Aerial Geology

An absolutely gorgeous aerial journey through the North American continent - a definite feast for the eyes and a great reminder of the importance of protecting the beauty of our environment.

This is another book I would prefer to have in print, and I may have to find myself a copy.

This stunning tome works on several levels - you can flick through the jawdropping images and simply marvel at the beauty of it. Or you can read some of the fact boxes and really get to understand why the hills, valleys, canyons and craters are the way they are. The level of explanation is perfect - not too scientific but enough to really give a good idea to the beginner.

Everyone should find something to spark their interest and become a budding geology enthusiast. For old hands like me it is a fascinating journey through lands I have never visited.

Everything about this book can be wrapped up into 3 letters: WOW. I'm fascinated by the author's easy-to-understand explanations of the geology of various regions in North America, and want to absorb all of that knowledge. But, then, there are the extraordinary images for each of those regions that blow the mind. It makes me want to travel there. Plus, there are little things, such as the "flight plan" boxes that provide hints for observing each area while traveling by plane. All organized into visually appealing pages, making for an extraordinary reading/viewing experience. I'd highly recommend this book to geology buffs as well as those with just an interest in traveling to some of these regions. You'll learn a lot and enjoy your visit even more with this knowledge.

This book is packed with beautiful photographs, and I can hardly wait to buy a printed copy so I can see it better and examine it more carefully. It's excellent!

Nonfiction
Adult
I think it was the great Allan Fotheringham who wrote the Rockies are always a spectacular sight, no matter how many times one sees them. Ain’t it the truth, Dr. Foth. Geologist and science writer Mary Caperton Morton takes us on an aerial tour of our continent, serving as a guide to the spectacular formations that, Rockies aside, likely mystify us as we look out the window on our cross-country flights. What is that canyon/lake/river? Morton expertly guides us through what she calls 100 geological wonders, using photos and satellite images to show us, as the subtitle promises, “A High-Altitude Tour of North America’s Spectacular Volcanoes, Canyons, Glaciers, Lakes, Craters, and Peaks.” The photos themselves are beautiful, and Morton explains how each formation developed using accessible language and clear diagrams to help readers understand the science. This is a full-colour coffee table book, but it is fascinating reading. Morton opens with a short introduction of the geologic forces that are creating pressure on the tectonic plates beneath and next to our continent. That pressure results in earthquakes and eruptions as well as slower changes that shape our landscape and create the wide range of rocks we see around us, from pretty quartz and solid granite peaks to eroding sandstone stacks. The book spans the full continent, from Alaskan glaciers to the craters of Mexico, but a full two-thirds is devoted to the West, the best part, of course! Each entry typically opens with an aerial shot of the area, what you would likely see from an airplane seat on a clear day. Most are from NASA’s image bank and Morton includes URLs to this primary source. She provides an easy-to understand explanation of the geological formation with additional photos and graphics providing further clarification or detail. I like that she lists the province and or state where the formation is found, and includes a locator map. It is so fascinating to explore familiar formations such as the fossil beds of Yoho National Park or Mount St. Helens’ still visible blast zone, and come to see the big continental picture through a geologist’s eyes. The full-colour photos are spectacular, and are sure to inspire readers to build on their travel bucket list. It’s back to Utah for me to explore Goosenecks State Park and that awesome San Rafael Swell – how did I miss that? I also enjoyed learning interesting facts – thanks to the tectonic pressure, our mountains are still growing, but not at the same rate. Alaska’s Mount Denali will gain about a metre in height over the average North American’s lifespan, compared to Mount Whitney in California which will rise about eight centimetres in the same period. Captivating as well as beautiful. My thanks to Timber Press for the advance reading copy provided in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33590046

Well-written, interesting look at American geology

Mary Caperton Morton starts with a simple-to-understand introduction to geology and then brings the geology to life with well-written but concise articles and great photographs on various geological features of North America. My one quibble with the book is that of the 100 geological wonders she discusses, 84 were in the United States, so I am not confident that the most interesting geology of North America is well represented. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book and can recommend it for anyone interested in geology.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

I absolutely adored this book. As someone not born in the continental United States I was unaware of the existence of some of the geological formations featured in these stunning photographs. I now want to visit most of them!

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Seeing is believing in this spectacular look at
North America!

Stunning photos that really make you think about what's out there. I had a really intense desire to travel after seeing these photos. Will make a great gift for the upcoming holiday year.