The Earth System

The first book that addresses the issues of global change from a true Earth systems perspective, this new book offers a solid emphasis on lessons from Earth history that may guide decision-making in the future. Offers an innovative systems theory approach that allows for a new way of organizing information from a variety of disciplines as well as of predicting responses of systems to disturbance. Utilizes an Earth history perspective that links the Earth sciences closely with modern global change problems. Includes two boxed features throughout the book that address topical issues related to the material in the text, of high appeal and that discuss advanced, especially quantitative, treatments. Features several computer modules available on the World Wide Web and free when packaged with the book. For Earth scientists who would like a formal introduction to Earth Systems Science.

Booknews

A non-traditional introductory text for non-science majors, using a top-down approach to unifying principles in the natural sciences. Components of the Earth system are treated with consideration of the interplay among them and interactions with living organisms, and environmental problems such as global warming are understood through past events in Earth's history that illuminate how the Earth system responds under stress. Pedagogical features include chapter overviews and summaries, key terms, review questions, and critical thinking problems, plus boxed readings on recent advances. Includes a glossary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

Lee R. Kump is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences, and an associate of the Earth System Science Center and Astrobiology Research Center at the Pennsylvania State University. A native of Minnesota, he received his bachelor's degree in geophysical sciences from the University of Chicago in 1981, and his Ph.D. in marine sciences from the University of South Florida in 1986. While in Florida he spent two summers as a geologist with the United States Geological Survey's Fisher Island Station. In August of 1986 he joined the faculty at Penn State.

Dr. Kump is a Fellow of the Geological Societies of America and London, and a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Geochemical Society, and the Geochemistry Division of the American Chemical Society. His research has been funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Gas Research Institute, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society, and Texaco. Dr. Kump became Associate Director of the CIAR Earth System Evolution Program in 2004. Dr. Kump's primary research effort is in the development of numerical models of global biogeochemical cycles. His early work focussed on the carbon and sulfur cycles, and on the feedbacks that regulate atmospheric oxygen levels. More recently his emphasis has shifted to the study of the dynamic coupling between global climate and biogeochemical cycles. He studies the long-term evolution of the oceans and atmosphere, using a combination of field work, laboratory analysis, and numerical modeling.

James Kasting is a Distinguished Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Chemistry and Physics and did his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Atmospheric Sciences. Prior to coming to Penn State in 1988, he spent 7 years in the Space Science Division at NASA Ames Research Center. His research focuses on the evolution of planetary atmospheres, particularly the question of why the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are so different from that of Earth. He is also interested in the question of whether habitable planets exist around other stars and is involved with NASA’s proposed Terrestrial Planet Finder Mission(s), which will try to answer that question over the next 15-20 years.
ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS Summa Cum Laude - Harvard (1975)
Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Department (University of Michigan) Distinguished Alumni Award (1992)
American Geophysical Union (Fellow, 2004)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (Fellow, 1995)
International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life (Fellow, 2002)
Geochemical Society (Fellow, 2008)
Faculty Scholar Award, Penn State University (2005)

Dr. Robert Crane received his bachelor's degree in physical geography from the University of Reading, England, in 1976. He did graduate work in polar climatology, microwave remote sensing, and sea ice-atmosphere interactions at the University of Colorado's Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, receiving a Master's degree in 1978 and a Ph.D. in 1981. As a Research Associate in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), he continued his work on the microwave remote sensing of sea ice. Subsequently, Dr. Crane spent a year as a visiting professor at the University of Saskatchewan.

He joined the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University in 1985. Dr. Crane held a joint appointment in the Department of Geography and in the Earth System Science Center from 1985 to 1993, serving as Associate Director of the Center from 1990 to 1993. He was appointed Associate Dean for Education in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in 1993, and currently holds the position of Associate Dean and Professor of Geography. His areas of specialization include sea ice-atmosphere interactions, synoptic climatology, and regional-scale climate change.