Uranium Series Disequilibrium

The second edition of this book reflects the rapid growth in the field of uranium-series disequilibrium during the past decade. The new edition presents a comprehensive discussion of theory and analytical methodology, emphasizing applications to problems in the Earth, marine, and environmental sciences where the phenomenon of disruption in naturally occurring decay series has facilitated so much productive research. To this end, the editors have drawn upon the experience and expertise of leading practitioners in each specialized area. This book should thus serve both as a reference text and a practical manual for graduate students and researchers in geochemistry, isotope hydrology, environmental science, sedimentology, Earth science, and archaeology.

This report concerns work done on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and is published with the permission of the Commission.

This is a complete and authoritative reference text on an evolving field. Over 200 international scientists have written over 340 separate topics on different aspects of geochemistry including organics, trace elements, isotopes, high and low temperature geochemistry, and ore deposits, to name just a few.

Volume 52 of Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry updates our knowledge of U-series geochemistry, offer an opportunity for non-specialists to understand its basic principles, and give us a view of the future of this active field of research. In this volume, for the first time, all the methods for determining the uranium and thorium decay chain nuclides in Earth materials are discussed. It was prepared in advance of a two-day short course (April 3-4, 2003) on U-series geochemistry, jointly sponsored by GS and MSA and presented in Paris, France prior to the joint EGS/AGU/EUG meeting in Nice.

Coral reefs are the largest landforms built by plants and animals. Their study therefore incorporates a wide range of disciplines. This encyclopedia approaches coral reefs from an earth science perspective, concentrating especially on modern reefs. Currently coral reefs are under high stress, most prominently from climate change with changes to water temperature, sea level and ocean acidification particularly damaging. Modern reefs have evolved through the massive environmental changes of the Quaternary with long periods of exposure during glacially lowered sea level periods and short periods of interglacial growth. The entries in this encyclopedia condense the large amount of work carried out since Charles Darwin first attempted to understand reef evolution. Leading authorities from many countries have contributed to the entries covering areas of geology, geography and ecology, providing comprehensive access to the most up-to-date research on the structure, form and processes operating on Quaternary coral reefs.