Obdobje 20 milijonov let, ki je sledilo opustošenju po kredno-terciarni meji in izumrtju dinozavrov, ima posebno mesto v zgodovini Zemlje. V tem času se je postopoma obnavljalo življenje z vso pestrostjo svojih oblik. Podrobno proučevanje tega obnavljanja nam daje ključ za razumevanje vzrokov, zakaj in kako je vzniknila in napredovala raznovrstnost življenja. Pričujoči zvezek je zbir zgodovinskih dokumentov, ki ilustrirajo nekatere od mnogih podob obnove.
''A voluminous encyclopedia of Tethyan geology and, as such, it provides an invaluable source of information for those interested in this region, and Earth history in general...The book is a must for the libraries of universities and geologic institutions.'' --- Palaios, October 1997 Volume 8 focuses on the Tethys oceanic realm and introduces new concepts such as 'transit plates' and 'seuils lithospheriques.' Contributors include new guides to understanding the distribution of Tethyan mineral and organic resources, and present insights into the role of carbonate platforms. Chapters are abundant with maps and illustrations.
Coral reefs are the largest landforms built by plants and animals. Their study therefore incorporates a wide range of disciplines. This encyclopedia approaches coral reefs from an earth science perspective, concentrating especially on modern reefs. Currently coral reefs are under high stress, most prominently from climate change with changes to water temperature, sea level and ocean acidification particularly damaging. Modern reefs have evolved through the massive environmental changes of the Quaternary with long periods of exposure during glacially lowered sea level periods and short periods of interglacial growth. The entries in this encyclopedia condense the large amount of work carried out since Charles Darwin first attempted to understand reef evolution. Leading authorities from many countries have contributed to the entries covering areas of geology, geography and ecology, providing comprehensive access to the most up-to-date research on the structure, form and processes operating on Quaternary coral reefs.
Islands—as well as entire continents—are reputed to have disappeared in many parts of the world. Yet there is little information on this subject concerning its largest ocean, the Pacific. Over the years, geologists have amassed data that point to the undeniable fact of islands having disappeared in the Pacific, a phenomenon that the oral traditions of many groups of Pacific Islanders also highlight. There are even a few instances where fragments of Pacific continents have disappeared, becoming hidden from view rather than being submerged. In this scientifically rigorous yet readily comprehensible account of the fascinating subject of vanished islands and hidden continents in the Pacific, the author ranges far and wide, from explanations of the region’s ancient history to the meanings of island myths. Using both original and up-to-date information, he shows that there is real value in bringing together myths and the geological understanding of land movements. A description of the Pacific Basin and the "ups and downs" of the land within its vast ocean is followed by chapters explaining how—long before humans arrived in this part of the world—islands and continents that no longer exist were once present. A succinct account is given of human settlement of the region and the establishment of cultural contexts for the observation of occasional catastrophic earth-surface changes and their encryption in folklore. The author also addresses the persistent myths of a "sunken continent" in the Pacific, which became widespread after European arrival and were subsequently incorporated into new age and pseudoscience explanations of our planet and its inhabitants. Finally, he presents original data and research on island disappearances witnessed by humans, recorded in oral and written traditions, and judged by geoscience to be authentic. Examples are drawn from throughout the Pacific, showing that not only have islands collapsed, and even vanished, within the past few hundred years, but that they are also liable to do so in the future.
For more than half a century the theory of continental drift was widely derided. Innovators developing the radical theory were labelled as unscientific by well-known science authorities. But then, in the space of a few years, virtually all opposition dramatically collapsed. Continental drift transformed into plate tectonics and became widely acknowledged as one of the most profound scientific revolutions of the twentieth century. Yet a number of science innovators who had been closely involved with creating this new theory of the Earth continued to research an even more radical theory. They saw evidence that the new geological theory was incomplete, arguing that continental drift was caused by the Earth expanding in size. These science innovators give us a unique insight into their experiences. They relate their personal histories of Earth expansion in 14 original essays. The Hidden History of Earth Expansion presents the unique personal histories of British, American, Australian, German, Polish, Romanian, Indian, Albanian and Jamaican science innovators as they strived to produce a modern theory of the Earth. It includes chapters expressly written for the book by some of the most well-known researchers into Earth expansion: Hugh G. Owen, Cliff Ollier, Karl-Heinz Jacob, James Maxlow, Jan Koziar, Stefan Cwojdziñski, Carl Strutinski, Stephen W. Hurrell, John B. Eichler, William C. Erickson, David Noel, Zahid A. Khan, Ram Chandra Tewari, Vedat Shehu and Richard Guy. In addition to furnishing us with their personal histories of Earth expansion and the seemingly overwhelming evidence for its confirmation, the authors’ highlight areas where further research is required.
Palaeobiogeography is a complex subject which processes information provided by both Biology and Earth Sciences. It is conceptually and philosophically equivalent to neobiogeography. Nevertheless, its methods are somewhat different, since it is limited by the incompleteness of the fossil record. On the other hand, it has direct access to the time dimension, a key ingredient of organic evolution. Mesozoic benthonic mollusks, and especially bivalves, have a great potential for palaeobiogeographical analysis due to their commonly good preservation, abundance, diversity and high dispersion potential at the larval stage. From a merely descriptive point of view, the analysis of their distribution shows latitudinal gradients and distributional patterns, both at regional and global scales, which are the basis for the recognition of biochoremas or palaeobiogeographical units of different ranks. Moving forward towards a causal palaeobiogeography, these organisms also provide interesting insight into particular biogeographical questions, such as bipolarity and its origin. The evolution in time of the recognized biochoremas can be discussed in relation to palaeoclimas and extinction events. Finally, some of the results obtained from the analysis of the distribution of past bivalve biotas were even used to propose and discuss the development of marine corridors and argue about the distribution of continents in the past.
Echinoderms are now considered as a biological and geological model that underlies researches of primary importance. The extent of the contributions made by the International Echinoderm Conferences to various fields of research is attested by the scope covered by presentation at the international conferences. These proceedings contain the complete papers or abstracts of all the presentations and posters presented at the eighth International Echinoderm Conference, held in Dijon, France in September, 1994. Coverage includes: general; extinct classes; crinoids; asteroids; ophiuroids; holothuroids; and echinoids.
One of four volumes which provides a good understanding of the mode of occurrence, geological setting and phosphogenesis of the world's phosphate resources.
An authoritative and wide-ranging book uncovering the rich heritage of the United Arab Emirates, its political renaissance and its modern transformation into one of the most developed nations in the world.
