In a dynamic treatment of planets of the Solar System from a unified perspective Planetary Geology deals with the origin of planetary bodies, the forces that fashion their surfaces, the rise and fall of icecaps and oceans, and the role of life in planetary history.
Exploring the duality of the Sun's influence, the narrative delves into its vital role in sustaining life through photosynthesis and regulating Earth's climate, while also highlighting its destructive capabilities, such as causing solar flares and UV damage. The text employs engaging anecdotes, including a humorous reference to Lawrence Durrell, to illustrate complex scientific concepts like the relationship between wavelength and frequency. Paradoxes abound, showcasing the Sun as both a life-giver and a potential threat, emphasizing its multifaceted impact on our existence.
This well illustrated book presents a compact history of the Solar System from its dusty origins 4,600,000 years ago to the present day.
1st edn. HB. Cloth. G+. Signs of label removal from front cover, pencil underlinings in Introduction.
In a captivating exploration of self-discovery, the narrative follows a protagonist who embarks on a transformative journey through the challenges of life. As they navigate personal struggles and relationships, themes of resilience and hope emerge, encouraging readers to reflect on their own paths. The vivid imagery and emotional depth create a powerful connection, making it a poignant tale about finding light in darkness and embracing the beauty of growth and change.
Focusing on solar history, this volume synthesizes over four centuries of sunspot observations and five decades of satellite data, emphasizing indirect measures of solar activity. It explores analogies with main sequence stars, lunar rocks, meteorites, and cosmogenic isotopes to assess solar flares and cosmic-ray flux. The book highlights how solar irradiance fluctuations impact global atmospheric circulation, leaving traces in sediments and cave deposits. It aims to identify periodicities and trends for forecasting future environmental changes linked to solar activity.
There are several billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. One of them is the middle-aged G2V yellow dwarf that rules our lives. The Sun Today discusses the Sun’s appearance and composition, its internal workings, and the various kinds of radiation it emits, and it puts forward a novel explanation for coronal heating. The book draws on the findings of telescopic observation, space missions, and technical and theoretical advances in many fields, and shows why we need to know more if we are to understand and manage our foothold in the Universe.From the reviews of other books by Claudio Vita-Finzi: The Sun – A User’s Manual (2008) ….this, jargon-free, concise, beautifully illustrated and eminently readable book …D.W. Hughes, Times Literary Supplement Solar History (2013) ....a book that is supremely informative, intensely stimulating and enjoyable to read...Ian Seymour, Astronomy Now A History of the Solar System (2016) ...there is a huge amount of useful information in this book that would benefit anyone who needed more detail than is available in a typical popular science title.Brian Clegg, Popular Science