Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology

Description

Nearly all major planets and moons in our Solar System have been visited by spacecraft and the data they have returned has revealed the incredible diversity of planetary surfaces. Featuring a wealth of images, this textbook explores the geological evolution of the planets and moons. Introductory chapters discuss how information gathered from spacecraft is used to unravel the geological complexities of our Solar System. Subsequent chapters focus on current understandings of planetary systems. The textbook shows how planetary images and remote sensing data are analyzed through the application of fundamental geological principles. It draws on results from spacecraft sent throughout the Solar System by NASA and other space agencies. Aimed at undergraduate students in planetary geology, geoscience, astronomy and solar system science, it highlights the differences and similarities of the surfaces at a level that can be readily understood by non-specialists.

Ronald Greeley is a Regents' Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Director of the NASA-ASU Regional Planetary Image Facility and Principal Investigator of the Planetary Aeolian Laboratory at NASA-Ames Research Center. He has co-authored several well-known books on planetary surfaces, including The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System and Planetary Mapping (both available from Cambridge University Press).

'... should prove interesting to a layperson as well as a student or professional scientist ... I also liked the thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter.' Tom G. Farr, Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 'This is an excellent, enjoyable read for those who come to planetary science without a geological background and who want to pick up a good basic grounding to complement further studies, and also for geologists who want to learn about the application of their subject in a planetary context.' The Observatory