本书是专门为外国留学生、合作办学学生和准备出国留学的中国学生编写的全英文地球科学基础教材，主要介绍从事地球科学相关工作所需的基础知识，内容聚焦于地球物质组成、地壳的变形变位、地球演化历史和控制这些地质现象的地质作用等相关知识和技能，主要内容包括组成地球物质的元素、矿物和岩石，控制这些物质空间分布的各种地质作用及特征，反映地球演化历程的地层古生物记录，以及与人类生存环境息息相关的地质灾害等。书中较为详细地介绍了有关地球科学的一些基础知识、基本概念和基本原理，涉及地球科学中的地理科学、地质学、地球化学、地球物理学、大气科学、海洋科学、环境地球化学等方面。
本书可作为高等院校各专业的地球科学全英文教材，也可作为教师或科技人员的参考书。

Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Earth Sciences
1.2 The Importance of Earth Sciences
1.3 The Scientific Method
1.4 Introduction to Geology
Chapter 2 Star, Space and Galaxies
2.1 Universe
2.1.1 In the Beginning: the Big Bang
2.1.2 The Nonhomogeneous Universe
2.2 Milky Way
2.2.1 The Nucleus of the Milky Way
2.2.2 Galactic Nebulae
2.3 Sun
2.3.1 The Sun's Inner Structure
2.3.2 The Photosphere
2.3.3 The Sun's Outer Layers
2.4 Planets
2.4.1 Mercury
2.4.2 Venus
2.4.3 Earth
2.4.4 Mars
2.4.5 Jupiter
2.4.6 Saturn
2.4.7 Uranus
2.4.8 Neptune
Chapter 3 Geological Process
3.1 The Theory of Plate Tectonics
3.2 How Plate Tectonics Affect Earth's Surface
3.2.1 Volcanoes
3.2.2 Earthquakes
3.2.3 Mountain Building
Chapter 4 Petrology and Mineralogy
4.1 Elements
4.1.1 Distribution and Clark Value of Elements in the Crust of Earth
4.1.2 Migration and Enrichment of Elements in the Crust of Earth
4.2 Mineralogy
4.2.1 Concept of Minerals
4.2.2 Physical Properties of Minerals
4.2.3 Main Rock Forming Minerals
4.3 Petrology
4.3.1 Igneous Rocks
4.3.2 Sedimentary Rocks
4.3.3 Metamorphic Rocks
Chapter 5 Atmospheric Science (Atmosphere)
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Origin, Composition and Structure of the Earth's Atmosphere
5.2.1 Origin of Atmosphere
5.2.2 Composition of Atmosphere
5.2.3 Atmospheric Vertical Stratification
5.3 Atmospheric Movement
5.4 Climate Change
5.4.1 Climate Formation and Classification
5.4.2 Changing Climate
5.4.3 Possible Causes of Climate Change
5.5 Land-Atmosphere Interactions
Chapter 6 Marine Geology and Hydrology
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Hydrosphere
6.3 Marine Topography
6.3.1 Coastal Topography
6.3.2 Continental Margin Topography
6.4 Marine Geological Processes
6.4.1 Movement of Sea Water
6.4.2 Chemical Action of Seawater
6.4.3 Role of Marine Life
6.4.4 Erosion of Waves
6.4.5 Erosion of Tidal Current and Ocean Current
6.4.6 Erosion of Turbidity Current
6.4.7 Erosion of Marine Life
6.4.8 Sea Water Handling
6.4.9 Marine Sedimentation
6.5 Surface Water
6.5.1 Rivers
6.5.2 Lakes
6.5.3 Wetlands and Soil Water
6.5.4 Snow and Ice
6.6 Groundwater
Chapter 7 Geophysics/Earth's Structure
7.1 Earth Systems
7.2 Earth's Internal Layered Structure
7.2.1 Earth's Crust
7.2.2 Earth's Mantle
7.2.3 Inner and Outer Core
7.3 Isostasy
7.4 Gravity
7.5 Earth's Magnetic Field
7.5.1 Magnetic Reversals
7.5.2 Magnetic Anomalies
7.6 Earth's Temperature
7.6.1 Geothermal Gradient
7.6.2 Heat Flow
Chapter 8 Tectonics
8.1 Continental Drift
8.2 Seafloor Spreading
8.2.1 Mapping the Ocean Floor
8.2.2 Ocean-Floor Topography
8.2.3 Ocean Rocks and Sediments
8.2.4 Magnetism
8.2.5 Seafloor Spreading
8.3 The Theory of Plate Tectonics
8.3.1 Divergent Plate Boundaries
8.3.2 The Mid-Oceanic Ridge. Rifting in the Oceans
8.3.3 Splitting Continents: Rifting in Continental Crust
8.3.4 Convergent Plate Boundaries
8.3.5 Transform Plate Boundaries
8.4 Causes of Plate Motions
8.4.1 Convection
8.4.2 Push and Pull
8.5 Supercontinents
8.6 Vertical Movement of the Lithosphere
Chapter 9 Geochronology
9.1 Geochronology Methods
9.1.1 Relative Dating
9.1.2 Absolute Dating
9.1.3 Magnetostratigraphy
9.2 Geologic Time Scale
9.2.1 Composition of Geological Time Scale
9.2.2 The Introduction to the Phanerozoic
Chapter 10 Stratigraphy
10.1 Principles of Stratigraphy
10.2 Stratigraphic Classification
10.2.1 Lithostratigraphic Units
10.2.2 Biostratigraphic Units
10.2.3 Chronostratig