Introduction to Environmental Geology (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Edward A. Keller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0131447645 | ISBN-13: 978-0131447646 | Edition: 3

As the human population increases, many decisions concerning our use of natural resources will determine our standard of living and the quality of our environment. This reader-friendly book helps readers develop an understanding of how geology interacts with major environmental problems facing society. Focuses on five fundamental concepts of environmental geology: Human Population Growth, Sustainability, Earth as a System, Hazardous Earth Processes, and Scientific Knowledge and Values. Features new chapters on Impacts of Extraterrestrial Objects (Chapter 10) and Waste as a Resource: Waste Management (Chapter 16). Presents new or extensively revised discussion of human population growth, Alaska earthquake of 2002, emerging global water shortage, cleaning Boston Harbor, and much more. Revises many figures to more clearly illustrate the topics under discussion, based on user feedback. An informative reference for anyone interested in learning more about the environment.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This brief paperback presents the basics of physical geology within the context of environmental applications to show how geology relates to life and society—showing us how the world works, how we can avoid or live with potential/natural hazards, and how geology interacts with major environmental problems facing people and society. Introduces philosophy and fundamental concepts, the structure of the Earth and plate tectonics, and the origin and significance of rocks and minerals. Addresses the major natural hazards including earthquakes, volcanic activity, rivers and flooding, landslides, and coastal processes; the major natural resources associated with the geological environment and the subject of pollution; global change, environmental management, and relationships between the environment and society. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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: 672 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3 edition (July 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131447645
• ISBN-13: 978-0131447646
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,499 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.