Speleothem Science: From Process to Past Environments - Hardcover

Fairchild, Ian J.; Baker, Andy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1405196203 ISBN 13: 9781405196208

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012

Synopsis

Speleothems (mineral deposits that formed in caves) are currently giving us some of the most exciting insights into environments and climates during the Pleistocene ice ages and the subsequent Holocene rise of civilizations. The book applies system science to Quaternary environments in a new and rigorous way and gives holistic explanations the relations between the properties of speleothems and the climatic and cave setting in which they are found.  It is designed as the ideal companion to someone embarking on speleothem research and, since the underlying science is very broad, it will also be invaluable to a wide variety of others.  Students and professional scientists interested in carbonate rocks, karst hydrogeology, climatology, aqueous geochemistry, carbonate geochemistry and the calibration of climatic proxies will find up-to-date reviews of these topics here.  The book will also be valuable to Quaternary scientists who, up to now, have lacked a thorough overview of these important archives.

Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/fairchild/speleothem.

About this title

About the Author

Ian Fairchild was originally a geologist, then more specifically a sedimentologist, morphing into a physical geographer with leanings to environmental chemistry, before putting more geology back in the mix.  Hence, he is now Professor of Geosystems at the University of Birmingham, UK, researching both on modern environments and interpreting those in deep time, with carbonates, waters and climates as linking themes. 

Andy Baker was trained as a physical geographer, and worked at the interface of geology, physical geography, and environmental engineering.   He is currently a Professor at the University of New South Wales and a chief investigator in Australia’s National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training.

Review

“Speleothem Science sets high standards for any successor. It is a must-have for researchers working on karst geology and terrestrial Quaternary palaeoclimatology. For all those who always wanted to know how dripstones “grow”, why speleothems rival ice cores as top climate archives, or just want to learn the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite: get your hands on this book.” (Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 1 December 2013)

“The book is comprehensive; it brings together all the relevant disciplines (geology, biology, hydrology, chemistry...) and, whichever way you cut it, Fairchild and Baker have succeeded in bringing an important subject to a wider readership. Speleothem Science is highly recommended.” (Descent, 1 August 2013)

“The target readership of Speleothem Science is threefold. First, researchers who are already working with the stalagmite archive can widen and considerably deepen their knowledge in sub-disciplines not already covered in their own training. Second, climate researchers who are not yet working on speleothem should be catapulted to the front-end once they will have studied the book together with the relating bench mark papers. Third, graduate students who are looking for a topic for their PhD dissertation. They might have found their textbook.” (Computers & Geosciences, 27 January 2013)

“The volume will no doubt serve as a fine textbook and reference volume. A companion website provides access to slides of all figures and tables. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals.” (Choice, 1 December 2012)

“I highly recommend the landmark and very thorough book Speleothem Science: From Process to Past Environments by Ian J. Fairchild, Ph.D., and Andy Baker, Ph.D., to any students and professional scientists from a wide range of disciplines, who are seeking a holistic and comprehensive examination of the many topics and areas of research and study surrounding speleothems, climate, caves, and Quaternary science.” (Blog Business World, 8 May 2012)

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1405196203
• ISBN 13: 9781405196208
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448