Introduction to Earth Sciences

A Physics Approach

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.

Contents:

• A View of Earth: The Earth's Spheres

• Earthquake and Volcanoes:

  • Seismic Waves and Evidences of Earth's Interior Structure
  • Earthquakes and Volcanoes
  • Tectonic Plate Theory

• Earth's Climates:

  • Climate and Heat Radiation
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Energy-Balance Equations and Greenhouse Effect
  • Climate Forcings

• Energy Resources:

  • Energy Production and Consumption
  • Biomass, Solar, and Wing Energy Resources: Fundamentals and Technology
  • Source Rocks and Seismology
  • Exploration, Production, and Monitoring

• Appendices:

  • Global Climate Model (GCM)
  • Answers to Some of the Quizzes and Exercises

Readership: Undergraduate students in geophysics and related subject areas.
Key Features:

• Fills a gap in Earth sciences studies and increases the access of general public to recent advances in geophysics
• Covers climate, earthquakes, volcanoes, and energy in a single volume
• Contains analytical problems as well as computational problems that include MathLab software developed especially for the classes associated with this book