The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, 5th Edition

, by Brian J. Skinner (Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut); Stephen C. Porter (University of Washington); Jeffrey Park (Yale University)

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ISBN: 9780471152286 | 0471152285
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 4/1/2003

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With authoritative and detailed coverage, Skinner and Porter address all key areas of physical geology, as well as recent events that have shaped our world. The new edition is updated to address the latest in geoscientific research, theory, and knowledge. Emphasis on the unifying themes of physical geology Expands the earth systems science viewpoint of previous editions Introduces readers to remote sensing, global positioning systems, and other tools Exciting, first-hand accounts from the field relate geology to everyday life experiences Includes a GeoDiscoveries CD with an interactive globe, animations, videos, and more

Meet Planet Earth	p. 2
Opening Essay: Discovering Geology	p. 3
Introduction	p. 4
About Geology and Geologists	p. 5
The Scientific Method	p. 8
How Rapid Are Geologic Processes?	p. 8
Earth's Neighborhood: The Solar System	p. 12
Earth's Internal Structure: Energy, Heat, Gravity, and Buoyancy	p. 16
The System Concept	p. 19
Interactions among Earth's Open Systems	p. 21
Changes Caused By Human Activities	p. 27
What's Ahead?	p. 27
Chapter Summary	p. 28
The Language of Geology	p. 29
Questions For Review	p. 29
GeoDiscoveries: The Earth System	p. 29
Understanding Our Environment Box 1.1 Epitaph for the Aral Sea	p. 7
The Science of Geology Box 1.2 Cycling of Biogeochemical Elements Important for Life	p. 24
Global Tectonics: Our Dynamic Planet	p. 30
Opening Essay: Earth is a Noisy Planet, If You Keep Your Ear to the Ground	p. 31
Introduction	p. 32
What Earth's Surface Features Tell Us	p. 34
What Earth's Internal Phenomena Tell Us	p. 37
Plates and Mantle Convection	p. 41
Four Types of Plate Margins and How They Move	p. 42
Divergent Margin	p. 46
Convergent Margin/Subduction Zone	p. 48
Convergent Margin/Collision Zone	p. 51
Transform Fault Margin	p. 52
Topography of the Ocean Floor	p. 53
Hot Spots and Absolute Motion	p. 54
What Causes Plate Tectonics?	p. 59
What's Ahead?	p. 61
Chapter Summary	p. 61
The Language of Geology	p. 62
Questions For Review	p. 62
GeoDiscoveries: Plate Tectonics	p. 63
The Science of Geology Box 2.1 Rock Deformation: Strain and Stress	p. 32
The Science of Geology Box 2.2 Thermal Convection	p. 39
Atoms, Elements, Minerals, Rocks: Earth's Building Materials	p. 66
Opening Essay: Mineral Exploration: The Story of Sudbury	p. 67
Introduction: What Is A Mineral?	p. 68
Composition of Minerals	p. 69
Crystal Structure of Minerals	p. 74
Properties of Minerals	p. 77
Common Minerals	p. 83
Silicates: The Largest Mineral Group	p. 84
The Carbonate, Phosphate, and Sulfate Mineral Groups	p. 89
The Ore Mineral Groups--Our Source for Metals	p. 90
Minerals Give Clues to Their Environment of Formation	p. 92
Rocks: Mixtures of Minerals	p. 92
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 93
What's Ahead?	p. 95
Chapter Summary	p. 95
The Language of Geology	p. 96
Mineral Names to Remember	p. 96
Questions For Review	p. 97
GeoDiscoveries: Atoms, Elements, Minerals, and Rocks	p. 97
Petroscope For Minerals	p. 97
The Science of Geology Box 3.1 The Three States of Matter	p. 76
Understanding Our Environment Box 3.2 Longterm Danger of Abandoned Mines	p. 82
Understanding Our Environment Box 3.3 Absestos: How Risky Is It?	p. 91
Igneous Rocks: Products of Earth's Internal Fire	p. 98
Opening Essay: Watching Magma Solidify	p. 99
Introduction: What Is an Igneous Rock?	p. 100
Texture in Igneous Rocks	p. 101
Mineral Assemblage in Igneous Rocks	p. 102
Pyroclasts, Tephra, and Tuffs	p. 104
Plutons	p. 106
Whence Magma?	p. 110
Solidification of Magma	p. 114
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 117
What's Ahead?	p. 118
Chapter Summary	p. 118
The Language of Geology	p. 119
Important Rock Names to Remember	p. 119
Questions For Review	p. 119
GeoDiscoveries: Volcanoes and Igneous Rocks	p. 119
Petroscope to Igneous Rocks	p. 119
The Science of Geology Box 4.1. How Rock Melts	p. 112
Magmas and Volcanoes	p. 120
Opening Essay: Witnessing an Eruption at Close Hand	p. 121
Introduction: Earth's Internal Thermal Engine	p. 122
Magma: Molten Rock of Different Types	p. 122
How Bouyant Magma Erupts on the Surface	p. 125
Eruption Style--Nonexplosive or Explosive?	p. 125
Volcanoes	p. 129
Posteruption Effects	p. 137
Volcanic Hazards	p. 138
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 140
What's Ahead?	p. 142
Chapter Summary	p. 142
The Language of Geology	p. 143
Questions For Review	p. 143
GeoDiscoveries: Geohazards and Volcanoes and Igneous Rocks	p. 143
Understanding Our Environment Box 5.1 Life Returns to Mount St. Helens	p. 130
The Science of Geology Box 5.2 Harnessing the Heat Within	p. 138
Weathering and Soils	p. 146
Opening Essay: Chinese Soils and Monsoon Climates	p. 147
Introduction: Weathering--The Breakdown of Rock	p. 148
Physical Weathering	p. 149
Chemical Weathering	p. 152
Factors That Influence Weathering	p. 157
Soil: Origin and Classification	p. 160
Soil Erosion	p. 166
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 168
What's Ahead?	p. 170
Chapter Summary	p. 170
The Language of Geology	p. 171
Questions For Review	p. 171
GeoDiscoveries: Sedimentary Rock	p. 171
Understanding Our Environment Box 6.1 Decaying Buildings and Monuments	p. 154
The Science of Geology Box 6.2 Using Weathering Rinds to Measure Relative Age	p. 161
Understanding Our Environment Box 6.3 The Soil Erosion Crisis	p. 167
Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks: Archives of Earth History	p. 172
Opening Essay: Interpreting Sedimentary Rocks Before Plate Tectonics	p. 173
Introduction: Sediments in the Rock Cycle	p. 174
Sedimentation, Stratification, and Bedding	p. 174
Sediment Types and Characteristics	p. 175
Sedimentary Environments and Facies Changes	p. 182
Diagenesis: How Sediment Becomes Rock	p. 190
Sedimentary Rocks: Clastic, Chemical, and Biogenic	p. 191
Environmental Clues in Sedimentary Rocks	p. 195
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 198
What's Ahead?	p. 199
Chapter Summary	p. 199
The Language of Geology	p. 200
Important Rock Names to Remember	p. 200
Questions For Review	p. 200
GeoDiscoveries: Sedimentary Rocks and Petroscope for Sedimentary Rocks	p. 201
The Science of Geology Box 7.1 Graphic Display of Geologic Data	p. 176
Metamorphism and Metomorphic Rocks: New Rocks from Old	p. 202
Opening Essay: Estimating a Temperature and a Pressure	p. 203
Introduction: All Things Metamorphose	p. 204
What Is Metamorphism?	p. 204
Major Factors in Metamorphism	p. 205
The Upper and Lower Limits of Metamorphism	p. 209
How Rocks Respond to Temperature and Pressure Change in Metamorphism	p. 210
Types of Metamorphic Rock	p. 211
Types of Metamorphism	p. 214
Metamorphic Facies	p. 218
Metasomatism	p. 219
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 220
What's Ahead?	p. 222
Chapter Summary	p. 222
The Language of Geology	p. 223
Questions For Review	p. 223
GeoDiscoveries: Metamorphic Rocks	p. 223
The Science of Geology Box 8.1 Pressure-Temperature-Time Paths: The Tectonic History of Metamorphic Rock	p. 206
Understanding Our Environment Box 8.2 Concrete: The Artificial Metamorphic Rock that Changed Our Environment	p. 215
How Rock Bends, Buckles, and Breaks	p. 224
Opening Essay: The Ore Body that Sank	p. 225
Introduction	p. 226
How Is Rock Deformed?	p. 226
Deformation in Progress	p. 231
Evidence of Former Deformation	p. 232
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 244
What's Ahead?	p. 244
Chapter Summary	p. 245
The Language of Geology	p. 245
Questions For Review	p. 245
GeoDiscoveries: Plate Tectonics and Metamorphic Rocks	p. 245
Understanding Our Environment Box 9.1 Rock Deformation and Oil Pools	p. 241
Earthquakes and Earth's Interior	p. 246
Opening Essay: A Temblor Strikes Home	p. 247
Introduction	p. 248
How Earthquakes Are Studied	p. 248
Earthquake Hazard	p. 255
World Distribution of Earthquakes	p. 259
First-Motion Studies of the Earthquake Source	p. 260
Earthquake Forecasting and Prediction	p. 261
Using Seismic Waves as Earth Probes	p. 266
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 270
What's Ahead?	p. 272
Chapter Summary	p. 272
The Language of Geology	p. 273
Questions For Review	p. 273
GeoDiscoveries: Geohazards	p. 273
The Science of Geology Box 10.1 Calculating a Richter Magnitude	p. 251
Understanding Our Environment Box 10.2 A Great Earthquake in the Pacific Northwest?	p. 262
Geologic Time and the Rock Record	p. 276
Opening Essay: Determining How Rapidly Carbonate Sediments Accumulate	p. 277
Introduction	p. 278
Reading the Record of Layered Rocks	p. 278
Stratigraphic Classification	p. 282
Bridging the Gaps: Correlation of Rock Units	p. 283
The Geologic Column and the Geologic Time Scale	p. 285
Measuring Geologic Time Numerically	p. 288
The Magnetic Polarity Time Scale	p. 297
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 300
What's Ahead?	p. 300
Chapter Summary	p. 300
The Language of Geology	p. 300
Questions For Review	p. 300
GeoDiscoveries: The Rock Record and Geologic Time	p. 301
The Science of Geology Box 11.1 Potassium-Argon ([superscript 40]K/[superscript 40]AR) Dating	p. 292
Understanding Our Environment Box 11.2 K/Ar Dating of Hawaiian Glaciations and African Hominids	p. 295
The Changing Face of the Land	p. 302
Opening Essay: Why Is Italy Uplifting?	p. 303
Introduction: Whence Earth's Varied Landscapes?	p. 304
Uplift and Denudation: Competing Geologic Forces	p. 305
Hypothetical Models For Landscape Evolution	p. 311
How Can We Calculate Rates of Uplift and Denudation?	p. 313
Ancient Landscapes of Low Relief	p. 317
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System--Uplift, Weathering, and the Carbon Cycle	p. 318
What's Ahead?	p. 322
Chapter Summary	p. 322
The Language of Geology	p. 323
Questions For Review	p. 323
GeoDiscoveries: Plate Tectonics and Geohazards	p. 323
Understanding Our Environment Box 12.1 Human Activity as an Agent of Denudation	p. 306
The Science of Geology Box 12.2 Estimating Exhumation Rates with Radioactive Decay	p. 316
Mass Wasting	p. 324
Opening Essay: The Night the Mountain Fell	p. 325
Introduction: What Is Mass Wasting?	p. 326
Downslope Movement of Rock Debris	p. 326
Mass-Wasting Processes	p. 329
Mass Wasting in Cold Climates	p. 340
Mass Wasting Under Water	p. 340
What Triggers Mass-Wasting Events?	p. 343
Hazards to Life and Property	p. 345
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 347
What's Ahead?	p. 349
Chapter Summary	p. 349
The Language of Geology	p. 350
Questions For Review	p. 350
GeoDiscoveries: Geohazards	p. 351
The Science of Geology Box 13.1 Downslope Movement and the Safety Factor	p. 327
The Science of Geology Box 13.2 The Beverage-Can Experiment	p. 328
Streams and Drainage Systems	p. 352
Opening Essay: A Chinese Emperor's Buried Army	p. 353
Introduction: Streams in the Landscape	p. 354
Stream Channels	p. 355
Dynamics of Streamflow	p. 356
Channel Patterns	p. 362
Erosion by Running Water	p. 366
The Stream's Load	p. 366
Stream Deposits	p. 370
Drainage Systems	p. 375
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 377
What's Ahead?	p. 380
Chapter Summary	p. 380
The Language of Geology	p. 380
Questions For Review	p. 381
GeoDiscoveries: The Water Cycle	p. 381
Understanding Our Environment Box 14.1 Taming the Yangtze River	p. 362
Groundwater	p. 382
Opening Essay: Ice-Age Cave Dwellers in the Pyrenees	p. 383
Introduction: The Importance of Water	p. 384
Water in the Ground	p. 384
How Groundwater Moves	p. 386
Springs and Wells	p. 389
Aquifers	p. 390
Mining Groundwater, and its Consequences	p. 394
Water Quality and Groundwater Contamination	p. 396
Geologic Activity of Groundwater	p. 400
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 407
What's Ahead?	p. 407
Chapter Summary	p. 408
The Language of Geology	p. 408
Questions For Review	p. 409
GeoDiscoveries: The Water Cycle	p. 409
The Science of Geology Box 15.1 How Fast Does Groundwater Flow?	p. 389
Understanding Our Environment Box 15.2 Toxic Groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley	p. 398
Glaciers and Glaciation	p. 410
Opening Essay: Modern Analogs of Ice-Age Glaciers	p. 411
Introduction: Earth's Changing Cover of Snow and Ice Glaciers	p. 412
Glaciation	p. 423
Periglacial Landscapes and Permafrost	p. 430
The Glacial Ages	p. 431
What Causes Glacial Ages?	p. 435
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 440
What's Ahead?	p. 442
Chapter Summary	p. 442
The Language of Geology	p. 443
Questions For Review	p. 443
GeoDiscoveries: Glaciers, Glaciation, and Ice Sheets	p. 443
Understanding Our Environment Box 16.1 Living with Permafrost	p. 432
The Science of Geology Box 16.2 Understanding Milankovitch	p. 438
Almosphere, Winds, and Deserts	p. 446
Opening Essay: Living on the Edge of the Desert	p. 447
Introduction: Wind as a Geologic Agent	p. 448
Planetary Wind System	p. 448
Movement of Sediment By Wind	p. 450
Wind Erosion	p. 454
Eolian Deposits	p. 457
Dust in Ocean Sediments and Glacier Ice	p. 461
Deserts	p. 462
Surface Processes and Landforms in Deserts	p. 464
Desertification	p. 468
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 469
What's Ahead?	p. 472
Chapter Summary	p. 472
The Language of Geology	p. 472
Questions For Review	p. 472
GeoDiscoveries: Geohazards	p. 473
The Science of Geology Box 17.1 Measuring Earth's Hum	p. 451
Understanding Our Environment Box 17.2 Tectonic Desertification	p. 470
The Oceans and Their Margins	p. 474
Opening Essay: Changing Sea Level and Atoll Evolution	p. 475
Introduction: The World Ocean	p. 476
The Ocean's Characteristics	p. 476
Depth and Volume of the Oceans	p. 476
Ocean Circulation	p. 480
Ocean Tides	p. 484
Ocean Waves	p. 486
Coastal Erosion and Sediment Transport	p. 489
Coastal Deposits and Landforms	p. 490
How Coasts Evolve	p. 497
Coastal Hazards	p. 501
Protection against Shoreline Erosion	p. 502
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 505
What's Ahead?	p. 505
Chapter Summary	p. 506
The Language of Geology	p. 506
Questions For Review	p. 507
GeoDiscoveries: Geohazards	p. 507
Understanding Our Environment Box 18.1 How to Modify an Estuary	p. 500
Climate and Our Changing Planet	p. 508
Opening Essay: The Sensitivity of Earth's Climate to Small Changes	p. 509
Introduction: The Changing Atmosphere	p. 510
Global Warming	p. 517
The Past as a Key to the Future	p. 521
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 525
What's Ahead?	p. 528
Chapter Summary	p. 528
The Language of Geology	p. 528
Questions For Review	p. 528
GeoDiscoveries: Glaciers, Glaciation, and Ice Sheets	p. 529
Understanding Our Environment Box 19.1 The Ozone Hole	p. 515
The Science of Geology Box 19.2 The Younger Dryas Event and the End of the Last Ice Age	p. 526
Earth Through Geologic Time	p. 530
Opening Essay: Watching a Continent Grow in Kamchatka	p. 531
Introduction: Tracking Past Plate Motions	p. 532
Supercontinents and Vanished Oceans	p. 541
Regional Structures of Continents	p. 544
Continental Margins	p. 544
Mountain Building	p. 551
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 557
What's Ahead?	p. 558
Chapter Summary	p. 558
The Language of Geology	p. 559
Questions For Review	p. 559
GeoDiscoveries: The Rock Record and Geologic Time	p. 559
The Science of Geology Box 20.1 Watching a Continent Splinter	p. 547
Resources of Minerals and Energy	p. 560
Opening Essay: The Golden Puzzle of the Witwatersrand	p. 561
Introduction: Natural Resources and Human History	p. 562
Mineral Resources	p. 562
Origin of Mineral Deposits	p. 564
Useful Mineral Substances	p. 572
Energy Resources	p. 573
Fossil Fuels	p. 573
Other Sources of Energy	p. 578
Revisiting Plate Tectonics and the Earth System	p. 582
What's Ahead?	p. 583
Chapter Summary	p. 583
The Language of Geology	p. 583
Questions For Review	p. 583
Understanding Our Environment Box 21.1 Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits Forming Today	p. 568
Understanding Our Environment Box 21.2 The Waste Disposal Problem: Geology and Politics	p. 580
Units and Their Conversions	p. 1
Tables of the Chemical Elements and Naturally Occurring Isotopes	p. 4
Table of the Properties of Common Minerals	p. 7
Glossary	p. 1
Selected References	p. 1
Credits	p. 1
Index	p. 1
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The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, 5th Edition

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