This major new atlas offers the first complete look at the evolution of the Earth, from the beginning of the solar system to the present-day. Its six sections are divided into 18 chapters setting out the geological and biological developments of each major geological period. The volume's final section looks at the ways in which the Earth and its biosphere are still evolving today. The distribution today of types of rock, geological formations, fossils and modern species are explained, and the processes of natural evolution and of landscape formation through plate tectonics are revealed here as never before.
Based on the bestselling Cassell Atlas of World History, this volume takes a closer look at the history of the world between 1783 and the present day. Alongside 54 pages of colour maps and accompanying text are some 32 pages of encylopaedic entries, offering an A-Z guide to the people, places and events that shaped the modern world. Each entry in the encyclopaedic section has been researched by expert historians and is fully cross-referenced to the relevant maps. The maps themselves offer not only snapshot views of the world at particular moments in each era, but also scrutinise closely the evolution of individual nations and societies.
This highly readable study explains how complexity science provides an evolutionary model for the civil system, with a new world view that out-ranges United Nations reference scenarios to beyond 2150.
"Concepts" is a search for theism's roots - coined prototheism - a science of religion. Its notion is: Belief in God is a misconception of the Life Urge emerging from deep in human nature. "Concepts" traces Life's trajectory - from Earth's origin, to consciousness, to today's runaway material culture.
The importance of the oceans to life on Earth cannot be overstated. Liquid water covers more than 70% of our planet's surface and, in past geological time, has spread over 85%. Life on Earth began in the oceans over 3.5 billion years ago and remained there for the great majority of that time. Today the seas still provide 99% of habitable living space, the largest repository of biomass, and holds the greatest number of undiscovered species on the planet. Our oceans are vital for the regulation of climate, and with global warming and decreasing land area, they have become increasingly important as the source of food, energy in the form of oil and gas, and for their mineral wealth. Oceans also form a key part of the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements critical to life. Nutrients in upwelling areas are spread by ocean currents, and the plankton of the seas supports a wealth of wildlife. In this Very Short Introduction Dorrik Stow analyses these most important components of our blue planet and considers their relationship with, and exploitation by, humans. He shows how the oceans are an essential resource to our overpopulated world, and discusses why exploration and greater scientific understanding of the oceans, their chemistry, and their mineral wealth are now a high priority. Stow also explores what we know of how oceans originate, and evolve and change; the shape of the seafloor and nature of its cover; the physical processes that stir the waters and mix such a rich chemical broth; and the inseparable link between oceans and climate. As polar ice melts and sea-levels rise, countless millions who have made their homes on low-lying lands close to the sea are threatened. As scientific exploration of the seas gathers pace, the new knowledge gained of the ocean-Earth systems and their interaction with the human environment is vital to our understanding of how we can preserve these ultimately fragile environments. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Historical atlas covers the history and evolution of life on earth, taking a geographical approach to illuminate the spread of species and the varieties of evolution on different continents.
