Grade 10 Up–This encyclopedia will serve students well with articles on such topics as tsunamis, global positioning systems, the ozone hole and the greenhouse effect (with an exceptionally clear diagram), as well as more prosaic and specialized geological terms. However, global warming does not have a separate article, nor are there any references to it listed in the index. This is a major shortcoming for students, who may be disappointed that this topic is not described with the same rigorous treatment as the others. The language is definitely for advanced students; it's clear but it assumes some prior knowledge. The longer articles include recommendations for further reading but there is no other documentation. Nineteen feature essays cover topics of relatively popular interest, like sea level rise, "Earthquake Warning Systems," and plate tectonics. Technical terms are defined in short entries, but there is no separate glossary. Indexing and cross-references are accurate. High-quality, black-and-white diagrams appear throughout. This volume is for serious students who may need to follow through on cross-references to understand fully the scientific vocabulary.–Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA
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From Booklist
This new encyclopedia from the Facts On File Science Library offers approximately 700 alphabetically arranged entries ranging from one paragraph to a few pages and covering earth science subdisciplines (hydrology, oceanography, and so on) as well as concepts, theories and hypotheses, places, events, geological time periods, history, technology, and key individuals. Many entries have further-reading lists and cross-references. There are hundreds of black-and-white photos, drawings, charts, and maps. The illustrations are generally clear and detailed. Nineteen feature essays are scattered throughout the text. Two appendixes follow the entries, one containing a periodic table of elements, the other displaying a geologic time scale and other information.
Earth science includes weather, so there are many entries for weather terms. One of the feature essays is on tsunamis, an eerily timely topic. Several entries discuss how scientists are getting better at predicting such natural disasters as earthquakes, flash floods, avalanches, and hurricanes.
There are a few things to quibble about, causing varying levels of frustration. One omission is an entry in the text and the index for the term bedrock, which appears in at least two entries (Groundwater and Soils) as well as in the illustrations that accompany them. A glossary of basic terms might have been a useful addition for the nonexpert reader. However, the strengths of this work far outweigh any weaknesses. On the whole, this is a solid introduction for most high-school, academic, and public libraries. Robin Hoelle
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