While earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are shaking up the world, there are more exciting happenings in the diverse field of geological science. This fascinating look at the discipline of geology during the past 3 to 4 years casts an eye toward future directions and showcases new ideas and ways of thinking. The broad discipline of geology is as diverse and complex as the planet itself. The most recent advances in the field such as the debate about life on Mars and the melting of the polar ice caps are included. Special attention is given to the changing role of the practicing geologist from that of an explorer and discoverer of mineral resources to that of investigator, mitigator, and predictor of natural and man made environmental hazards. Key individuals are profiled and excerpts of letters, speeches, and articles are used to explain points of view and the meaning of their advances. Numerous sources of additional information including organizations and Internet resources guide readers in further research.

" ... articles originating from invited papers published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, [series A]."-- P. [4] of cover.

Geographic information systems (GISs) have played a vital role in Earth sciences by providing a powerful means of observing the world and various tools for solving complex problems. The scientific community has used GISs to reveal fascinating details about the Earth and other planets. This book on recent advances in GIS for Earth sciences includes 12 publications from esteemed research groups worldwide. The research and review papers in this book belong to the following broad categories: Earth science informatics (geoinformatics), mining, hydrology, natural hazards, and society.