The Great Quake

The Great Quake

Author: Henry Fountain

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 298

ISBN-13: 1101904062

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On March 27, 1964, at 5-36 p.m., the biggest earthquake ever recorded in North America--and the second biggest ever in the world, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale--struck Alaska, devastating coastal towns and villages and killing more than 130 people in what was then a relatively sparsely populated region. In a riveting tale about the almost unimaginable brute force of nature, New York Times science journalist Henry Fountain, in his first trade book, re-creates the lives of the villagers and townspeople living in Chenega, Anchorage, and Valdez; describes the sheer beauty of the geology of the region, with its towering peaks and 20-mile-long glaciers; and reveals the impact of the quake on the towns, the buildings, and the lives of the inhabitants. George Plafker, a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey with years of experience scouring the Alaskan wilderness, is asked to investigate the Prince William Sound region in the aftermath of the quake, to better understand its origins. His work confirmed the then controversial theory of plate tectonics that explained how and why such deadly quakes occur, and how we can plan for the next one.


Your Inner Fish

Your Inner Fish

Author: Neil Shubin

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2008-01-15

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 0307377164

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The paleontologist and professor of anatomy who co-discovered Tiktaalik, the “fish with hands,” tells a “compelling scientific adventure story that will change forever how you understand what it means to be human” (Oliver Sacks). By examining fossils and DNA, he shows us that our hands actually resemble fish fins, our heads are organized like long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genomes look and function like those of worms and bacteria. Your Inner Fish makes us look at ourselves and our world in an illuminating new light. This is science writing at its finest—enlightening, accessible and told with irresistible enthusiasm.


Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment

Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2014-08-01

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 030929889X

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U.S. Arctic waters north of the Bering Strait and west of the Canadian border encompass a vast area that is usually ice covered for much of the year, but is increasingly experiencing longer periods and larger areas of open water due to climate change. Sparsely inhabited with a wide variety of ecosystems found nowhere else, this region is vulnerable to damage from human activities. As oil and gas, shipping, and tourism activities increase, the possibilities of an oil spill also increase. How can we best prepare to respond to such an event in this challenging environment? Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment reviews the current state of the science regarding oil spill response and environmental assessment in the Arctic region north of the Bering Strait, with emphasis on the potential impacts in U.S. waters. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the Arctic and makes recommendations to provide an effective response effort in these challenging conditions. According to Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, a full range of proven oil spill response technologies is needed in order to minimize the impacts on people and sensitive ecosystems. This report identifies key oil spill research priorities, critical data and monitoring needs, mitigation strategies, and important operational and logistical issues. The Arctic acts as an integrating, regulating, and mediating component of the physical, atmospheric and cryospheric systems that govern life on Earth. Not only does the Arctic serve as regulator of many of the Earth's large-scale systems and processes, but it is also an area where choices made have substantial impact on life and choices everywhere on planet Earth. This report's recommendations will assist environmentalists, industry, state and local policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of this special region to preserve and protect it from damaging oil spills.


Siliceous Deposits of the Tethys and Pacific Regions

Siliceous Deposits of the Tethys and Pacific Regions

Author: James R. Hein

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 1461234948

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Because of the biological origin of many siliceous deposits, their geochemical transformation in the marine environment, and their occurrence in many formations around the world, oceanographers, paleontologists, geologists, geochemists, and sedimentologists are working closely together to trace the evolution of such deposits. In this book, leading experts from all of these disciplines present new data on fine-grained deposits such as chert, primarily of the Tethys region but also of the Pacific. Much of the information presented here was gathered recently in coordinated international research projects and is made available in English for the first time.


Coal Geology

Coal Geology

Author: Larry Thomas

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2020-07-13

Total Pages: 753

ISBN-13: 1119424267

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A global exploration of coal geology, from production and use to chemical properties and coal petrology Coal Geology, 3rd Edition, offers a revised and updated edition of this popular book which provides a comprehensive overview of the field of coal geology including coal geophysics, hydrogeology and mining. Also covered in this volume are fully revised coverage of resource and reserve definitions, equipment and recording techniques together with the use of coal as an alternative energy source as well as environmental implications. This third edition provides a textbook ideally suited to anyone studying, researching or working in the field of coal geology, geotechnical engineering and environmental science. Fills the gap between academic aspects of coal geology and the practical role of geology in the coal industry Examines sedimentological and stratigraphical geology, together with mining, geophysics, hydrogeology, environmental issues and coal marketing Defines global coal resource classifications and methods of calculation Addresses the alternative uses of coal as a source of energy Covers a global approach to coal producers and consumers


Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah

Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah

Author: David D. Gillette

Publisher: Utah Geological Survey

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 568

ISBN-13: 1557916349

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The 52 papers in this vary in content from summaries or state-of-knowledge treatments, to detailed contributions that describe new species. Although the distinction is subtle, the title (Vertebrate Paleontology in Utah) indicates the science of paleontology in the state of Utah, rather than the even more ambitious intent if it were given the title “Vertebrate Paleontology of Utah” which would promise an encyclopedic treatment of the subject. The science of vertebrate paleontology in Utah is robust and intense. It has grown prodigiously in the past decade, and promises to continue to grow indefinitely. This research benefits everyone in the state, through Utah’s muse ums and educational institutions, which are the direct beneficiaries.