"Images of earth made from space show a blue orb wreathed in tendrils of cloud, a placid-looking sanctuary in the solar system to the unknowing eye, perhaps. But the geologic forces that created our planet are anything but placid. Earth's misty veil harbors severe storms and extreme weather, as well as the atmosphere that makes our planet habitable. Nature never lets us forget her duality." "Through satellite uplinks and other technological advances, we view almost instantly the horrifying aftermath of natural disasters anywhere on earth. Yet, science seems powerless to prevent natural disasters from turning into human ones." "But is it? Raging Forces: Earth in Upheaval takes readers from scenes of destruction to frontiers of scientific inquiry. Why do some thunderstorms fling jetliners to the ground? Can earthquakes accurately be predicted? Are the recent extreme weather events a fluke or signs of global climate change?" "Gripping text and 183 photographs offer surprising insights into the raging forces of nature."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved