Earth and Environmental Science: The Preliminary Course (Paperback)

Introduction; Part I. Planet Earth and its Environment: 1. Observing our universe; 2. The origin of the universe; 3. The Sun and the solar system; 4. The early Earth and its atmosphere; 5. The early Earth and the start of life; Part II. Dynamic Earth: 6. Dating rocks and other materials; 7. Plate movements; 8. Magnetism and the wandering poles; 9. Tectonic forces; Part III. The Local Environment: 10. The local environment as a system; 11. The elements of lithosphere and landscape; 12. Soils - features and formations; 13. Adaptations and survival in disturbed habitats; 14. Human impacts on the environment; 15. Balancing development and conservation; 16. Biodiversity; Part IV. Water Issues: 17. Water movements on the Earth; 18. Water and Australian environments; 19. Water and weathering; 20. Water resources - past and present; Part V. Effective Research: Answering and asking questions; Glossary; Index.