The Earth
Subtitle: its birth and growth
By: Minoru Ozima, Professor emeritus, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University  of Tokyo; Jun Korenaga, Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University; Qing-zhu Yin, Associate Professor, Department of Geology, University of California, Davis
Contributors: Korenaga, Jun; Yin, Qing-zhu
Edition: Second edition.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Cambridge
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780521760256; 9781107600768
Subjects: SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / General
Work titles: Chikyūshi
Description: "A clear understanding of the Earth's past evolution can provide the key to its possible future development. The Earth: Its Birth and Growth explores the evolution of the Earth over 4.6 billion years using basic reasoning and simple illustrations to help explain the underlying physical and chemical principles and major processes involved. Fully updated and revised, this rigorous but accessible second edition includes three completely new chapters. It incorporates exciting developments in isotope geology, placing results within a wider framework of Earth evolution and plate tectonics. Some background in physics and chemistry is assumed, but basic theories and processes are explained concisely in self-contained sections. Key research papers and review articles are fully referenced. This book is ideal as supplementary reading for undergraduate and graduate students in isotope geochemistry, geodynamics, plate tectonics and planetary science. It also provides an enjoyable overview of Earth's evolution for professional scientists and general readers"--

"Recent environmental problems and natural disasters have given cause for increasing concern over the future habitability of our planet. It is becoming increasingly apparent that a clear understanding of the Earth's past evolution can provide the key to its possible future development. The Earth: Its Birth and Growth explores the evolution of the Earth over 4.6 billion years using basic reasoning and simple illustrations to help explain the underlying physical and chemical principles and major processes involved"--
Notes: Originally published in Japanese by Iwanami Shoten, Tokyo, 1979, as Chikyu-shi; first published in English by Cambridge University Press, 1981, as The Earth: Its Birth and Growth

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: Preface to the second edition; Preface to the first edition; 1. Heat from within: energy supporting the dynamic Earth; 2. At the time of Earth's birth; 3. Formation of the layered structure of Earth; 4. Time scale of Earth's evolution; 5. Plate tectonics evolution; 6. Evolution of the mantle; 7. Origin of the atmosphere and oceans; 8. Isotopes as DNA of nature; 9. Earth's magnetism; 10. Moon: a looking glass to mirror the ancient Earth; 11. The past and future of the evolving Earth; References; Index.