Physics and Chemistry of the Earth

Intended for high school and undergraduate students, this two-volume set is one of four related sets (the others: Earth's Surface and History, Earth Materials and Resources, and Earth's Weather, Water, and Atmosphere). Together, the eight volumes update a five-volume reference titled Earth Science, which was published in 2001. Editor Spradley (Wheaton College) oversaw the updated presentation of 125 signed essays. Arrangement is alphabetical, but the category listing in the front matter helps readers find related entries. Broad themes include earth as a magnet, earthquakes, earth's structure and interior (and its exploration), geochemical phenomena and processes, geochronology, geodesy and gravity, plate tectonics, seismology, and techniques of geochemistry. Entries are consistently and logically structured, each beginning with a brief summary and principal terms and ending with cross references and an annotated listing of further reading. Indexing and appendices are in the second volume. Online access to the contents is included with purchase of the print edition. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)