The year 2017 saw the most active and costly hurricane season on record. Moving photographs help tell the human stories of Harvey, hitting Texas and Louisiana; Irma, the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane ever recorded, pummeling Florida; and Maria, the worst natural disaster ever to hit Puerto Rico and Dominica. Detailed information tracks the paths of each storm, the clean-ups that followed, what remains to do.
It cost $10 billion to combat the wildfires in California in 2017 that scorched 300,000 acres of land and left 100,000 people displaced. With dry weather and drought bringing more catastrophic wildfires to the western United States and Canada, this timely title discusses the human and physical impacts of these and other fire disasters and how fire professionals and policymakers are combatting them.
Discover what earthquakes are and how they are caused. Find out how scientists measure earthquakes, and what makes some earthquakes so much more destructive than others. Read about some of the most serious earthquake disasters in history, and how people can be better prepared in the future.
Geologists study earthquakes and volcanoes and are fascinated by the power of Earth’s processes. They want to understand why the earth shifts and erupts, and figure out how to better predict and plan for these hazards. This title aims to create meaningful connections between the scientific concepts readers learn in the classroom and how they are applied in the real world by geologists searching for answers.
This informative book offers an introduction to the basics of maps and their different uses. A brief chronological history of maps and mapping gives readers an understanding of how maps have evolved over time. Readers will discover that advances in technologies have changed the format of maps from flat outlines to digital 3-D images with pop-up information in augmented reality.
In this amazing title, readers will explore the possibilities new developments in technology are opening up for making maps. Mapmakers are using satellite data to map the locations of people and objects on Earth, making video maps using the Internet to show wind and weather systems, and creating specialized maps that show human behavior. Computer game technology, such as Minecraft, is even being used to map real places.
This interesting title shows readers how the creation of maps depends a lot on the individual perception of the mapmaker. Readers will explore how mapping strategies can be used to organize and channel ideas and to inspire creativity.
Readers will learn how using modern mapping technologies can help us plan for the future. This includes being able to see what the effect human activity will have on the environment, where major settlements will be in the future, and how we can improve personal transportation and travel. Readers will also be introduced to the various challenges mapmakers still face today, including mapping the seabed and the far reaches of the universe.
This fascinating book looks at modern methods of mapping that allow us to show and evaluate human behavior and interactions, as well as the impact humans have on the environment. Examples of mapping human activity include such areas of interest as crime, accidents, busy city streets, travel, or the spread of disease.
Over the last 50 years, satellite technology has given us vast amounts of information. Readers will learn how mapmakers use this information to accurately map Earth’s physical features and reveal the impact of human activity on the planet. This book also explores how satellites can be used to map the past by revealing ancient ruins hidden underground, as well as map the surfaces of the Moon and other planets in space.
Explore mountains around the world, and find out how they are created. Discover what happens when mountains experience erosion and how climate and biomes change with elevation. Find out about the people, plants, and animals that live at high altitudes and the risk of deadly avalanches.
Learn about rivers and coasts and how water shapes the landscapes in different ways. Follow rivers from their source to the sea, and explore coasts around the world. Find out how erosion creates stunning waterfalls, and see how water affects our lives, from tourism and industry to the risks of flooding.
Learn about the kind of resources Earth holds, and how they are extracted and used. Discover the problems and challenges posed by human consumption of these resources, from overfishing to dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. Read about the efforts being made to protect Earth's resources, including finding sustainable energy solutions and making our cities eco-friendly.
Learn about population in countries around the world, and how changes in the number, age, and gender of people living in a place affect life there. Explore different settlements, from ancient towns to sprawling, modern cities. Find out why and where people migrate, and discover how we can protect our planet from the risks of overpopulation.
Find out about the different types of volcanoes and how they form. Learn how scientists monitor volcanic activity, and what makes some eruptions so much more destructive than others. Read about some of the most famous volcanic eruptions in history and their effects on the people and environment surrounding them.
The second-largest country on Earth, Canada possesses a tremendous variety of natural wonders. This new second revision to Canada the Land takes students on a fascinating tour of the countrys rugged coasts, frozen northern regions, vast prairies, and majestic mountain ranges.
This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Sahara Desert in North Africa. The biggest hot desert on Earth, it covers parts of twelve countries, more area than the entire United States! The Sahara has oases scattered widely and sand dunes that can reach as high as 600 feet (182m). Readers will learn about the people, plants, and animals such as camels, goats, and fennec foxes that inhabit this desert habitat. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, and the unique problems facing this region.
This captivating title examines the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed Pompeii in 79 A.D. and what the remnants of this buried city can teach us today.
For centuries, exploration of the Arctic has been pursued for its potential value as a commercial sea route. Many expeditions tried in vain to navigate its frozen waterways. This timely book tells the stories of famous expeditions to find a Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific, to map the frozen wasteland, and to be the first to reach the North Pole.
This exciting book describes the geological makeup and history of the Mojave Desert in the United States. Located in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, there are several national parks in the desert including Death Valley, the hottest place in North America. Readers will learn about the people, plants, and animals such as cougars, scorpions, and rattlesnakes that inhabit this desert habitat. The Mojave Desert is also a windy place where wind farms have been set up to generate electricity. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as borax, silver, and gold, and the unique problems facing this region.
The history of human activity in the Rocky Mountain range is as colorful as its scenic natural wonders. It has been witness to the decimation of Native peoples, the westward expansion of European settlers, the frenzied activity of several gold rushes, and the blazing of transcontinental railways. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Rocky Mountains, as well as the cultures and ways of life of the people in the United States and Canada who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Atacama Desert in Chile. One of the driest areas of the world - some parts never receive any rain - the desert's climate can be cold, sometimes producing snow and fog. Readers will be fascinated to learn that the Atacama's soil is so similar to soil samples from Mars that NASA goes to this desert to test its exploration instruments. NASA has also set up its Earth-Mars Cave Detection Program in the Atacama, too. Special sections also describe the desert's natural resources and unique problems facing this region, as well as the people, plants, and animals that inhabit this desert habitat.
The Ural Mountains form a natural boundary called the "Stone Belt" between Europe and Asia. Rich in mineral deposits, the Urals have long been a major source of industry for Russia. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Ural mountain range, as well as the cultures and ways of life of the people in Russia and Kazakhstan who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
This amazing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Great Victoria Desert in Australia. Used in modern times for mining and testing of atomic bombs, this vast, sandy area has been home to a number of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Although there is little rain, the blooms with a variety of plants. Readers will learn about the Mamungari Conservation Park located in the Great Victoria Desert, which is known for a eucalyptus tree called Ooldea mallee with large, spectacular red, pink, or yellow flowers. Special sections also describe the desert's natural resources, as well as the unique problems facing this region such as the introduction of non-native species of animals.
Running almost the full length of South America on its western coast, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. This remote and harsh environment saw the rise and fall of one of the great ancient civilizations of the world, the Incas. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Andes mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South America who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
