SOLID EARTH, THE

Geophysics is a broad subject that encompasses not only the physics of the Earth, but also the physics of the atmosphere and oceans. The heart of geophysics, however, is the theory of the solid Earth. The Solid Earth is a general introduction to the study of modern physics of the solid Earth, including the workings of both the Earth's surface and its deep interior. The book begins with a brief historical introduction to developments in geophysics. The next chapter discusses the important theory of plate tectonics, and is followed logically by a chapter on geomagnetism and palaeomagnetism. Subsequent chapters deal with the subjects of seismology, gravity, radioactivity and the age of the Earth and heat flow in the Earth. The book concludes with chapters on the physics of the oceanic and continental lithospheres. The emphasis throughout the discussion is on basic physical principles rather than instrumentation or data handling. Many helpful worked examples are given in the text, and, in addition, there are problems of various degrees of difficulty at the end of each chapter. Appendices explain more advanced mathematical topics and theories of seismology for mathematically inclined students.