Encyclopedia of earth science / Timothy Kusky.

A collection of facts and definitions that gives a way to understand the history of the planet as a global system of land, sea, air, ice, and life. This encyclopedia is a fine contribution to the scientific literature, articulated at a level and presented in a format ideal for high school and college students and general readers. It includes oceanography, structural geology, weather, climate, and geomorphology. It also provides information on concepts, theories, and hypotheses, places and events, and the major periods of geological time, as well as technology and instruments, people who have made significant contributions to the field, occupations and careers, organizations, and field locations. Five helpful appendixes are also available in this reference material: the Periodic Table of Elements, the Geologic Time Scale, Classification of Species, Solar System Data, and Evolution of Life and the Atmosphere - and also an extensive index.