How the Earth Works (The Great Courses)
Professor Michael E. Wysession, an established leader in seismology and geophysical education, is Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.--Back of box.CONTENTS Geology's Impact on HistoryGeologic History-Dating the EarthEarth's Structure-Journey to Earth's CenterEarth's Heat-Conduction and ConvectionThe Basics of Plate TectonicsMaking Matter-The Big Bang and Big BangsCreating Earth-Recipe for a PlanetThe Rock Cycle-Matter in MotionMinerals-The Building Blocks of RocksMagma-The Building Mush of RocksCrystallization-The Rock Cycle StartsVolcanoes-Lava and AshFolding-Bending Blocks, Flowing RocksEarthquakes-Examining Earth's FaultsPlate Tectonics-Why Continents MoveThe Ocean Seafloor-Unseen LandsRifts and Ridges-The Creation of PlatesTransform Faults-Tears of a CrustSubduction Zones-Recycling OceansContinents Collide and Mountains Are MadeIntraplate Volcanoes-Finding the Hot SpotsDestruction from Volcanoes and EarthquakesPredicting Natural DisastersAnatomy of a Volcano-Mount St. HelensAnatomy of an Earthquake-SumatraHistory of Plate Motions-Where and WhyAssembling North AmericaThe Sun-Driven Hydrologic CycleWater on Earth-The Blue PlanetEarth's Atmosphere-Air and WeatherErosion-Weathering and Land RemovalJungles and Deserts-Feast or Famine Mass Wasting-Rocks Fall DownhillStreams-Shaping the LandGroundwater-The Invisible ReservoirShorelines-Factories of Sedimentary RocksGlaciers-The Power of IcePlanetary Wobbles and the Last Ice AgeLong-Term Climate ChangeShort-Term Climate ChangeClimate Change and Human HistoryPlate Tectonics and Natural ResourcesNonrenewable Energy SourcesRenewable Energy SourcesHumans-Dominating Geologic ChangeHistory of Life-Complexity and DiversityThe Solar System-Earth's NeighborhoodThe Lonely Planet-Fermi's Paradox.