Earth Sciences

General Resources

Selected Books

Albin, Edward F.
Earth Science Made Simple
QE28.A38 2004
From minerals to meteorites, this book covers every aspect of the science of our world. It breaks this complex discipline into four major sections: geology, oceanography, meteorology, and planetary science, and it gives an overview of the processes of each.

Bjornerud, Marcia
Reading the Rocks: the Autobiography of the Earth
QE31.B524 2005
Bjornerud presents a descriptive narrative of the Earth's history through its geological formations, techniques for reading and dating rocks, their diverse types and scale, the Earth's systems and origins, elements and metals, the relationship of geology to organisms, waste, and conservation.

Earth: Inside and Out
QE26.2.E274 2001
Edmond A. Mathez, editor.
Earth: Inside and Out is an exploration of how our planet works, the research into the diverse environments that support life on Earth, and the possibility of life beyond it, with essays by experts, profiles of historically significant scientists, and case studies about present-day researchers.

Flannery, Tim F.
The Eternal Frontier: An Ecological History of North America and Its Peoples
QH102.F63 2001
Scientist and historian Tim Flannery tells the story of the geological and biological evolution of the North American continent, from the time of the asteroid strike that ended the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago to the present day. Flannery describes the development of North America's deciduous forests and other flora, and tracks the immigration and emigration of various animals to and from Europe, Asia, and South America, showing how plant and animal species have either adapted or become extinct. Read a review from the New York Times.

Flannery, Tim F.
Here on Earth: A Natural History of the Planet
QH45.2.F54 2010x
Read a review at the New York Times: Who Made This Mess of Planet Earth?.

Hazen, Robert M.
The Story of Earth: The First 4. 5 Billion Years, from Stardust to Living Planet
QE501.H325 2012
In this new approach to Earth's biography, senior Carnegie Institution researcher and professor of earth science at George Mason University, Robert M. Hazen reveals how the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere -- of rocks and living matter -- has shaped our planet into the only one of its kind in the Solar System, if not the entire cosmos.

Lovelock, James
Gaia: The Practical Science of Planetary Medicine
QH343.4.L69 2000
James Lovelock is a scientist and inventor whose work on detecting CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons) in the environment led him to develop a new theory about our planet. The Gaia Hypothesis posits that the Earth is alive -- a self regulating organism in its own right. View his other books on Gaia.

Turney, Chris
Bones, Rocks and Stars: The Science of When Things Happened
QE31.T798 2006
Journalist and geologist Chris Turney explains to the non-specialist exactly how archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists "tell the time."

Van Rose, Susanna
Earth
qj QE29.V35 2005
This DK eyewitness book for children explores the secrets of the Earth, answering questions about the what lies beneath the Earth's crust, why sea water is salty, what the ocean floor looks like, why Africa is splitting apart, and other topics.

Browse the Catalog

For additional books, browse the library catalog under these subjects:

Return to the top

Websites

General Earth Science Sites

Earth Science Week
Occurs each October. (October 14-20, 2012)
Earth Science World
Are you interested in becoming an Earth Scientist? Check this site from the American Geosciences Institute for career information. There is also a Book Center where you can find books related to the Earth Sciences.
Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet
Earth continues to make its own news, with hurricanes, floods, droughts, forest fires, volcanoes and much more. Earthweek chronicles these events with an unprecedented weekly summary of natural history.
NASA: Earth Observatory
NASA's Earth Observatory provides satellite imagery and scientific information about earth, particularly its climate and environmental change.
NASA: Visible Earth
Browse through images and animations of the earth.
Planet Diary
Find out what the earth is doing around the world! Check it out on Facebook
US Geological Survey
Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards and the environment.
- USGS Education
- USGS Science Resources for Primary Grades (K–6)
USGS: The National Atlas of the United States of America
From the United States Geological Survey. You can draw your own map, adding the features that you want.
Windows to the Universe
This web portal to the earth and space sciences is from the National Earth Science Teachers Association.

Return to the top

Volcanology: Volcanoes!

USGS Volcano Hazards Program
A website that outlines the risks of volcanos and how to minimize them. It also has information on Historical Volcanic Eruptions in the United States.
- Cascades Volcano Observatory
  Contains information on Mount St. Helens and its 1980 eruption.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
From the US Geological Survey. The latest news of the Hawaiian volcanoes Kilauea, Mauna Loa and others.
Smithsonian Institution: Global Volcanism Program
Find information about volcanos around the world and about the latest eruptions.
Volcano World
Check here to learn about the latest eruptions around the world.