This text is intended for an introductory-level college course. It does not assume any prior exposure to geology or college-level mathematics or science courses. The metric system is used throughout, except where other units are conventional within a discipline. (For the convenience of students not yet "fluent" in metric units, a conversion table is included on the inside back cover, and in some cases, metric equivalents in English units are included within the text.) Each chapter opens with an introduction that sets the stage for the material to follow. In the course of the chapter, important terms and concepts are identified by boldface type, and these terms are collected as "Key Terms and Concepts" at the end of the chapter for quick review. The Glossary includes both these boldface terms and the additional, italicized terms that many chapters contain. Most chapters include actual case histories and specific real-world examples. Every chapter concludes with review questions and exercises, which allow students to test their comprehension and apply their knowledge. The "Exploring Further" section of each chapter includes a number of activities in which students can engage, some involving online data, and some, quantitative analysis. For example, they may be directed to examine real-time streamgaging or landslide-monitoring data, or information on current or recent earthquake activity; they can manipulate historic climate data from NASA to examine trends by region or time period; they may calculate how big a wind farm or photovoltaic array would be required to replace a conventional power plant; they can even learn how to reduce sulfate pollution by buying SO2 allowances. Each chapter includes one or more case studies. Some involve a situation, problem, or application that might be encountered in everyday life. Others offer additional case histories or relevant examples. The tone is occasionally light, but the underlying issues are nonetheless real. (While some case studies were inspired by actual events, and include specific factual information, all of the characters quoted, and their interactions, are wholly fictitious.)
<p>Additional online resources available on the website for each chapter are of two kinds. One is "NetNotes," a modest collection of Internet sites that provide additional information and/or images relevant to the chapter content. These should prove useful to both students and instructors. An effort has been made to concentrate on sites with material at an appropriate level for the book's intended audience and also on sites likely to be relatively stable in the very fluid world of the Internet (government agencies, educational institutions, or professional-association sites). The other is "Suggested Readings/References," some of which can also be accessed online. |
2014