Introduction to Earth Sciences

Geophysics is concerned with the physical processes and properties of the Earth and its surrounding environment, and with the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. This book provides the general public, including students, faculties, and universities with a comprehensive presentation of geophysics suitable for first year undergraduate classes. The key focus is to familiarize readers with the concepts of elastic and electromagnetic wave propagation, which are central to geophysical studies. Elastic waves and electromagnetic waves are two important ways that energy is transported in the world around us. These important concepts are presented through examples giving readers a more comprehensive understanding of geophysics and what geophysicists do. Special focus is on earthquakes, volcanoes, energy resources, and climate which are the present and future challenges of our times.

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Contents:A View of Earth: The Earth's SpheresEarthquake and Volcanoes:Seismic Waves and Evidences of Earth's Interior StructureEarthquakes and VolcanoesTectonic Plate TheoryEarth's Climates:Climate and Heat RadiationElectromagnetic RadiationEnergy-Balance Equations and Greenhouse EffectClimate ForcingsEnergy Resources:Energy Production and ConsumptionBiomass, Solar, and Wing Energy Resources: Fundamentals and TechnologySource Rocks and SeismologyExploration, Production, and MonitoringAppendices:Global Climate Model (GCM)Answers to Some of the Quizzes and Exercises
Readership: Undergraduate students in geophysics and related subject areas.
Geophysics;Earthquakes;Volcanoes;Climate;Energy;Elastic Waves;Electromagnetic Waves;Oil;Gas;Biomass;Wind Energy;Solar Energy;Nuclear Energy;Landslides;Hurricanes;Droughts;Heat Waves;Greenhouse GasesKey Features:Fills a gap in Earth sciences studies and increases the access of general public to recent advances in geophysicsCovers climate, earthquakes, volcanoes, and energy in a single volumeContains analytical problems as well as computational problems that include MathLab software developed especially for the classes associated with this book