AGU Advanced Textbooks – serie

Natural hazards are present in every part of planet Earth. Sometimes a natural event – such as extreme weather, a volcanic eruption, earthquake or disease outbreak – turns into a disaster for humans, the environment, and the economy.Earth’s Natural Hazards and Disasters is a textbook for undergraduates that challenges students to think critically about disasters. It explains the science behind natural events and explores how to understand risk and prepare for disasters.About this volume: Covers hazards in the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphereExplains the science of hazards in accessible termsDetailed case studies of specific disasters for each type of natural eventExplores data-based risk mitigation strategiesDiscusses the roles of scientists, public officials, and the general public in hazard managementLearn more about this book in a Q&A with the author.The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

Understanding gemstones in a geological contextGemstones are colorful treasures of the Earth that have captivated humans for thousands of years. The physical and chemical characteristics of each type of gem provide insights into the geological processes that created them.Geology and Mineralogy of Gemstones is a textbook aimed at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. It presents the basic mineralogical and geological knowledge needed to understand gemstones and examines the characteristics and geological origins of different types of gemstone.Volume highlights include: Concepts in mineralogyStructure and chemical composition of mineralsGeological processes that lead to the formation and movement of gemstonesEquipment and tools used to examine gemstones and their physical propertiesThe American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

A comprehensive textbook presenting techniques for the analysis and characterization of shale playsSignificant reserves of hydrocarbons cannot be extracted using conventional methods. Improvements in techniques such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have increased access to unconventional hydrocarbon resources, ushering in the “shale boom” and disrupting the energy sector.Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources: Techniques for Reservoir Engineering Analysis covers the geochemistry, petrophysics, geomechanics, and economics of unconventional shale oil plays. The text uses a step-by-step approach to demonstrate industry-standard workflows for calculating resource volume and optimizing the extraction process.Volume highlights include: Methods for rock and fluid characterization of unconventional shale playsA workflow for analyzing wells with stimulated reservoir volume regionsAn unconventional approach to understanding of fluid flow through porous mediaA comprehensive summary of discoveries of massive shale resources worldwideData from Eagle Ford, Woodford, Wolfcamp, and The Bakken shale playsExamples, homework assignments, projects, and access to supplementary online resourcesHands-on teaching materials for use in petroleum engineering software applicationsThe American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

Finalist in the 2026 PROSE Award for Earth Science!A textbook that approaches geophysics from an Earth System Science perspectiveGeophysics helps us understand how our planet works by connecting complex real-world phenomena with fundamental physical laws. It provides the tools, both conceptual and quantitative, for understanding interactions between the different components of the Earth System: the solid earth, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere.Earth System Geophysics is a comprehensive textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in the Earth sciences that uses Earth System Science as the framework for learning about geophysics.About this volume: Presents convection as the underlying paradigm that drives the Earth SystemUses math and physics in an accessible way to understand processes on and within the EarthFrames natural processes and events in terms of cause and effectBuilds gradually from basic to advanced concepts and equationsDevelops quantitative skills through applied examplesHeavily referenced, allowing students to pursue topics in greater depthRelevant for students from across the physical sciences and engineeringLearn more about this book in a Q&A with the author.The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

A textbook applying fundamental seismology theories to the latest computational toolsThe goal of computational seismology is to digitally simulate seismic waves, create subsurface models, and match these models with observations to identify subsurface rock properties. With recent advances in computing technology, including machine learning, it is now possible to automate matching procedures and use waveform inversion or optimization to create large-scale models.Computation, Optimization, and Machine Learning in Seismology provides students with a detailed understanding of seismic wave theory, optimization theory, and how to use machine learning to interpret seismic data.Volume highlights include: Mathematical foundations and key equations for computational seismologyEssential theories, including wave propagation and elastic wave theoryProcessing, mapping, and interpretation of prestack dataModel-based optimization and artificial intelligence methodsApplications for earthquakes, exploration seismology, depth imaging, and multi-objective geophysics problemsExercises applying the main concepts of each chapter

An introduction to the physical principles underlying Earth remote sensing.The development of spaceborne remote sensing technology has led to a new understanding of the complexity of our planet by allowing us to observe Earth and its environments on spatial and temporal scales that are unavailable to terrestrial sensors.Remote Sensing Physics: An Introduction to Observing Earth from Space is a graduate-level text that examines the underlying physical principles and techniques used to make remote measurements, along with the algorithms used to extract geophysical information from those measurements.Volume highlights include: Basis for Earth remote sensing including ocean, land, and atmosphereDescription of satellite orbits relevant for Earth observationsPhysics of passive sensing, including infrared, optical and microwave imagersPhysics of active sensing, including radars and lidarsOverview of current and future Earth observation missionsCompendium of resources including an extensive bibliographySample problem sets and answers available to instructorsThe American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.

An initial course in scientific data analysis and hypothesis testing designed for students in all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplinesData Analysis for the Geosciences: Essentials of Uncertainty, Comparison, and Visualization is a textbook for upper-level undergraduate STEM students, designed to be their statistics course in a degree program.This volume provides a comprehensive introduction to data analysis, visualization, and data-model comparisons and metrics, within the framework of the uncertainty around the values. It offers a learning experience based on real data from the Earth, ocean, atmospheric, space, and planetary sciences.About this volume: Serves as an initial course in scientific data analysis and hypothesis testingFocuses on the methods of data processingIntroduces a wide range of analysis techniquesDescribes the many ways to compare data with modelsCenters on applications rather than derivationsExplains how to select appropriate statistics for meaningful decisionsExplores the importance of the concept of uncertaintyUses examples from real geoscience observationsHomework problems at the end of chaptersThe American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.