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Overview
Designed to take students from the basic tools used by geologists to reconstruct Earth's history through the pattern of global environmental change which has taken place since the Earth's formation. The first section comprises methods used to establish, date and interpret sequences of rocks as the products of a series of events in our planet's history. The latter half presents the results obtained to demonstrate how the Earth's environment has changed through geological time.Synopsis
The Key to Earth History introduces students to the basic tools used by geologists to reconstruct the Earth's history, and shows how these tools can be used to chart the pattern of global environmental change since the formation of the Earth some 4600 million years ago. It tells a story of mountain building, climate change and of the evolution of life, and uses the North Atlantic region (Europe and North America) as a study area to illustrate this story.
Divided into two parts, the book shows how stratigraphy is the key to understanding the history of the Earth. The first part examines the basic stratigraphical methods used to establish, date and interpret the rock record as the product of a series of events whithin Earth history. The second part presents the results obtained by geologists, who have used these stratigraphical tools to reconstruct the pattern of global environmental change through geological time and focuses on the geological evolution of the North Atlantic region. The Key to Earth History is essential reading for geologists, geographers and environmental scientists, as well as to all those interested in the story of the planet.
'The authors provide no one with an alibi for bad stratigraphic teaching!'
Geoscientist
'The aims of this introductory textbook are to explain the process and pattern of Earth history, to generate interest and enthusiasm, to make stratigraphy fun and exciting! These aims are admirably achieved.'
The Holocene
'This is a great little book! I found that, not only was everything covered, but that it was covered in a refreshing, readable, no-nonsense fashion.'
Earth Science Reviews
'The Key to Earth History really should be compulsory reading for all ... geology students.'
Geologie
Booknews
Six years after the first edition, Doyle and colleagues (U. of Greenwich) incorporate new techniques and the rediscovery of some old ones that have changed the field. Their goal is to introduce the pattern and process of Earth history in ways more interesting than the traditional memorization of dates and rock units that students find boring. Among the topics are establishing the sequence of events, the role of plate tectonics in the evolution and closure of sedimentary basins, the stratigraphical record and global rhythm, and Pangaea and the opening of the Atlantic. The glossary does no indicate pronunciation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)