Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences

This book provides a sound introduction to the basic physical processes that dominate the workings of the Earth, its atmosphere and hydrosphere. It systematically introduces the physical processes involved in the Earth’s systems without assuming an advanced physics or mathematical background. Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences provides an integrated approach to the study of earth, marine and atmospheric environmental sciences, reflecting current trends in undergraduate courses. The text considers the various Earth systems through a basic account of general physical properties, kinematics, forces and dynamics that cause flow transport and deformation. Natural examples of physical processes, rather than abstract physics and maths, are used throughout to illustrate the scientific principles involved. This important book will be an essential reference for undergraduate students in a range of earth and environmental sciences. Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1.1 Comparative planetology......Page 16 1.2 Unique Earth......Page 18 1.3 Earth systems snapshots......Page 20 1.4 Measuring Earth......Page 22 1.5 Whole Earth......Page 25 1.6 Subtle, interactive Earth......Page 29 Further reading......Page 31 2.1 Matters of state......Page 33 2.2 Thermal matters......Page 35 2.3 Quantity of matter......Page 39 2.4 Motion matters: kinematics......Page 41 2.5 Continuity: mass conservation of fluids......Page 48 Further reading......Page 50 3.1 Quantity of motion: momentum......Page 51 3.2 Acceleration......Page 53 3.3 Force, work, energy, and power......Page 55 3.4 Thermal energy and mechanical work......Page 60 3.5 Hydrostatic pressure......Page 64 3.6 Buoyancy force......Page 67 3.7 Inward acceleration......Page 70 3.8 Rotation, vorticity, and Coriolis force......Page 72 3.9 Viscosity......Page 76 3.10 Viscous force......Page 78 3.11 Turbulent force......Page 80 3.12 Overall forces of fluid motion......Page 82 3.13 Solid stress......Page 86 3.14 Solid strain......Page 98 3.15 Rheology......Page 107 Further reading......Page 116 4.1 The origin of large-scale fluid flow......Page 117 4.2 Fluid flow types......Page 120 4.3 Fluid boundary layers......Page 124 4.4 Laminar flow......Page 126 4.5 Turbulent flow......Page 128 4.6 Stratified flow......Page 132 4.7 Particle settling......Page 134 4.8 Particle transport by flows......Page 136 4.9 Waves and liquids......Page 140 4.10 Transport by waves......Page 146 4.11 Granular gravity flow......Page 148 4.12 Turbidity flows......Page 153 4.13 Flow through porous and granular solids......Page 157 4.14 Fractures......Page 159 4.15 Faults......Page 171 4.16 Solid bending, buckling, and folds......Page 187 4.17 Seismic waves......Page 194 4.18 Molecules in motion: kinetic theory, heat conduction, and diffusion......Page 206 4.19 Heat transport by radiation......Page 210 4.20 Heat transport by convection......Page 212 Further reading......Page 217 5.1 Melting, magmas, and volcanoes......Page 218 5.2 Plate tectonics......Page 238 Further reading......Page 251 6.1 Atmosphere......Page 252 6.2 Atmosphere–ocean interface......Page 263 6.3 Atmosphere–land interface......Page 269 6.4 Deep ocean......Page 271 6.5 Shallow ocean......Page 278 6.6 Ocean–land interface: coasts......Page 285 6.7 Land surface......Page 293 Further reading......Page 307 Appendix Brief mathematical refresher or study guide......Page 308 Cookies......Page 313 Index......Page 334 Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 12 Chapter 1 Planet Earth and Earth systems 16 1.1 Comparative planetology 16 1.2 Unique Earth 18 1.3 Earth systems snapshots 20 1.4 Measuring Earth 22 1.5 Whole Earth 25 1.6 Subtle, interactive Earth 29 Further reading 31 Chapter 2 Matters of state and motion 33 2.1 Matters of state 33 2.2 Thermal matters 35 2.3 Quantity of matter 39 2.4 Motion matters: kinematics 41 2.5 Continuity: mass conservation of fluids 48 Further reading 50 Chapter 3 Forces and dynamics 51 3.1 Quantity of motion: momentum 51 3.2 Acceleration 53 3.3 Force, work, energy, and power 55 3.4 Thermal energy and mechanical work 60 3.5 Hydrostatic pressure 64 3.6 Buoyancy force 67 3.7 Inward acceleration 70 3.8 Rotation, vorticity, and Coriolis force 72 3.9 Viscosity 76 3.10 Viscous force 78 3.11 Turbulent force 80 3.12 Overall forces of fluid motion 82 3.13 Solid stress 86 3.14 Solid strain 98 3.15 Rheology 107 Further reading 116 Chapter 4 Flow, deformation, and transport 117 4.1 The origin of large-scale fluid flow 117 4.2 Fluid flow types 120 4.3 Fluid boundary layers 124 4.4 Laminar flow 126 4.5 Turbulent flow 128 4.6 Stratified flow 132 4.7 Particle settling 134 4.8 Particle transport by flows 136 4.9 Waves and liquids 140 4.10 Transport by waves 146 4.11 Granular gravity flow 148 4.12 Turbidity flows 153 4.13 Flow through porous and granular solids 157 4.14 Fractures 159 4.15 Faults 171 4.16 Solid bending, buckling, and folds 187 4.17 Seismic waves 194 4.18 Molecules in motion: kinetic theory, heat conduction, and diffusion 206 4.19 Heat transport by radiation 210 4.20 Heat transport by convection 212 Further reading 217 Chapter 5 Inner Earth processes and systems 218 5.1 Melting, magmas, and volcanoes 218 5.2 Plate tectonics 238 Further reading 251 Chapter 6 Outer Earth processes and systems 252 6.1 Atmosphere 252 6.2 Atmosphere–ocean interface 263 6.3 Atmosphere–land interface 269 6.4 Deep ocean 271 6.5 Shallow ocean 278 6.6 Ocean–land interface: coasts 285 6.7 Land surface 293 Further reading 307 Appendix Brief mathematical refresher or study guide 308 Cookies 313 Index 334

This book provides a sound introduction to the basic physical processes that dominate the workings of the Earth, its atmosphere and hydrosphere. It systematically introduces the physical processes involved in the Earth’s systems without assuming an advanced physics or mathematical background.

• Offers an integrated approach to the study of earth, marine and atmospheric environmental sciences, reflecting current trends in undergraduate courses.
• Natural examples of physical processes, rather than abstract physics and maths, are used throughout to illustrate the scientific principles involved.

Artwork from the book is available to instructors online at www.blackwellpublishing.com/leeder.

This book provides a sound introduction to the basic physical processes that dominate the workings of the Earth, its atmosphere and hydrosphere. It systematically introduces the physical processes involved in the Earths systems without assuming an advanced physics or mathematical background. Artwork from the book is available to instructors online at (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/leeder) www.blackwellpublishing.com/leeder . "This book provides a sound introduction to the basic physical processes that dominate the workings of the Earth, its atmosphere and hydrosphere. It systematically introduces the physical processes involved in the Earth's systems without assuming an advanced physics or mathematical background."--Jacket