Earth is the only planet known to have liquid water, and water ice has been present over parts of the Earth for much of its history. Scientists have only recently come to understand how widespread the presence of ice is in our solar system. Deposits of water ice may exist in unexpected places, such as in the polar craters of Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. Other ices, such as methane ice and nitrogen ice, abound in our solar system. This book focuses on the occurrence and significance of ices, and considers implications of the reservoirs of water ice for the presence of life elsewhere in our solar system, and for habitability by human explorers who may venture to these distant worlds in the future. This accessible text will be of interest to students and professionals in planetary science, geology, and related areas.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
'Icy Worlds of the Solar System is an excellent little book ... the coverage is remarkably wide ... a book that will richly reward readers for the time they devote to it.' The Journal of the British Astronomical Association 'This book would be a good introduction for undergraduate students, as well as appealing to those with a layman's interest.' Spaceflight '... there is much of value in this volume. ... To the majority of us ice is most familiar in a gin and tonic, as a surface for skating or an irritant on the winter morning commute, but this useful book provides a unifying theme that should be of interest to all geologists and astrobiologists.' Geological Magazine ' ... will richly reward readers for the time they devote to it.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Illustrationen
2 Tables, unspecified; 77 Halftones, unspecified; 8 Line drawings, unspecified
ISBN-13
978-0-521-64844-8 (9780521648448)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Pat Dasch is a consultant in the space industry, specialising in policy and public outreach.
Introduction J. I. Lunine; 1. The history and significance of ice on Earth R. Bindschadler; 2. Ice on Mercury and the Moon B. Butler; 3. How the Earth got its atmosphere T. Owen; 4. The frozen landscape of Mars M. T. Mellon; 5. The ice moons of Sol P. M. Schenk; 6. Triton, Pluto, and beyond J. A. Stansberry; 7. Comets: ices from the beginning of time D. P. Cruikshank.
