Earth [first edition]

Discover the secrets of the Earth -- from the far reaches of the atmosphere to deep beneath the surface. Here is a spectacular, thought-provoking and highly informative guide to the fascinating story of the Earth. Superb, full-color photography of geological equipment, rocks, minerals and 3-D models reveals the ideas and discoveries that have changed our understanding of the world in which we live. See how glaciers create fjords, how beaches are shaped, where Africa is splitting apart along the Rift Valley, ocean-floor volcanoes, the atmosphere from space, the elements in the Earth's crust, and an exploded volcano. Learn how earthquakes are recorded, how the Grand Canyon was formed, about plate tectonics, how rock minerals are changed by weathering, how much of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and where icebergs originate. Discover the age of the Earth, how the ocean floor is mapped, how to sieve fossils from sea floor sediments, how garden snails provided a clue to the continental drift theory, what gases make up the atmosphere, and much, much more!