Planetary Landscapes

By R. Greeley and Ronald Greeley

Book Overview

The objective of this book is to introduce the surface of the objects in the Solar System, the individual treatment features of the planets and satellites in the context of varies among the chapters. For example, it was difficult geomorphic processes. Introductory chapters include the to decide what to leave out of the chapter on Mars because "bows" and "whys" of Solar System exploration and a so much is known about the surface, whereas data are review of the primary processes that shape our planet, rather limited for Mercury. Earth, and which appear to be important to planetary In addition to introducing the geomorphology of plane- sciences. The remaining chapters describe the geomor- tary objects, this book is intended to be a "source" for phology of the planets and satellites for which data are obtaining supplemental information. References are cited available. For most of these objects, the general physiog- throughout the text. However, these citations are not raphy and terrain units for each are introduced, then the intended to be exhaustive but rather are given to provide geomorphic processes that are inferred for the develop- a "springboard" for additional literature surveys.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0412054310
• ISBN13: 9780412054310
• Release Date: March 1994
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 286 Pages
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

An excellent introductory book on planetary geology

This book is written by a world class planetary geologist. In it, he has done an excellent job of bringing together the diverse threads of the planetary geology. The book is written on an introductory level, and so the language is not so technical that a novice cannot follow it. However, it might be helpful for the reader who has no background to read another introductory text first (this would then act as an 'upper level' introductory text). The book is strewn with quarter to full page photographs from the various space missions to the planets--and indeed, it is the best illustrated introductory text available. The author does provide a good overview of all the geological processes and imaging technology in his initial chapters, which is then followed by his descriptions of the planets. Overall, this text gets a very good recommendation, and readers will find themselves engrossed in the spectacular photography for hours on end