Table of Contents
How to Use This Book vi
Chapter 1 Earth's Structure 1
Earth's Spheres 1
Earth Models 6
Mapping Earth's Surface 9
Field Maps 16
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 28
Chapter 2 The Atmosphere 29
Composition of the Atmosphere 29
Energy in the Atmosphere 38
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere 46
Circulation in the Atmosphere 50
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 60
Chapter 3 Weather and Climate 61
Weather Variable 61
Weather Patterns 73
Weather Forecasting 86
Climate 92
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 101
Chapter 4 The Hydrosphere 103
How the Hydrosphere Formed 104
The Ocean 105
Fresh Water 113
The Water Cycle 122
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 127
Chapter 5 The Lithosphere 129
Minerals 129
Rocks 137
Rock Identification 146
Identifying Sedimentary Rocks 148
Identifying Metamorphic Rocks 150
The Rock Cycle 152
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 155
Chapter 6 Weathering 157
Physical Weathering 157
Chemical Weathering 162
Factors that Affect Weathering 166
Products of Weathering 173
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 177
Chapter 7 Erosion and Deposition 179
Agents of Erosion 179
Deposition 194
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 206
Chapter 8 Earthquakes and Volcanoes 209
Earthquakes 209
Measuring Earthquakes 216
Volcanoes 221
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 233
Chapter 9 Plate Tectonics 235
The Building Blocks of Plate Tectonics 235
Plate Tectonics 245
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 260
Chapter 10 Earth's History 261
Geologic Time 261
Determining Relative Age 264
Determining Absolute Age 270
Fossils: Keys to the Past 275
The Geologic Time Scale 278
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 284
Chapter 11 Earth in Space 285
Models of the Universe 286
Our Current Model of the Universe 289
The Solar System 291
Earth-Moon-Sun System 298
Effects of Earth's Motions 300
Motions of the Moon and Their Effects 311
Brain Ticklers-The Answers 319
Index 321