http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
1 online resource (xiii, 202 pages) : illustrations, maps
The Little Book of Planet Earth presents a concise description of the geological evolution of Earth from its formation. Meissner describes in detailed but accessible prose not just the planet's features, but the tools that modern geologists use to explore and track the ever-changing subterranean and surface features of the planet. With a particular gift for expressing how the forces in and around our planet constantly alter the world we live in, the author introduces lay readers to the key topics in modern earth and planetary science: the creation of Earth and its moon (as well as stars and other planets), the role of seismology in analyzing Earth's structure, the formation of mountain ranges and basins, the role of plate tectonics, the significance of Earth's magnetic field, and the complex relationship of our planet's geology to the life forms found there.
ch. 1. The roots of earth sciences -- ch. 2. The Earth in the context of our solar system -- ch. 3. The formation of Earth and moon -- ch. 4. The interior of the Earth and the role of seismology -- ch. 5. Rotation and shape, gravity and tides -- ch. 6. The Earth's magnetic field -- ch. 7. Atom, mineral, rock -- ch. 8. The early ages -- ch. 9. Radioactive dating -- ch. 10. Plate tectonics -- ch. 11. The crust of the Earth -- ch. 12. Formation of mountains and basins -- ch. 13. New discoveries, new concepts -- ch. 14. The phanerozoic : the last 600 million years -- ch. 15. Biological evolution -- Epilogue : our limited resources.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-194) and index.