The Encyclopedia of Earth Science is intended to provide a broad view of some of the most important subjects in the field of earth sciences. The topics covered in the encyclopedia include longer entries on the many broad subdisciplines in the earth sciences (hydrology, structural geology, petrology, isotope geology, geochemistry, geomorphology, atmospheric sciences, climate, and oceanography), along with entries on concepts, theories and hypotheses, places, events, the major periods of geological time, history, people who have made significant contributions to thefield, technology and instruments, organizations, and other subjects.