Chapter 1 The International Geophysical Year
Chapter 2 Origin, Age, and Possible Ultimate Fate of the Earth

Chapter 3 The Deep Interior

Chapter 4 The Crust

Chapter 5 The Oceans

Chapter 6 Geomagnetic Field

Chapter 7 Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere

Chapter 8 Climate

Chapter 9 The General Circulation of the Atmosphere and Oceans

Chapter 10 Ice Ages

Chapter 11 Meteorology

Chapter 12 The Ionosphere

Chapter 13 The Airglow

Chapter 14 Aurora and Magnetic Storms

Chapter 15 Meteors

Chapter 16 Cosmic Radiation

Chapter 17 The Radiation Belts

Chapter 18 Genesis of Life

Appendices

I Gravitation and the Mass of the Earth

II Moment of Inertia

III Precession of the Equinoxes

IV P and S Waves

V Temperature Scales

VI Atomic and Molecular Spectra

Selected Bibliography

Author Index

Subject Index

The Planet Earth, Second Edition reviews remarkable advances in understanding the physical aspects of the Earth, including technical developments that have made various new types of observation and measurement possible, as well as a deepened understanding of the fundamental laws of nature that have given the necessary basis for the interpretation of many of the complex phenomena concerned. Topics covered include the Van Allen radiation belts, the Mohole project, continental drift and polar wandering, the theory of magnetic storms and aurorae; and the possibility of extra-terrestrial sources of life.
This book is comprised of 18 chapters and begins with an overview of the work and achievements of the International Geophysical Year. The reader is then introduced to the Earth's physical properties such as the deep interior, crust, oceans, climate, and geomagnetic field, as well as its origin, age, and possible ultimate fate. Subsequent chapters explore the composition and structure of the Earth's atmosphere; the general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans; the ice ages; meteorology and weather forecasting; and experimental proof of the existence of the ionosphere. The airglow, aurorae and magnetic storms, meteors, cosmic radiation, and radiation belts are also described. The final chapter examines the genesis of life on Earth.
This monograph is intended for students and practitioners of planetary and geophysical sciences.