Why Geology Matters. A Brief History of Our Planet's Past and Future

What is the risk of an asteroid colliding with Earth? Why does the temperature of the ocean millions of years ago matter today? In an engaging and accessible narrative, Doug MacDougall provides an overview of the astonishing history of Earth, based on information extracted from natural archives. We discover that Earth science actually sheds light on many of today's most pressing issues - energy availability, access to fresh water, agriculture. But moreover, MacDougall makes it clear that science also provides important keys to the future of the planet. Doug MacDougall is a writer, geologist, and educator. He is an emeritus professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, where he taught and conducted research in geochemistry for many years. An avid traveler, his research has taken him around the globe, from Siberia and the Canadian Arctic to southern India, China, and the depths of the Pacific Ocean.