The Key to Earth History: An Introduction to Stratigraphy - Softcover

Doyle, Peter; Bennett, Matthew R.; Baxter, Alistair N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471948454 ISBN 13: 9780471948452

Publisher: Wiley, 1994

Synopsis

The Key to Earth History An Introduction to Stratigraphy Peter Doyle Matthew R. Bennett and Alistair N. Baxter School of Earth Sciences, University of Greenwich, UK The Key to Earth History is the first textbook on stratigraphy to introduce the student to the basic tools used by geologists to reconstruct Earth’s history, as well as showing how these can be utilised to chart the pattern of global environmental change which has taken place since the formation of the Earth some 4600 million years ago. Divided into two sections, the book discusses how stratigraphy is the key to understanding the history of the Earth, and how it can be used as a dynamic tool in unravelling ancient Earth environments. The first part examines the basic stratigraphical methods used to establish, date and interpret sequences of rocks as the products of a series of events in the Earth’s history. The second part of the book presents the results obtained by geologists, who have used these stratigraphical tools in order to build up a record of the way in which the Earth’s global environment has changed through geological time. The reader is introduced to these concepts through the use of boxes highlighting key points, together with international case histories, and this user-friendly approach will ensure that The Key to Earth History is essential first-year reading for geology, environmental science and geography undergraduates.

About this title

From the Publisher

Designed to take students from the basic tools used by geologists to reconstruct Earth's history through the pattern of global environmental change which has taken place since the Earth's formation. The first section comprises methods used to establish, date and interpret sequences of rocks as the products of a series of events in our planet's history. The latter half presents the results obtained to demonstrate how the Earth's environment has changed through geological time.

From the Back Cover

The Key to Earth History introduces students to the basic tools used by geologists to reconstruct the Earth's history, and shows how these tools can be used to chart the pattern of global environmental change since the formation of the Earth some 4600 million years ago. It tells a story of mountain building, climate change and of the evolution of life, and uses the North Atlantic region (Europe and North America) as a study area to illustrate this story.
Divided into two parts, the book shows how stratigraphy is the key to understanding the history of the Earth. The first part examines the basic stratigraphical methods used to establish, date and interpret the rock record as the product of a series of events whithin Earth history. The second part presents the results obtained by geologists, who have used these stratigraphical tools to reconstruct the pattern of global environmental change through geological time and focuses on the geological evolution of the North Atlantic region. The Key to Earth History is essential reading for geologists, geographers and environmental scientists, as well as to all those interested in the story of the planet.
'The authors provide no one with an alibi for bad stratigraphic teaching!'
Geoscientist
'The aims of this introductory textbook are to explain the process and pattern of Earth history, to generate interest and enthusiasm, to make stratigraphy fun and exciting! These aims are admirably achieved.'
The Holocene
'This is a great little book! I found that, not only was everything covered, but that it was covered in a refreshing, readable, no-nonsense fashion.'
Earth Science Reviews
'The Key to Earth History really should be compulsory reading for all ... geology students.'
Geologie

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471948454
• ISBN 13: 9780471948452
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 244