Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences [Book Review]

Abstract

The editors, authors and publishers of Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science have consistently provided a high quality product. They have made it virtually impossible for active researchers in Earth and planetary sciences to avoid subscribing to the series. This is the 16th volume and, as usual, the range is enormous, the quality is high, the timeliness is admirable, and the choice of topics exemplary. There is something here for everyone. The opening essay by Bob Sharp is on field geology. We then wander around the solar system picking up tidbits about granites, meteorites, landslides, earthquakes, comets, the Caribbean, and the United Plates of America. We are exposed to volcanic winters, ore deposits, nuclear waste disposal, magnetic fields, and seismic stratigraphy. It is clear that after subscribing to these volumes for 5 years or so one develops a fairly broad library. The articles are review articles but they are short and pithy. A decade of these reviews barely take up a foot of shelf space and is probably the best investment of such space for those who need to check on a range of topics outside their specialty.

Additional details