Earth is home to environments as varied as rain forests and deserts, and is a large, complicated object to study. The interactions of the planet's various components—including the atmosphere, oceans, land, and the rocks and metals of the interior—produce a bewildering array of phenomena. Many of these phenomena strongly impact people's lives, despite the fact that the realm of human society does not generally extend beyond the Earth's surface.

Earth Sciences examines the explorers and scientists who venture into the unknown frontiers of this scientific field—and the unexpected things they often uncover. Describing the evolution of main topics in Earth sciences, this book explains the problems researchers are currently investigating as well as the methods they have developed to solve them.

Chapters include:

• Exploring Earth's Depths
• Origin and Variability of Earth's Magnetic Field
• Volcanoes and Hotspots
• Geothermal Energy—A Furnace Beneath the Soil
• Water Management—Conserving an Essential Resource
• Predicting Earthquakes.