Williams - Earth science demystified: a self-teaching guide

Earth Science Demystified

Demystified Series

Advanced Statistics Demystified
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Business Statistics Demystified
Calculus Demystified
Chemistry Demystified
College Algebra Demystified
Earth Science Demystified
Everyday Math Demystified
Geometry Demystified
Physics Demystified
Physiology Demystified
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LINDA WILLIAMS

This book is dedicated to my father, Douglas Williams, who loved nature and was an even bigger rock hound than I am. He spent his life pointing out the beauty and wonders of the natural world and honored God through reverence and care of His work. Thank you, Dad. I love you and will never forget.

Copyright 2004 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-07-147109-1

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Earth Science is made up of many different areas of geological study. Since the Earth contains everything from clouds (meteorology) and oceans (marine biology) to fossils (paleontology) and earthquakes (geology/plate tectonics), there is a lot to choose from!

This book is for anyone with an interest in Earth Science who wants to learn more outside of a formal classroom setting. It can also be used by home-schooled students, tutored students, and those people wanting to change careers. The material is presented in an easy-to-follow way and can be best understood when read from beginning to end. However, if you just want to brush up on specific topics like minerals and gems or volcanoes, then those chapters can be reviewed individually as well.

You will notice through the course of this book that I have mentioned many milestone theories and accomplishments of geophysicists, oceanographers, seismologists, and ecologists to name a few. I have highlighted these knowledge leaps to give you an idea of how the questions and bright ideas of curious people have advanced humankind.

Science is all about curiosity and the desire to find out how something happens. Nobel Prize winners were once students who daydreamed about new ways of doing things. They knew answers had to be there and they were stubborn enough to dig for them. The Nobel Prize for Science (actors have Oscar and scientists have Nobel) has been awarded over 470 times since 1901.

In 1863, Alfred Nobel experienced a tragic loss in an experiment with nitroglycerine that destroyed two wings of the family mansion and killed his younger brother and four others. Nobel had discovered the most powerful weapon of that time, dynamite.

By the end of his life, Nobel had 355 patents for various inventions. After his death in 1896, Nobels will described the establishment of a foundation to create five prizes of equal value for those who, in the previous year, have contributed best toward the benefits for humankind, in the areas of Earth Science, Physics, Physiology/Medicine, Literature and Peace. Nobel wanted to recognize the heroes of science and encourage others in their quest for knowledge.

Earth Science also has individual prizes and awards specific to geology. The Penrose Medal (pure geology), Crawford Prize (nonlinear science, e.g., dynamics and computations/simulations), and the Day Medal (geophysics and geochemistry) are all awarded in recognition of outstanding Earth Science research and advancements.

My hope is that in learning of the many simple ideas and observations that changed our understanding of the way the Earth functions, you too will be encouraged to let your own creative thoughts tackle ongoing Earth Science challenges.