Written in an engaging, highly readable style, it is ideal for students, administrators, legal professionals, non-science professionals and general readers with little or no science background, the handbook is a user-friendly overview of our physical, biological and ecological environment that offers up-to-date coverage of the major scientific fields that in combination form the structure of geoscience. Students who are enrolled in a geoscience course or one of its many subdisciplines will find this book to be an invaluable resource and reference to supplement classroom instruction and provide greater insight into many of the topics usually discussed. The emphasis is on readability, with clear, example-driven explanations refined by over 35 years of experience of instruction and student feedback.