No comments about Trigonometry: Revised Third Edition.

1 comments about An Introduction to Atmospheric Thermodynamics.

1. I've only glanced at the second edition of this book, but it was enough to notice that one of the examples from the first edition (in the section on Gay-Lussac's Law) has made it into the second edition, despite the author being informed that it was incorrect. It's an example about a house being heated in winter and the pressure difference that could be expected between the inside and outside. Luckily, it's always very close to zero pressure difference between the inside and outside, but the author comes up with 7.3%!! and glosses over it with the statement that window glass "can withstand such pressure changes easily." I have my doubts about that, but I do know that I don't want to be standing outside the front door if it's got that sort of pressure difference on it, since it amounts to about 3000 pounds pushing outward!
   
   The book is a decent treatment of atmospheric thermodynamics otherwise, but it would be nice if the real applications to the atmosphere could be arrived at sooner, and covered in more detail. Most texts ignore the common stability indices that are used in forecasting, and this one is no exception, despite the fact that they've been in use for decades.

1 comments about Biological Oceanography : An Introduction.

1. The authors provide more than just a superficial descriptive tour of the oceans. The text delves into studying the ocean as an ecosystem or subsets of it, as ecosystems in their own right. The food chain provides one way of understanding an ecosystem, and the adaptations that various creatures have for the niches they occupy. Here, the authors start from first principles, with the photosynthetic species and the depths which they occupy.
   
   The book also shows that at the ocean bottoms, even with no photosynthesis, there is still a rich environment for benthic species.
   
   The diagrams are well done and readily understandable. The biochemistry is pretty simple, but this is just an introductory text.

2 comments about Looking into the Earth: An Introduction to Geological Geophysics.

1. prior to reading this book, i had already taken a more difficult , engineering-oriented Digital Signal Processing class (groundwork for Geophysics) so I had a good background it in.
   
   this book attempts to dummy down DSP concepts for the laymen (or layscientists) but fails in doing so. half of the ideas are well articulated, but the other-half are written poorly (confusingly or expounded insufficiently) or are illustrated poorly.
   
   i imagined that if i had no background in dsp or engineering--the target of this book--i would have found it very frustrating.
   
   since this is a textbook, most of the readers will have no choice in book selection, anyways, so tough luck :)



2. Chapters 8 and 9 really make this book worth while. Although some might call the simplification of complex geophysical ideas in this book "dumbing down" (is dumbing even a word?), but I have found it to be a valuable way to introduce introcate theory. I've read so much literature on gravity and isostacy and this book is the only one to lay the theory out simply and clearly. Truely a good reference to have on the shelf for all of us non-genius geophysicists.
   
   I don't have a class that requires this text, however, I've stolen it from my advisor enough that I think it's time to buy it.

2 comments about Basic Methods of Structural Geology.

1. Basic Methods is a valuable reference for the student and professional. The book features a large format,clear text, good figures, and is well written. My only change would be a sprial binding, allowing easier reference while working. This book is a fine introduction to the field methods of structual geology.



2. I wish they gave more examples, worked examples, in the mechanics section of this manual. It is a good attempt but it falls short. Honestly, this is one of the better lab manuals in print at the present time, but it needs work.

No comments about Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary (International Geophysics).

4 comments about An Introduction to Seismology, Earthquakes and Earth Structure.

1. This book is not an opportunity to use the earth to explain continuous media. Continuum mechanics explains much of the behavior that is observed on the earth. S&W is hardcore geophysics - not for the faint-hearted! The book does still use FORTRAN - can we please move on? But the derivation of the wave equation in the second chapter is a key for any PhD wanna-be to learn for their comps.



2. I used this book in a course on earthquake kinematics. Previously I had used the Aki/Richards book 'Quantitative Seismology' and found myself rethinking my major! Fortunately I slugged through it and my fascination with seismology was rekindled by this book. It explains a lot of the concepts well enough for those with only a few semesters of calc/physics under their belts to easily understand. I was even able to use this book as a more clear reference for an Inverse Theory course I took. The examples are great, the diagrams clear and concise and the tone is relaxed. This book actually explains concepts that are not explained in the Aki/Richards book. I particularly like the section on Green's functions, waveform inversion, and moment tensors. There is even a chapter on Fourier analysis! This is a book I can go back to for clear & concise explanations of otherwise abstract subjects. My copy is heavily tabbed since I use it often. My only gripe is the size of the font and the layout. There are two columns per page so it makes for some tiny print and everything seems squeezed together and slightly busy. The authors do provide a nice web-site where you can look at all the diagrams in the book as huge images....free! The link can be found on Dr. Wysession's homepage at Washington University St. Louis.
   All in all a great book on a great subject!



3. I have used this textbook for an intro to seismology class in college and have found it to be very detailed and covered a wider range of topics compared to other seismology textbooks. This book focus a great deal on deriving equations, so if you are a math person, it'll be a great way for you to learn. Problem sets at the end of each chapter are challenging but not totally impossible; and like most textbooks, only some of the answers are on the back. There are a few mistakes I found in the diagrams, but not it's not a big deal. Overall, I do recommend this book as an intro text book geared towards the upper level undergraduates or graduate students.



4. This book covers the essentials and then some. It goes beyond what can reasonably be covered in an introductory course. There is a good deal of derivations and presentations from several viewpoints. Covers seismology, interpreting seismograms, inverse theory, basic equations, earthquakes, earth structure. Loads of pictures, mathematics, and real-life discussions. Puts everything in a cohesive package. Expect a challenging read!

4 comments about Whole Earth Geophysics: An Introductory Textbook for Geologists and Geophysicists.

1. No scale...horrible figures...this book was not written for geophysicists. This book was written in such a way as to confuse any student who has any working knowledge of physics and mathematics, let alone tectonics.



2. Lillie has done the earth science and teaching professions an incredible service by writing this book. Whole Earth Geophysics is written and illustratoed in such a way that it encourages geology students and professionals to incorporate geohysics into their thinking about the earth. It is the link between discriptive courses in geology and quantitative geophysics courses that has been missing for a long time!



3. This book achieves exactly what its title says it is - an introduction to geophysics. It balances math and physics with geoscience interpretation such that you don't need to be an expert to learn the main concepts of geophysics. For a science textbook it is extremely easy and enjoyable reading.



4. I am currently taking a geophysics class which requires this book and I am finding it to be very helpful. It explains the topics in great detail.

2 comments about Introduction to Applied Geophysics: Exploring the Shallow Subsurface.

1. There was way too much math in this book. Many formulas were derived, substuted, etc so that the ready needed a thorough understanding of calculus and trigonometry to fully appreciate and understand. I needed a more basic understanding and interpretation of the data for taking the ASBOG exam. The practice problems would have been helpful if the solutions were included, but they were not.



2. This is a great starter book for a Geophysics/Geology student. It incorporates the mathematics as well as the basic premisses needed for an understanding of a complex, developing and ever-changing science. It is to be used for my senior geophysics class and I have read the book to prepare for the class itself. Parts of this book could be used for advanced high school students although the derivation of equations would be beyond the scope of the vast majority of high school students. -Karl-

1 comments about Waves, Tides and Shallow-Water Processes.

1. As one of the Open University Oceanography Series, this book offers an excellent introduction to the physical processes operating in the nearshore and immediate offshore environments of the coastal zone. With a particular emphasis on the relationship between process and form, this work covers essential ideas and practical applications for university level instructors and students interested in the coastal environment. The book material is straightforward, readable, and offers the opportunity to develop fundamental research questions at a variety of levels. Best of all, it's a well-organized work at an affordable price.