Earth History and Palaeogeography

Earth History and Palaeogeography PDF

Author: Trond H. Torsvik

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 1107105323

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This book provides a complete Phanerozoic story of palaeogeography, using new and detailed full-colour maps, to link surface and deep-Earth processes.

Ancient Supercontinents and the Paleogeography of Earth

Ancient Supercontinents and the Paleogeography of Earth PDF

Author: Lauri J. J Pesonen

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2021-10-06

Total Pages: 664

ISBN-13: 0128185341

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Ancient Supercontinents and the Paleogeography of Earth offers a systematic examination of Precambrian cratons and supercontinents. Through detailed maps of drift histories and paleogeography of each continent, this book examines topics related to Earth’s tectonic evolution prior to Pangea, including plate kinematics, orogenic development, and paleoenvironments. Additionally, this book discusses the methodologies used, principally paleomagnetism and tectonostratigraphy, and addresses geophysical topics of mantle dynamics and geodynamo evolution over billions of years. Structured clearly with consistent coverage for Precambrian cratons, this book combines state-of-the-art paleomagnetic and geochronologic data to reconstruct the paleogeography of the Earth in the context of major climatic events such as global glaciations. It is an ideal, up-to-date reference for geoscientists and geographers looking for answers to questions surrounding the tectonic evolution of Earth. Provides robust paleogeographies of Precambrian cratons based on high-quality paleomagnetic and geochronologic data and critically tested by global geological datasets Includes links to updated databases for the Precambrian such as PALEOMAGIA and the Global Paleomagnetic Database (GPMDB) Presents full-color maps of the drift histories of each continent as well as their paleogeographies Discusses key questions regarding continental drift, the supercontinent cycle, and the geomagnetic dipole hypothesis and analyzes palaeography in the context of Earth’s holistic evolution

Palaeogeography and Palaeobiogeography: Biodiversity in Space and Time

Palaeogeography and Palaeobiogeography: Biodiversity in Space and Time PDF

Author: Paul Upchurch

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2011-10-24

Total Pages: 239

ISBN-13: 1420045520

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Biogeography represents one of the most complex and challenging aspects of macroevolutionary research, requiring input from both the earth and life sciences. Palaeogeographic reconstruction is frequently carried out by researchers with backgrounds in geology and palaeontology, who are less likely to be familiar with the latest biogeographic techniques: conversely, biogeographic methods are often devised by neontologists who may be less familiar with the fossil record, stratigraphy, and palaeogeography. Palaeogeography and Palaeobiogeography: Biodiversity in Space and Time bridges the gap between these two communities of researchers, who work on the same issues but typically use different types of data. The book covers a range of topics, and reflects some of the major overall questions in the field such as: Which approaches are best suited to reconstructing biogeographic histories under a range of circumstances? How do we maximize the use of organismal and earth sciences data to improve our understanding of events in earth history? How well do analytical techniques devised for researching the biogeography of extant organisms perform in the fossil record? Can alternative biodiversity metrics, particularly those based on morphological measurements, enhance our understanding of biogeographic patterns and processes? This book approaches palaeobiogeography with coverage of technological applications and detailed case studies. It spans a wide selection of overlapping and integrative disciplines, including evolutionary theory, vicariance biogeography, extinctions, and the philosophical aspects of palaeogeography. It also highlights new technological innovations and applications for research. Presenting a unique discussion of both palaeogeography and palaeobiogeography in one volume, this book focuses both historically and philosophically on the interface between geology, climate, and organismal distribution.

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics PDF

Author: Wolfgang Frisch

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-11-26

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 3030889998

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This textbook explains how mountains are formed and why there are old and young mountains. It provides a reconstruction of the Earths paleogeography and shows why the shapes of South America and Africa fit so well together. Furthermore, it explains why the Pacific is surrounded by a ring of volcanos and earthquake-prone areas while the edges of the Atlantic are relatively peaceful. This thoroughly revised textbook edition addresses all these questions and more through the presentation and explanation of the geodynamic processes upon which the theory of continental drift is based and which have led to the concept of plate tectonics. It is a source of information for students of geology, geophysics, geography, geosciences in general, general natural sciences, as well as professionals, and interested layman.

Ice Age Earth

Ice Age Earth PDF

Author: Alastair G. Dawson

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-06-17

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 1135853568

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Ice Age Earth provides the first detailed review of global environmental change in the Late Quaternary. Significant geological and climatic events are analysed within a review of glacial and periglacial history. The melting history of the last ice sheets reveals that complex, dynamic and catastrophic change occurred, change which affected the circulation of the atmosphere and oceans and the stability of the Earth's crust.

The Story of Earth & Life

The Story of Earth & Life PDF

Author: Terence McCarthy

Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa

Published: 2013-07-10

Total Pages: 334

ISBN-13: 1775840964

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Geologically speaking, southern Africa is without equal, a treasure house of valuable minerals with a geological history dating back some 3 600 million years. In addition, the evolution of plants and animals, especially mammals and dinosaurs, is well preserved in the region, which also probably has the best record of the origin of modern man. This book provides a fascinating insight into that remarkable history: how southern Africa, and to some extent the world, came to be the way it is - how its mineral deposits formed, its life evolved and its landscape was shaped. Along the way readers will be enthralled by accounts of the Big Bang that marked the beginning of time and matter, by drifting and colliding continents, folding and fracturing of rocks, meteors colliding with the Earth, the time when the Earth froze over, volcanic eruptions and the start of life. Anyone interested in the landscape and ecosystems in which we live will be intrigued to discover how our natural landmarks were formed, from the deserts of Namibia to the mountains of the Western Cape or Mpumalanga. Why is South Africa so rich in minerals? How did glacial deposits come to be found in the Karoo? Why did dinosaurs become extinct? How did mammals develop from reptiles? How closely related are we to the apes? The answers to many such questions are found in this lavishly illustrated volume. The authors also suggest how we can learn from the past in order to anticipate the future - for instance, to be able to predict earthquakes, deal with volcanic eruptions and meet the challenges of global climate change.

The Formation and Evolution of Africa

The Formation and Evolution of Africa PDF

Author: Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen

Publisher: Geological Society of London

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13: 9781862393356

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The African continent preserves a long geological record that covers almost 75% of Earth's history. The Pan-African orogeny (c. 600-500 Ma) brought together old continental kernels (West Africa, Congo, Kalahari and Tanzania) to form Gondwana and subsequently the supercontinent Pangaea by the late Palaeozoic. The break-up of Pangaea since the Jurassic and Cretaceous, primarily through opening of the Central Atlantic, Indian, and South Atlantic oceans, in combination with the complicated subduction history to the north, gradually shaped the African continent. This volume contains 18 contributions that discuss the geology of Africa from the Archaean to the present day.

Regional Geology and Tectonics: Principles of Geologic Analysis

Regional Geology and Tectonics: Principles of Geologic Analysis PDF

Author: David G. Roberts

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2012-03-26

Total Pages: 908

ISBN-13: 0444530428

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The purpose of the series is to compile and pass on the accumulated knowledge of regional geology that is being lost as generalists with field experience are replaced by specialists with computers. It is designed to appeal to both academic and petroleum geologists. In this third and final part of Volume One, geologists discuss extensional basins including rifts, passive margins, and inverted extensional basins. The chapters have a broadly similar layout, and where appropriate include a section on the petroleum system. They cover non-volcanic and transform passive margins, cratonic basins on pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic basements, and world maps. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

The Changing Face of the Earth

The Changing Face of the Earth PDF

Author: Bruno Vrielynck

Publisher: UNESCO

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 38

ISBN-13:

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Some 250 million years ago, at the beginning of the Mesozoic era, the world's continents were grouped into a single supercontinent known as Pangaea. This publication contains information on the key stages in the break-up of this supercontinent into the geological face of the Earth as we know it today. It includes 11 maps, based on recent scientific work, with explanatory notes, a glossary of terms and a CD-ROM of the map images in bmp, tiff, pict and powerpoint formats.