Preface and Acknowledgements
- Page ID
- 30336
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Welcome to Introduction to Earth Science. This book was designed to serve California community college students by meeting the requirements for C-ID GEOL 121. The textbook is a remix, drawing from peer-reviewed Open Educational Resources (OER) to provide an academically rigorous yet accessible introduction to Earth's dynamic systems.
Concepts covered include geology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy, emphasizing scientific methodology and environmental stewardship. The textbook will take you on a virtual journey to explore the processes that created and shape our planet, including the unifying theory of plate tectonics (e.g., directly or indirectly responsible for Earth's mountains, valleys, oceans, varied topography, and granite countertops), the rock cycle, the heat engines of oceanic and atmospheric circulation, climate, weather, and the complex interactions between Earth's systems and human activity.
This textbook synthesizes OER educational materials from authors who have generously contributed their work to advance scientific education. The goal of incorporating peer-reviewed OER materials is to maintain high academic standards while ensuring accessibility and adaptability for our diverse California community college student population. This approach reflects our commitment to academic excellence and educational equity, removing financial barriers while maintaining scholarly rigor.
It is hoped that this textbook will enable you to develop a greater understanding and abiding appreciation for our amazing planet!
Contributing authors:
Matt Affolter, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Callan Bentley, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Jennifer Campbell, Tulsa Community College
R. Adam Dastrup, Open Geography Education
Steven Earle, Vancouver Island University via BCCampus
Bill Freedman, Dalhousie University via BCCampus
Melissa Ha, Yuba College via ASCCC
Paul Inkenbrandt, Salt Lake Community College via OpenGeology
Shelly Jaye, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Russ Kohrs, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Karen Layou, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Lori Mayberry, Tulsa Community College
Cam Mosher, Salt Lake Community College via OpenGeology
Brian Rickets, VIVA, the Virginia Library Consortium
Rachel Schleiger, Butte College via ASCCC
Andreas Schmittner, Oregon State University
Kimberly Schulte, Columbia Basin College via Lumen Learning
Walid Shihabi, Tulsa Community College
Paul Webb, Roger Williams University
Contributing organizations:
CK-12
Lumen Learning
Met Office
Miracosta Oceanography 101
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Open Geography
PZmaps
United States Geological Survey
Wikibooks