Introduction to Environmental Geology (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Edward A. Keller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0130338222 | ISBN-13: 978-0130338228 | Edition: 2

This text presents geologic processes in context with their impact on humans, our lives and societies. The author's goal is to both create informed citizens and nurture an understanding of geologic science. Part I introduces philosophy and fundamental concepts, the structure of the Earth and plate tectonics, and the origin and significance of rocks and minerals. Part II addresses the major natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanic activity, rivers and flooding, landslides, and coastal processes. Part III discusses the major natural resources associated with the geological environment and the subject of pollution. Part IV presents the important topic of global change, environmental management, and relationships between the environment. For individuals looking for an environmental perspective on physical geology.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This text presents geologic processes in context with their impact on humans, our lives and societies. The author's goal is to both create informed citizens and nurture an understanding of geologic science. Part I introduces philosophy and fundamental concepts, the structure of the Earth and plate tectonics, and the origin and significance of rocks and minerals. Part II addresses the major natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanic activity, rivers and flooding, landslides, and coastal processes. Part III discusses the major natural resources associated with the geological environment and the subject of pollution. Part IV presents the important topic of global change, environmental management, and relationships between the environment. For individuals looking for an environmental perspective on physical geology.

About the Author

Edward A. Keller is a professor, researcher, writer, and most importantly, mentor and teacher to undergraduate and graduate students. Currently, Dr. Keller's students are working on earthquake hazards, how waves of sediment move through a river system following disturbance, and geologic controld on habitat to endangered southern steelhead trout. He was born and raised in California (Bachelor’s degree in Geology and Mathematics from California State University at Fresno, Master’s degree in Geology from University of California at Davis), it was while pursuing his Ph.D. in Geology from Purdue University in 1973 that Ed wrote the first edition of Environmental Geology, the text that became the foundation of the environmental geology curriculum. Ed joined the faculty of the University of California Santa Barbara in 1976 and has been there since, serving multiple times as the chair of both the Environmental Studies and Hydrologic Science programs. In that time he has been the author on over 100 articles, including seminal works on fluvial processes and tectonic geomorphology. Ed’s academic honors include the Don J. Easterbrook Distinguished Scientist Award, Geological Society of America (2004), Quatercentenary Fellowship from Cambridge University, England (2000), two Outstanding Alumnus Awards from Purdue University (1994, 1996), A Distinguished Alumnus Award from California State University at Fresno (1998), the Outstanding Outreach Award from Southern California Earthquake Center (1999). --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 619 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (December 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130338222
• ISBN-13: 978-0130338228
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A coherent text that doesn't quite live up to expectations, January 25, 2004

By 

Clifford Blizard "deep_landscape" (Chattahoochee Hills, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Environmental Geology (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Keller's text is a thorough exploration of both facets of environmental geology: natural hazards and the human impact on the environment. The text includes numerous case studies to illustrate the concepts, though most of them are set in the United States (especially the West Coast). Keller presents, in chapter one, four principles that are supposedly woven throughout the text. At the end of each chapter, he includes "Critical Thinking Questions", which I hoped would lead to vibrant in-class discussions. The other aspect of this book that led me to select it for undergraduate class was the CD-ROM, which promised to provide students with simulations of real-world environmental problem solving.

Alas, the book does not live up to its promises. My greatest disappointment is that the text is rather dry, and the Critical Thinking Questions rarely moved beyond synthesizing material from the chapter. I am also concerned that students explore environmental issues at both the local (for me, northeastern US) and global scales. Apart from a fairly thorough coverage of global warming and an occasional photo of an earthquake or volcano overseas, Keller seems content to focus on the US, especially his own home state, California. His only nod to Earth Systems Science is a few paragraphs crammed into the first chapter, along with mention of Gaia. The CD-ROM was less exciting for students than I had anticipated, and my class found the written part of the CD assignments difficult, and many answers were based upon previous ones, so if they got one wrong, they would get several wrong and do poorly as a result. Finally, I was disappointed by Keller'ss uninspired philosophical assertion in the final chapter, in which he insisted that "sustainable development" is possible and ought to be pursued. In a class discussion, the students all concluded that development and sustainability are mutually exclusive things.

The text is thorough and fairly accessable, but fails to move beyond being "like most other textbooks" despite the numerous ways it appears to do so at first glance.

5.0 out of 5 stars great seller fast delivery, January 6, 2012

By 

pjo3031 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Environmental Geology (5th Edition) (Paperback)

very quick delivery highly recommend. Book is in very good used condition. will definately use this seller in the futures.
Thanks

3.0 out of 5 stars Review of Environmental Geology, 4th edition, November 2, 2009

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Introduction to Environmental Geology (4th Edition) (Paperback)

This reference is fine for the general reader who wishes to understand the basics of Environmental Geology, however, the information it contains can be found for a much less expensive cost at any online site or library. Much of the information covered is also a general topic of most high school geology courses, though it contains a good amount of information concerning human impact on natural processes. The writing style is concise, though not so dense as to defer all but the most determined reader.