• Part I. Beginnings:
• 1. Planet Earth--
• 2. The formation of earth--
• 3. The primaeval earth--
• 4. Methods of the earth scientist-- Part II. The Earth's Heat Engine:
• 5. The earth's heat engine--
• 6. Magma--
• 7. The perpetual dynamo--
• 8. Continents and oceans--
• 9. The earth from space-- Part III. Patterns of Earth History:
• 10. Dating the rock record--
• 11. Integrating earth history--
• 12. The early continents--
• 13. The drifting continents--
• 14. Late Precambrian times--
• 15. The Appalachian story--
• 16. Late Palaeozoic mobile belts--
• 17. Gondwanaland evolves--
• 18. Stirring in the Alps-- Part IV. Gondwanaland and More Recent Events:
• 19. Gondwanaland before the break-up--
• 20. Gondwanaland disrupted--
• 21. New oceans for old--
• 22. The Pacific Ocean--
• 23. The Cordilleran Chains--
• 24. The Pleistocene epoch--
• 25. Early man--
• 26. The earth now--
• 27. What next? Appendices-- Bibliography-- Glossary of terms-- The history of life-- Data for the earth and planets, Index.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Building Plant Earth presents a description of Earth as a planet, commencing with its physical and chemical evolution out of the primordial solar nebula. The condensation of elements and their redistribution are described, leading into a section dealing with mapping, geophysical and geochemical studies. This establishes the gross structure of the Earth, following which basic principles and processes of plate tectonics are then described, leading to the elucidation of the working of geological cycles. The main thrust of the remainder of the book is a description of the geological evolution of the Earth. Volcanism and seismicity, ice ages and climate, isotopic techniques and age dating, are all treated. The impact of mass extinctions, global-warming and ozone holes are included. The book is illustrated profusely and closes with a number of useful appendices.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Mars in the solar system-- spacecraft exploration of the red planet-- the present face of Mars-- the atmosphere of Mars-- the interior of Mars-- the ancient cratered terrain-- the central volcanoes of Mars-- the plains of Mars-- the equatorial canyons-- Martian channels and chaotic terrain-- the polar regions, wind and volatile activity-- the geological history of Mars-- the next steps. Appendices: Astronomical data-- Phobos and Deimos-- chart showing model chronologies for Mars-- stratigraphy of Martian geological features and units-- books and publications about Mars.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Using many colour illustrations and Viking images not previously available to the general public, the author deals separately with different regions of Mars - such as the ancient cratered highlands, the volcanic plains and the polar regions. He then demonstrates how the development of each is part of a gradual evolutionary process that included an early bombardment of the ancient crust, subsequent development of rivers and streams (even shallow oceans), widespread volcanism, periglacial activity, and Martian winds. The book concludes with a summary of the planet's geological development as scientists now believe it to have occurred.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• 1. Beginnings--
• 2. The planetary engine--
• 3. Patterns of earth history--
• 4. Gondwanaland and more recent events-- Appendices-- Bibliography-- Illustration acknowledgments-- Glossary-- Index.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

The Story of the Earth presents the complex history of the Earth from its formation through to the emergence of man and his influence on the planet. Peter Cattermole and Patrick Moore trace the evolution of Earth from its beginnings in the primeval Solar Nebula, through its bombardment by cosmic particles, continental drifting and the formation of mountains and oceans, and end with a study of the last Ice Age and the rise of man. While the approach is roughly chronological, time is spent in explaining some of the methods that geologists, physicists, chemists and biologists use to discover what processes have contributed to the internal make-up and external appearance of our unique planet. Accounts are included of the dramatic events that are still changing the face of the Earth: volcanoes and photographs - several taken from orbiting satelites - help to elucidate the story.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)