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Earth: The Biography
After four and a half billion years, our planet is approaching old agethe perfect time to look back on an extraordinary life. In Earth: The Biography, renowned science writers Iain Steward and John Lynch use groundbreaking imagery and the latest scientific discoveries to tell the epic story of Earth’s birth, life stages, and distant future demise.
Each chapter examines one of the five essential forcesmeteor impacts, plate tectonics, the ocean, the atmosphere, and icethat drive and shape our planet and determine its destiny. New imaging techniques and spectacular graphics combine to reveal hitherto hidden information about these forces, depicting them in action today as they keep the Earth alive and going back in time to show how cataclysmic events played roles in the planet’s development. More than 200 full-color photographs and illustrations present the familiar in a striking new light, while the authors’ straightforward style brings an engaging clarity to advanced scientific concepts.
The National Geographic Channel television series to which Earth: The Biography is the companion volume is expected to reach a viewership of 100 million people. A timely publication as our planet adapts to a warming climate, this accessible, authoritative, and richly visual exploration is a valuable home reference for every family.
Each chapter examines one of the five essential forcesmeteor impacts, plate tectonics, the ocean, the atmosphere, and icethat drive and shape our planet and determine its destiny. New imaging techniques and spectacular graphics combine to reveal hitherto hidden information about these forces, depicting them in action today as they keep the Earth alive and going back in time to show how cataclysmic events played roles in the planet’s development. More than 200 full-color photographs and illustrations present the familiar in a striking new light, while the authors’ straightforward style brings an engaging clarity to advanced scientific concepts.
The National Geographic Channel television series to which Earth: The Biography is the companion volume is expected to reach a viewership of 100 million people. A timely publication as our planet adapts to a warming climate, this accessible, authoritative, and richly visual exploration is a valuable home reference for every family.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2007
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Iain S. Stewart
6 books10 followersAlternate Names:
Iain Simpson Stewart
Iain Stewart
Dr. Iain Simpson Stewart (born in 1964) is a Scottish geologist. As well as being professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, he has presented a number of television and radio series, such as Journeys From the Centre of the Earth, Earth: The Power of the Planet, Hot Rocks, 10 Things You Didn't Know About... and many others.
He combines media appearances with work as a Professor of Geoscience Communication in the Department of Geology at the University of Plymouth.
His main research interests are in the broad area of Earth hazards and natural disasters, particularly in terms of identifying past major earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in the Mediterranean region. Stewart also specializes in geology's effect on culture and religion throughout the history of the world. He appears in other roles, including as a scientific commentator.
As well as teaching at Plymouth University, he is a patron of the English Riviera Geopark, a member of the Scientific Board of UNESCO’s International Geological Programme and chair of its ‘Hazards’ theme, a vice-president of The Geographical Association and its primary Geography ‘Champion’, a member of the Steering Committee of the IUGS-Commission on Geoscience for Environmental Management Working Group on 'Communicating Environmental Geoscience', a member of the UK National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement's Academic Action Research group, and a member of The Geological Society of London's external relations committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors at the Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems, University of Durham.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Ste...
Iain Simpson Stewart
Iain Stewart
Dr. Iain Simpson Stewart (born in 1964) is a Scottish geologist. As well as being professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, he has presented a number of television and radio series, such as Journeys From the Centre of the Earth, Earth: The Power of the Planet, Hot Rocks, 10 Things You Didn't Know About... and many others.
He combines media appearances with work as a Professor of Geoscience Communication in the Department of Geology at the University of Plymouth.
His main research interests are in the broad area of Earth hazards and natural disasters, particularly in terms of identifying past major earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions in the Mediterranean region. Stewart also specializes in geology's effect on culture and religion throughout the history of the world. He appears in other roles, including as a scientific commentator.
As well as teaching at Plymouth University, he is a patron of the English Riviera Geopark, a member of the Scientific Board of UNESCO’s International Geological Programme and chair of its ‘Hazards’ theme, a vice-president of The Geographical Association and its primary Geography ‘Champion’, a member of the Steering Committee of the IUGS-Commission on Geoscience for Environmental Management Working Group on 'Communicating Environmental Geoscience', a member of the UK National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement's Academic Action Research group, and a member of The Geological Society of London's external relations committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors at the Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems, University of Durham.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Ste...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 28, 2012
I loved this book just as much if not more than the TV series it accompanies (although I'll admit I did miss Stewart dulcet tones). The book is written as to be accessible by any and all levels of knowledge with a simplicity that allows even the newest-comer to the world of Earth Science to understand everything that is mentioned without being patronising or over-simplified. The additional information sections support the text superbly and are placed to allow the reader to skip or read however they please. Yes the issue of global warming is raised but from a scientific point of view of what is happening, the evidence for it and the results of it. It avoids the trap of preaching that it is all our fault and we must stop it and save the planet, in fact the only real mention of taking action points out that its not to save the planet but ourselves (this made me chuckle I must say...and it is a very valid point). The illustrations, photographs and aerial imagery are superb and support the text and help clarify its points brilliantly and some simply take your breath away.
November 27, 2017
I was amazed by learning:
55 M.Y.A a huge amount of Methane escaped from the seafloor bed. Which cause a dramatic change in climate and led to rise of tempreture from 18 C to 24 C. Which caused lakes to evaporat, seas vanished, forests turned to scrub land, and scrub land turned to desert. The poles melted and the Arctic ocean became as warm as today's tropical seas.
There is a reason to believe that the African dust clouds might have a dampening effect on hurricane system. Some of the worst hurricanes have happened when the air was relatively dust free, so the dust could be a factor
Comets travel at up to 43 miles per second. Three times faster than a typical asteroids .so they have the potential to strike a planet with enormous energy
If planet earth were any closer to the sun we would bake like Venus. And if we were any farther to the sun we will freeze like Mars.
One upon a time we had a twin planet "Theia" it was half as wide as Earth. Size of Mars. Both plants shared a similar orbit around the sun. But the fact of having two huge planets orbiting close to each other meant a clash are about to happen. And it happened. Most of the mass and debris was absorbed by earth. The rest of the debris mixed with the earth's shuttered outer layers forming cloud of rubble that eventually formed the moon. The extra mass delivered by Theia gave Earth an enough gravity to form the atmosphere. Non of the other planets managed to have an atmosphere to trap the water and gases on the surface of Earth. In the biginning the moon was super close to Earth. Appear as five times its size now on Earth's sky. A huge massive silver ball. The earth used to rotate faster back then. A day lasted only five hours. The tide was huge. The moon became our planet climate regulator. By the stablizing of the moon it gave Earth a life and changing season. 4 bilion year ago the close and rapidly orbiting moon had a tidal pull. Four hours of tides raised the sea level by 100 meters. These forces ripped cracks in the new formed ocean floor creating new paths for heat to escape the deepest below and creating what it is known now as hot spring. Here where we believe life began
Barringer crater:50.000 Y.A a metro hit planet earth in Arizona Desert. What is known as meteor crater
Meteor Craters are harder to discover in sea bed because ocean floor is very young. 200 million years. And because they look different on ocean land and get buried by sediments quickly
The atmosphere thin is only 10 kilometers thick. This is the place where the weather happen
When life started the sky color used to be orange. The atmosphere used to be full of dust and dioxide carbon
4.5 billion years ago, the earth managed to become the planet we are living on today. When it started to cool somewhere 10-100 M.Y.A for the steam and convert into rain. The heaven opened its door for millions of years from raining. It filled the oceans. But it wasn't the only resources of water. Comets when they hit the earth, they bring with them water. The chemical formula for the earth water is different for the comet water. But both of them helped supplying planet earth with its water.
Phytoplankton: very tiny creatures which we can not see using our naked eyes. But we can see them from the space lighting because they do have chlorophyll which makes plants green. They produce oxygen and through it in the ocean and they absorb carbon dioxide. They are important element of absorbing the carbon dioxide from the industrial cities since the industrial revolution. So they reduce the greenhouse effects and they trap it and when they die they dink with them to the bottom. Eventually they turned to be limestone and find a way to escape from Volcans once again to spread into the air in an operation to warm the planet once again
If ice covered the panettone or water . There will be no exchange in gases between water and air. That will lead to poison the water deep inside. And that will me as as well to pause the evaporation.
55 M.Y.A a huge amount of Methane escaped from the seafloor bed. Which cause a dramatic change in climate and led to rise of tempreture from 18 C to 24 C. Which caused lakes to evaporat, seas vanished, forests turned to scrub land, and scrub land turned to desert. The poles melted and the Arctic ocean became as warm as today's tropical seas.
There is a reason to believe that the African dust clouds might have a dampening effect on hurricane system. Some of the worst hurricanes have happened when the air was relatively dust free, so the dust could be a factor
Comets travel at up to 43 miles per second. Three times faster than a typical asteroids .so they have the potential to strike a planet with enormous energy
If planet earth were any closer to the sun we would bake like Venus. And if we were any farther to the sun we will freeze like Mars.
One upon a time we had a twin planet "Theia" it was half as wide as Earth. Size of Mars. Both plants shared a similar orbit around the sun. But the fact of having two huge planets orbiting close to each other meant a clash are about to happen. And it happened. Most of the mass and debris was absorbed by earth. The rest of the debris mixed with the earth's shuttered outer layers forming cloud of rubble that eventually formed the moon. The extra mass delivered by Theia gave Earth an enough gravity to form the atmosphere. Non of the other planets managed to have an atmosphere to trap the water and gases on the surface of Earth. In the biginning the moon was super close to Earth. Appear as five times its size now on Earth's sky. A huge massive silver ball. The earth used to rotate faster back then. A day lasted only five hours. The tide was huge. The moon became our planet climate regulator. By the stablizing of the moon it gave Earth a life and changing season. 4 bilion year ago the close and rapidly orbiting moon had a tidal pull. Four hours of tides raised the sea level by 100 meters. These forces ripped cracks in the new formed ocean floor creating new paths for heat to escape the deepest below and creating what it is known now as hot spring. Here where we believe life began
Barringer crater:50.000 Y.A a metro hit planet earth in Arizona Desert. What is known as meteor crater
Meteor Craters are harder to discover in sea bed because ocean floor is very young. 200 million years. And because they look different on ocean land and get buried by sediments quickly
The atmosphere thin is only 10 kilometers thick. This is the place where the weather happen
When life started the sky color used to be orange. The atmosphere used to be full of dust and dioxide carbon
4.5 billion years ago, the earth managed to become the planet we are living on today. When it started to cool somewhere 10-100 M.Y.A for the steam and convert into rain. The heaven opened its door for millions of years from raining. It filled the oceans. But it wasn't the only resources of water. Comets when they hit the earth, they bring with them water. The chemical formula for the earth water is different for the comet water. But both of them helped supplying planet earth with its water.
Phytoplankton: very tiny creatures which we can not see using our naked eyes. But we can see them from the space lighting because they do have chlorophyll which makes plants green. They produce oxygen and through it in the ocean and they absorb carbon dioxide. They are important element of absorbing the carbon dioxide from the industrial cities since the industrial revolution. So they reduce the greenhouse effects and they trap it and when they die they dink with them to the bottom. Eventually they turned to be limestone and find a way to escape from Volcans once again to spread into the air in an operation to warm the planet once again
If ice covered the panettone or water . There will be no exchange in gases between water and air. That will lead to poison the water deep inside. And that will me as as well to pause the evaporation.
July 27, 2018
A good overview of the various processes that shape our planet, however, it lacks detail and reads far too much like a TV series script. Plus some of the theories (e.g. Snowball Earth) have considerably less supporting evidence than suggested herein.
November 5, 2017
One should never judge a book by its cover, right? Well, no, not necessarily. This is a gorgeous cover and if you made the assumption, based on this cover, that the book would be filled with beautiful photography and other pretty graphics then you would be quite right. It is. The text that accompanies the pictures can be a bit hit and miss, but the pictures themselves are a solid 10.
The book (and I assume the TV series) is about Planet Earth. The focus is the geology and geophysics and there are chapters about Impact (Earth’s early formation and asteroid strikes), Heat (volcanic activity), Atmosphere (including weather and climate), Ocean (what it says on the tin), Ice (as in, the ice caps) and Rare Earth (a summing up reflection about how the conditions had to be just right for Earth to exist at all).
So a good, comprehensive selection of topics, right? There’s a lot in here that’s absolutely fascinating and some things I had never even heard of. For example, had you heard of Erta Ale in Ethiopia? It’s this enormous volcano in the centre of the Afar Depression. To get to it you need a military escort by helicopter and it basically only exists because plate tectonics are slowly splitting Africa into pieces, pulling Ethiopia in two. How cool is that? I mean, terrifying, obviously, but also amazing. Go google for photographs, I’ll wait.
Certainly, there’s lots of great stuff here. There are also some topics that are handled less well. Like, in the introduction there’s a profile on Svante Arrhenius, the scientist who in 1986 started off our understanding of carbon dioxide as a “greenhouse gas.” The fourth word in the profile describes him as “portly,” the second sentence starts with “Weighing almost 100 kg (200 pounds) Arrhenius was a huge man with a huge idea.” So we’ve called the dude fat three times but I’ve still learned nothing about the Arrhenius equation or how he figured out the link between CO2 and climate change? Why? This is nonsense.
Then there’s the slightly wishy-washy assessment of global warming in the later chapters. The authors don’t go so far as to say it’s not real, or that humans haven’t caused it, they present the evidence well enough, but they leave room for doubt with acknowledgements that not everyone believes the evidence. As if that’s remotely relevant. There are people who believe all kinds of bogus things but that doesn’t mean we need their views in a scientific text.
On the whole, it’s not awful, and there’s plenty here worth reading, but there are enough disappointments that stuck with me that I don’t think I could actively recommend the book. Except, perhaps, for those wonderful pictures.
The book (and I assume the TV series) is about Planet Earth. The focus is the geology and geophysics and there are chapters about Impact (Earth’s early formation and asteroid strikes), Heat (volcanic activity), Atmosphere (including weather and climate), Ocean (what it says on the tin), Ice (as in, the ice caps) and Rare Earth (a summing up reflection about how the conditions had to be just right for Earth to exist at all).
So a good, comprehensive selection of topics, right? There’s a lot in here that’s absolutely fascinating and some things I had never even heard of. For example, had you heard of Erta Ale in Ethiopia? It’s this enormous volcano in the centre of the Afar Depression. To get to it you need a military escort by helicopter and it basically only exists because plate tectonics are slowly splitting Africa into pieces, pulling Ethiopia in two. How cool is that? I mean, terrifying, obviously, but also amazing. Go google for photographs, I’ll wait.
Certainly, there’s lots of great stuff here. There are also some topics that are handled less well. Like, in the introduction there’s a profile on Svante Arrhenius, the scientist who in 1986 started off our understanding of carbon dioxide as a “greenhouse gas.” The fourth word in the profile describes him as “portly,” the second sentence starts with “Weighing almost 100 kg (200 pounds) Arrhenius was a huge man with a huge idea.” So we’ve called the dude fat three times but I’ve still learned nothing about the Arrhenius equation or how he figured out the link between CO2 and climate change? Why? This is nonsense.
Then there’s the slightly wishy-washy assessment of global warming in the later chapters. The authors don’t go so far as to say it’s not real, or that humans haven’t caused it, they present the evidence well enough, but they leave room for doubt with acknowledgements that not everyone believes the evidence. As if that’s remotely relevant. There are people who believe all kinds of bogus things but that doesn’t mean we need their views in a scientific text.
On the whole, it’s not awful, and there’s plenty here worth reading, but there are enough disappointments that stuck with me that I don’t think I could actively recommend the book. Except, perhaps, for those wonderful pictures.
May 3, 2009
I highly recommend this book for amateurish geology/earth science fans like me...it can be tough to find good popular science books in this area. The authors do a fantastic job of weaving together the stories of earth's geologic, atmospheric and biological history into the integrated whole they really are. The quality of writing is very, very high, making this book something of a page-turner. I also highly recommend the companion documentary.
August 25, 2009
There is probably some great information in this book, and there are some wonderful pictures, but I am so weary of the 'global warming' label that as soon as I see it in any purported science book that I won't read on. The concept of the book is wonderful, but I couldn't get past the possibility of a hidden agenda. Maybe someday I will go back and start reading from the back of the book.....
January 9, 2009
Has the most fabulous pictures. Very informative.
Read
February 5, 2010Put out by National Geographic, how the earth was formed and shaped, what is happening now and the cycles of death and rebirth of earth. Great photos.
July 27, 2013
I was given this book as an award in a full school assembly this year, I found it really interesting and have actually learnt many things I didn't know before! A fantastic read.
August 8, 2013
Finally a book that gets climate change right. Read to the end to understand what the Earth is really facing. It's an interesting read on the forces that have made our planet what it is.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews