The Earth System

<P> <B><I>The Earth System, Second Edition</B></I> employs a systems-based approach to examine Earth science at the global level. This text explores how: </P> <UL> <LI>Earth's processes have connections to the past and to each other</LI> <LI>Seemingly small-scale changes to Earth can have large-scale effects</LI> <LI>Processes that are occurring now are molding the course of the future</LI> </UL> <P> The second edition incorporates two new chapters: </P> <UL> <LI><B>Modeling the Atmosphere-Ocean System</B>?A discussion of why numerical models are necessary, how they are used, what they can tell us about past and future climates, and what their limitations are.</LI> <LI><B>A Focus on the Biota: Ecosystems and Biodiversity</B>? Focuses on life's role in the Earth system, how ecosystems function, what biodiversity is, and whether or not biological diversity enhances the stability of ecosystems.</LI> </UL> <P> Three categories of boxed text are included and offer a deeper study of the top Minimize