Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Sources; 1. Introduction; 2. Tectonics on a sphere: the geometry of plate tectonics; 3. Past plate motions; 4. Seismology: measuring the interior; 5. Gravity; 6. Geochronology; 7. Heat; 8. The deep interior of the Earth; 9. The oceanic lithosphere: ridges, transforms, trenches and oceanic islands; 10. The continental lithosphere; A1. Scalars, vector and differential operators; A2. Theory of elasticity and elastic waves; A3. Geometry of ray paths and inversion of earthquakes body wave time-distance curves; A4. The least-squares method; A5. The error function; A6. Units and symbols; A7. Numerical data; A8. IASP91 Earth model; A9. Preliminary reference Earth model isotropic version - PREM; Glossary; Index.

Promotional Information

A fully up-dated edition of this acclaimed undergraduate geophysics textbook.

About the Author

Mary Fowler is a Professor and Head of the Department of Geology at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Reviews

'... the second edition is significantly improved and augmented ... More than ever this book stands out as both an excellent introduction for geophysics undergraduates and a valuable reference text for researchers ...'. Astronomy & Geophysics 'This fine new geophysics textbook will now be added to the top of my list of recommendations, as it promises to be excellent both for teachers and for those seeking a review of these processes from a geophysical point of view.' Nature ' ... a superb, clearly laid out text. It covers a broad range of applied geophysics, from bulk Earth structure to the calculation of thermal histories in sedimentary basins.' New Scientist '... deserves to be acclaimed. It is a carefully balanced introduction to the physics of the Earth, and is likely to become quickly the textbook used in most classrooms. The main asset of this book is the good balance between geological applications and geophysical methods.' Geophysics 'In summary, this book is an excellent text for a general introductory geophysics class focused on applications to the Earth rather than a rigorous presentation of techniques. I have enjoyed using this book in my beginning physics course with graduate and senior undergraduate students. It is also a useful reference book to have on the shelf.' EOS '... a first-rate, comprehensive text for teaching an audience of earth science students about the multidisciplinary approach that plate tectonics now demands.' Episodes ' This is a book to be recommended to anyone, geophysicist, earth scientist, geologist, physicist or mathematician, interested in understanding the workings of the planet we know most about.' Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors 'This is an excellent textbook and it is a must for anyone seriously wanting to study geophysics ... Even for those who just enjoy geophysics it is a great reference and the glossary is invaluable.' Open University Geological Society 'The book provides an exciting review of a decade of advances and improved comprehension of the interior working of the Earth. It is truly a wonderful text and a source of reference fro many facts in the field of geoscience.' Environmental Geology