An Introduction to the Earth-Life System

by Charles S. Cockell, Richard Corfield

This concise undergraduate textbook brings together Earth and biological sciences to explore the co-evolution of the Earth and life over geological time. Written for a one-semester course, it explores the Earth system at and above the surface of the Earth by examining the interactions and feedback processes between the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. It also explains how the Earth's surface environment involves a complex interplay between these systems. Through a wealth of features and student questioning, the book allows students to understand how physical controls make our planet hospitable for life, investigate the processes of global change that operate on a range of timescales, understand important cross-disciplinary connections and explore how the whole Earth system has evolved. Finally, it assesses how and why the climate of the Earth has varied over geological time, and considers whether life itself is passive or an active agent for change.

Genres: Biology, Science

326 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Charles Cockell is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh. His academic interests encompass life in extreme environments, the habitability of extraterrestrial environments and the human exploration and settlement of space. He has also written on the subject of extraterrestrial liberty.

He is author of scientific papers and books, including the undergraduate-level textbook 'Astrobiology' (Wiley) and numerous popular science books.

Reviews

[Abhishek Kaushik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is best explaining book.

[CHAN TAI]

Nice book for earth science student