Impact Cratering: A Geologic Process (Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics) [Hardcover]

H. J. Melosh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1988 | Series: Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics (Book 11)

This major study of crater morphology examines the physics of impact cratering, the geologic processes associated with it, and its role in planetary evolution. Melosh outlines landmark events in the history of impact cratering and places modern developments in historical perspective. Since important impact structures exist on our planet as well as on bodies in the solar system, this valuable contribution will serve as a vital reference in the diverse fields of geology, paleontology and planetary science.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Well-written and comprehensive .... I doubt that many will disagree about the usefulness and importance of this book." --Science

"It is going to be a classic . . . . Melosh brilliantly and lucidly summarizes all that is known (or thought to be known) of hypervelocity impact and cratering on planetary surfaces." -- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

H. J. Melosh is at University of Arizona, Tucson. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195042840
• ISBN-13: 978-0195042849
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,868,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book with a huge impact!, April 3, 2000

By 

Haraldur Sigurdsson (Jamestown, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Impact Cratering: A Geologic Process (Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics) (Paperback)

I picked up this book in 1989 and reading it was one of the most pleasurable learning experiences of my life. In writing this book, Melosh has assembled in a pleasing and logical manner the fundamentals of the science of asteroid or comet impacts and basically laid the foundation for the study of impact structures on Earth and other planets. His writing style is excellent and so are the illustrations -- I only hope that the next edition will deal with the environmental impacts of impacts . . .

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impact Cratering, a Geological Process by H. J. Melosh, August 27, 2001

By 

timothy k. price (Fairlee, VT USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Impact Cratering: A Geologic Process (Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics) (Paperback)

This book is presently the definitive work on cratering. It includes examples from throughout the solar system, however, terrestrial cratering in sufficiently covered to inform those seeking information in identifying earth impacts. This is the book often referred to in the Lunar and Planetary Institute's handbook on cratering, Traces of a Catastrophe, which condenses the material from Melosh's book. Impact Cratering looks at all aspects of cratering mechanics, ejecta deposits, modification, simple and complex craters, atmospheric interaction, and includes formulas, many photos and diagrams, is well indexed, and has a large bibliography. This book is for the serious investigator of impact cratering but is great reading for anyone who enjoys discovering the facts behind this very wide ranging occurrence. I particularly recommend this book to geologists as they would benefit from learning of other mechanisms which could explain terrestrial phenomenon otherwise incorrectly explained or unexplained by traditional geological processes.