Exploring Geology

The expansive efforts of Stephen Reynolds, Julia Johnson, Michael Kelly, Paul Morin, and Chuck Carter prove to be a success in bringing students an innovative resource in their textbook entitled Exploring Geology, ISBN 9780077270407. Directed at introductory college geology courses, such as Physical Geology, this pioneering book integrates a visually appealing presentation with coverage of cognitive and educational research on the way that students think, learn, and study. This book revolves around 2,600 annotated, vibrant photographs and illustrations which aid students in visualizing the processes and concepts of geology. Stephen Reynolds, Julia Johnson, Michael Kelly, Paul Morin, and Chuck Carter utilize an innovative organizational style in Exploring Geology through the use of two-page spreads for each of the 19 chapters. Each of these present self-contained blocks of information about certain topics with a focus on geologic concepts, processes, features, and approaches. Each chapter ends with an 'Investigation' which challenges students with an application problem connected with a virtual place. Chapters are devoted to providing information on such topics as the nature of geology, investigating geologic questions, plate tectonics, Earth materials, igneous environments, volcanoes and volcanic hazards, sedimentary environments, as well as deformation and metamorphism. Other topics presented in this book include geologic time, the seafloor and continental margins, mountains, basins, and continents, earthquakes and Earth's interior, climate, weather, and their influences on geology, shorelines, glaciers, and changing sea levels, weathering, soil, and unstable slopes, rivers and streams, water resources, energy and mineral resources, and finally, the geology of the solar system.