A comprehensive encyclopedia of the earth sciences gearing itself toward a wide audience of students and non-scientists without patronizing their intelligence. The two-volume set's 360 entries written by scholars and scientists from government and industrial positions are grouped alphabetically into categories touching on topics in the solid and surficial earth processes, earth resources and stewardship, earth sciences in the public eye, and earth in space. Each area acknowledges the shifting priorities of contemporary science and new discoveries related to environmental concerns, land rights, new findings in plate tectonics, and the ever-flowing information from recent space exploration. The entries are cross-referenced with short bibliographies. Includes photographs and illustrations. A lower set price of $165.00 is available until 12/96. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Read Less