Version Notes

Most chapters in this textbook match the organization of An Introduction to Geology (CC BY-NC-SA) with the exception of Chapter 14 and Chapter 17. Chapter 14 was adapted from parts of Chapter 9 of Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (CC BY-NC-SA) and Chapter 11 of Dynamic Planet: Exploring Geological Disasters and Environmental Change (CC BY-NC-SA), as well as parts of Chapter 15 of Principles of Earth Science (CC BY-NC-SA). Chapter 17 was adapted from parts of Chapter 22 of Physical Geology, 2nd edition (CC BY), and parts of Chapter 7 of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (CC BY). Parts of Chapters 15 and 16 were adapted from Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (CC BY-NC-SA). Parts of Chapter 16 were also adapted from Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (CC BY).

Overall Changes in the Second Edition

• Combined Chapter 13 (“Deserts”) and Chapter 14 (“Glaciers”) into Chapter 13 (“Deserts and Glaciers”).
• Added new chapter dedicated to meteorology and severe weather, Chapter 14 (“Meteorology”).
• Renamed Chapter 12 from “Coastlines” to “Earth’s Coastlines and Oceans.”
• New sections added to the following chapters: Chapter 12 (“Earth’s Coastlines and Oceans”), Chapter 15 (“Global Climate Change”), Chapter 16 (“Energy and Mineral Resources”), and Chapter 17 (“Origin of the Universe and Our Solar System”).
• Chapters and data: Updated charts and data to the most recently available.
• Replaced some figures with higher-quality images and edited some existing figure captions for clarity.
• Added new figures as well as images from textbook adapter Laura Neser’s repository; specific figure numbers are listed in the following sections.
• Text: Some existing text reworded (remixed) for clarification and formatting purposes only.
• Embedded assessment questions: Updated embedded assessment questions to match the most recent data available; added new assessment questions to match newly added material.
• Glossary: Added/edited glossary terms and linked within chapter text: volcanic neck, meteorology, scroll bars, rogue wave, impermeable, desalination, rainwater harvesting, Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, gross domestic product, energy intensity, radiative forcing, adaptation, mitigation, biofuels, permeable, porous, dam, reservoir (water), hydropower, hydroelectric power, potential energy, kinetic energy, turbine, wind power, biomass, active solar system, passive solar system, photovoltaic cell, geothermal energy, wind energy, solar energy, mountaintop mining, strip mining, SETI, extraterrestrial, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic waves, speed of light, interstellar, biology, microbial, chemical energy, pressure, organic chemistry, Fermi paradox, habitable zone, tholins, biomarker, Copernican principle, biochemistry, organic molecule, astrobiology, Great Red Spot, canyon, oceanic plateau, continental margin, altimeter, radar, echo sounder, mapping, bathymetry, HMS Challenger, pycnocline, thermocline, pH scale, oceanography, friction, tidal force, tidal braking, eclogite.
• Accessibility: Updates and expansion of alternative text (AltText) for figures are completed in the HTML/Pressbooks version of this book.

Chapter-Level Changes in the Second Edition

Chapters 1-11

• Inserted/replaced imagery for the following figures in Chapters 1-11 (numbers are as listed in the second edition):
  • 1.1, 1.18, 1.23, 1.30
  • 3.9, 3.11, 3.33, 3.41
  • 4.3, 4.31, 4.37, 4.40, 4.42, 4.44
  • 5.17, 5.25, 5.30, 5.38, 5.39, 5.42, 5.43, 5.47, 5.48, 5.53, 5.55, 5.61, 5.66
  • 6.14, 6.18, 6.25, 6.29
  • 7.36, 7.44
  • 8.18
  • 9.1
  • 11.18, 11.37

Chapter 12: Earth’s Coastlines and Oceans (formerly titled “Coastlines” in first edition)

Sources: parts of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (CC BY), Physical Geology, 2nd edition (CC BY), Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (CC BY-NC-SA)

• Changed Introduction: Added mention of world oceans and the study of oceans.
• Inserted/remixed new text block at the end of Section 12.3.3 Tides from OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (Section 4.6).
• Created new section, 12.4 Ocean Water Properties, by inserting and remixing text from Physical Geology, 2nd edition (Chapter 18) and Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (Chapter 7).
• Created new section, 12.5 The Ocean Floor, by inserting and remixing text from Physical Geology, 2nd edition (Chapter 18) and Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (Chapter 7).
• Removed Learning Objectives: “Explain wave behavior approaching the shoreline,” “Explain how longshore currents cause the formation of spits and baymouth bars,” and “Describe the relationship between the natural river of sand in the littoral zone and human attempts to alter it for human convenience.”
• Added new Learning Objectives: “Summarize ocean water properties and the reasons they may vary” and “Summarize the major ocean floor properties along with the methods scientists use to observe them.”
• Added new text to Summary to include ocean water properties and ocean floor features (remixed from parts of Physical Geology, 2nd edition (Chapter 18) and Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (Chapter 7)).
• Added and/or replaced imagery for the following figures (numbers are as listed in the second edition): 12.5, 12.9, 12.12, 12.25, 12.29, 12.30, 12.31, 12.32, 12.33, 12.34, 12.35, 12.36, 12.37, 12.38, 12.39, 12.40.

Chapter 13: Deserts and Glaciers (formerly Chapter 13 (“Deserts”) and Chapter 14 (“Glaciers”) in first edition)

Source: Introduction to Earth Science, 1st edition (CC BY-NC-SA)

• Renumbered sections and figures from former Chapter 14 (“Glaciers”), including references at end of chapter; added text references from that chapter to new combined chapter.
• Changed Introduction: combined/remixed “Deserts” and “Glaciers” introductions from first edition.
• Changed Summary: combined/remixed “Deserts” and “Glaciers” summary from first edition.
• Changed Learning Objective: “Explain the defining characteristic of a desert, and distinguish between the three broad categories of deserts” to “Explain the defining characteristics of a desert, and distinguish among the broad categories of deserts.”
• Changed Learning Objective: “List the primary desert weathering and erosion processes” to “List the primary desert weathering and erosion processes and resulting landforms.”
• Changed Learning Objective: “Identify desert landforms” to “Identify desert landforms and explain how they are formed by erosion and deposition.”
• Removed Learning Objective: “Identify the main features of the Basin and Range desert (United States).”
• Removed Learning Objective: “Identify glacial erosional and depositional landforms and interpret their origin; describe glacial lakes.”
• Added and/or replaced imagery for the following figures (numbers are as listed in the second edition): 13.4, 13.13, 13.25, 13.28, 13.37, 13.53.

Chapter 14: Meteorology (new chapter)

Sources: parts of Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (CC BY-NC-SA), Dynamic Planet: Exploring Geological Disasters and Environmental Change (CC BY-NC-SA), Principles of Earth Science (CC BY-NC-SA)

• Created Introduction by inserting and remixing text from Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (10.1 Climate Systems).
• Created new section, 14.1 The Atmosphere, by inserting text from Principles of Earth Science (15.1 The Atmosphere); remixed some text for clarification and formatting purposes; inserted additional figures throughout the section not included in the existing open-source textbooks: Figures 14.1, 14.2, 14.4, 14.6, 14.7, and 14.8.
• Created new section, 14.2 Weather Processes, by inserting text from both Principles of Earth Science (15.2 Weather Processes) and Dynamic Planet: Exploring Geological Disasters and Environmental Change (11.1 Air Masses and Weather Fronts); remixed text to combine information from both resources; inserted additional figures throughout the section not included in the existing open-source textbooks: Figures 14.11, 14.12, 14.13, 14.14, 14.15, 14.17, 14.19, and 14.20.
• Created new section, 14.3 Severe Weather, by inserting text from both Principles of Earth Science (15.2 Weather Processes) and Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (Chapter 9); remixed text to combine information from both resources; inserted additional figures throughout the section not included in the existing open-source textbooks: Figures 14.21, 14.24, 14.27, 14.28, 14.32, 14.33, 14.34, 14.35, and 14.36.

Chapter 15: Global Climate Change

Sources: parts of Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (CC BY-NC-SA), Introduction to Climate Science (CC BY-NC), Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (CC BY-NC-SA)

• Created new subsection, 15.4.3 Predicting Future Warming, by inserting and remixing text from Physical Geography and Natural Disasters (Chapter 10).
• Created new section, 15.5 Solutions, by inserting and remixing text from Introduction to Climate Science (Chapter 11) and Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (Chapter 6).
• Updated Keeling curve text, Figure 15.9, and Figure 15.10 to latest data.
• Added new Learning Objective: “Describe projected climatic changes and the various options we have for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.”
• Added new text to Summary to include addressing climate change (remixed from parts of Introduction to Climate Science (Chapter 11) and Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (Chapter 6)).
• Added and/or replaced imagery for the following figures (numbers are as listed in the second edition): 15.7, 15.26, 15.27, 15.28, 15.29, 15.30, 15.31. 15.32, 15.33, 15.34, 15.35, 15.36.

Chapter 16: Energy and Mineral Resources

Sources: parts of Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (CC BY-NC-SA), Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) (CC BY), Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (CC BY)

• Created new subsection, 16.4.1 Solar Energy, by inserting and remixing text from Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (Chapter 4) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI).
• Created new subsections (16.4.2 Wind Power, 16.4.3 Hydroelectric Power, 16.4.4 Geothermal Energy, and 16.4.5 Biomass Energy) by inserting and remixing text from Introduction to Environmental Science, 2nd edition (Chapter 4).
• Inserted/remixed new text block at the end of Section 16.1.3 Mining Techniques from Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (Chapter 11).
• Added and/or replaced imagery for the following figures (numbers are as listed in the second edition): 16.2, 16.5, 16.35, 16.37.
• Inserted additional figures throughout Section 16.4 Renewable Resources not included in the existing open-source materials: 16.40, 16.42, 16.43, 16.44, 16.45, 16.46, 16.47.

Chapter 17: Origin of the Universe and Our Solar System

Source: parts of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (CC BY)

• Switched order of subsections “The Giant Planets” and “The Terrestrial Planets.”
• Added more detail to descriptions of the planets within our Solar System (remixed from parts of Chapters 7, 9, 10, and 11 of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition).
• Added mention of trojan asteroids (remixed from part of Chapter 13 of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition).
• Created new section, 17.5 The Search for Life in the Universe, by inserting and remixing text from OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (Chapter 30).
• Changed Learning Objective: “Describe the types of small bodies in our solar system, their locations, and how they formed” to “Describe the types of bodies in our solar system, their locations, and how they formed.”
• Removed Learning Objectives: “Describe the characteristics of the giant planets, terrestrial planets, and small bodies in the Solar System,” “Explain why there is geological activity on some planets and not on others,” and “Describe how the characteristics of extrasolar systems help us to model our own Solar System.”
• Added new Learning Objectives: “Discuss the assumption underlying the Copernican principle and outline its implications for modern-day astronomers, “Identify where in the Solar System life is most likely sustainable and why,” and “Understand the questions underlying the Fermi paradox.”
• Added new text to Summary to include the search for life outside Earth (remixed from parts of OpenStax Astronomy, 2nd edition (Chapter 30)).
• Added the following figures (numbers are as listed in the second edition): 17.8, 17.14, 17.17, 17.20, 17.23, 17.24, 17.25, 17.26, 17.27, 17.28, 17.29, 17.30, 17.31, 17.32.