Earth System History 4th edition (fourth edition)

About this book

Earth System History 4th edition by Steven M. Stanley and John A. Luczaj traces the physical and biological history of Earth from its earliest formation through the present. The book integrates geology, paleontology, geochemistry, climate science, and evolutionary biology to show how changes in the solid Earth, atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere have influenced one another through geologic time.

The 4th edition covers geologic time, plate tectonics, sedimentary environments, stratigraphy, radiometric dating, fossils, evolution, Precambrian Earth history, the origin and diversification of life, Paleozoic marine ecosystems, the rise of terrestrial plants and animals, Mesozoic tectonics and dinosaurs, Cenozoic mammals, mountain building, glaciation, climate change, and major extinction events. It also explains how geologists reconstruct ancient environments and correlate rock sequences using physical, chemical, and fossil evidence.

This book is especially useful for Geology Students, Earth Science Students, Paleontology Students, Environmental Science Students, Geoscience Majors, Physical Geography Students, Evolutionary Biology Students, and students taking historical geology or Earth history courses. It is particularly relevant for coursework involving stratigraphic interpretation, fossil succession, tectonic reconstruction, paleoclimate, and the relationship between geological change and biological evolution.

Geology majors, Earth science students, paleontology students, environmental science students, and geoscience trainees can use this edition to follow the sequence of major events in Earth's history and understand the evidence used to reconstruct them. The 4th edition, 2014 is available as a searchable PDF enhanced digital version with instant access, so you can begin studying immediately for historical geology coursework, laboratory exercises, exams, field preparation, or geoscience review.