way that it encourages geology students and professionals to incorporate geohysics into their thinking about the earth. It is the link between discriptive courses in geology and quantitative geophysics courses that has been missing for a long time!

This book needs some serious review.
No scale...horrible figures...this book was not written for geophysicists. This book was written in such a way as to confuse any student who has any working knowledge of physics and mathematics, let alone tectonics. ... Read more

Book Description

This work offers a unique coverage of modern seismic instrumentation. It provides not only detailed information on the basic understanding of seismic instruments but it also includes an overview of current equipment on the market.

Furthermore, the following topics are included:
- installing seismic stations, networks, and arrays
- working with portable instruments
- calibrating instruments
- dealing with response information
- and teaching about seismic instruments.

This book is primarily intended for seismologists and technicians working with seismological instruments. The aim is that it should be used as a practical tool with only the amount of theory needed to understand the basic principles, and the answers to most practical problems should be found here.

This book is written in such a way that it is understandable for a broad range of professionals working with seismological instruments and seismic data, whether students, engineers, or seismologists. Both practical and theoretical topics are covered, with the main emphasis on practical aspects. The book is based on the authors' (seismologist and physicist) experience working in this field for more than 25 years.

Book Description

For the first time, a book is available that bridges the gap between geology and geophysics. Its integrative approach presents students and researchers in these disciplines with other methodologies as they try to understand the Earths processes. The book covers the gamut of Earth Sciences, from earthquakes and seismic exploration to thermal convection and the orogenic processes. Each chapter starts with the well-established facts and then proceeds through a logical framework to with the most conjectural questions, such as continental drift in Paleozoicc and Precambrian times or mantle convection. Many of the issues discussed here have not yet found unanimously agreed solutions, but the extensive references point the reader to further possibilities. ... Read more

Book Description

Models for the mechanical behavior of porous media introduced more than 50 years ago are still relied upon today, but more recent work shows that, in some cases, they may violate the laws of thermodynamics. In The Thermophysics of Porous Media, the author shows that physical consistency requires a unique description of dynamic processes that involve porous media, and that new dynamic variables-porosity, saturation, and megascale concentration-naturally enter into the large-scale description of porous media. The new degrees of freedom revealed in this study predict new dynamic processes that are not associated with compressional motions.The book details the construction of a Lorentz invariant thermodynamic lattice gas model and shows how the associated nonrelativistic, Galilean invariant model can be used to describe flow in porous media. The author develops the equations of seismic wave propagation in porous media, the associated boundary conditions, and surface waves. He also constructs the equations for both immiscible and miscible flows in porous media and their related instability problems.The implications of the physical theory presented in this book are significant, particularly in applications in geophysics and the petroleum industry. The Thermophysics of Porous Media offers a unique opportunity to examine the dynamic role that porosity plays in porous materials. ... Read more