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DICTIONARY OF

GEOPHYSICS,

ASTROPHYSICS,

AND

ASTRONOMY

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

COMPREHENSIVE DICTIONARY

OF PHYSICS

Dipak Basu

Editor-in-Chief

PUBLISHED VOLUMES

Dictionary of Pure and Applied Physics

Dipak Basu

Dictionary of Material Science

and High Energy Physics

Dipak Basu

Dictionary of Geophysics, Astrophysics,

and Astronomy

Richard A. Matzner

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

A VOLUME IN THE

COMPREHENSIVE DICTIONARY

OF PHYSICS

DICTIONARY OF

GEOPHYSICS,

ASTROPHYSICS,

AND

ASTRONOMY

Edited by

Richard A. Matzner

CRC Press

Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C.

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dictionary of geophysics, astrophysics, and astronomy / edited by Richard A. Matzner. p. cm. — (Comprehensive dictionary of physics)

ISBN 0-8493-2891-8 (alk. paper)

1. Astronomy—Dictionaries. 2. Geophysics—Dictionaries. I. Matzner, Richard A.

(Richard Alfred), 1942II. Series.

 

QB14 .D53 2001

 

520.3—dc21

2001025764

This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.

Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

All rights reserved. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the personal or internal use of specific clients, may be granted by CRC Press LLC, provided that $1.50 per page photocopied is paid directly to Copyright clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 USA. The fee code for users of the Transactional Reporting Service is ISBN 0-8493-2891-8/01/$0.00+$1.50. The fee is subject to change without notice. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged.

The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying.

Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431.

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Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

No claim to original U.S. Government works

International Standard Book Number 0-8493-2891-8

Library of Congress Card Number 2001025764

Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

Printed on acid-free paper

PREFACE

This work is the result of contributions from 52 active researchers in geophysics, astrophysics and astronomy. We have followed a philosophy of directness and simplicity, while still allowing contributors flexibility to expand in their own areas of expertise. They are cited in the contributors’ list, but I take this opportunity to thank the contributors for their efforts and their patience.

The subject areas of this dictionary at the time of this writing are among the most active of the physical sciences. Astrophysics and astronomy are enjoying a new golden era, with remarkable observations in new wave bands (γ -rays, X-rays, infrared, radio) and in new fields: neutrino and (soon) gravitational wave astronomy. High resolution mapping of planets continuously yields new discoveries in the history and the environment of the solar system. Theoretical developments are matching these observational results, with new understandings from the largest cosmological scale to the interior of the planets. Geophysics mirrors and drives this research in its study of our own planet, and the analogies it finds in other solar system bodies. Climate change (atmospheric and oceanic long-timescale dynamics) is a transcendingly important societal, as well as scientific, issue. This dictionary provides the background and context for development for decades to come in these and related fields. It is our hope that this dictionary will be of use to students and established researchers alike.

It is a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Helen Nelson, and later, Ms. Colleen McMillon, in the construction of this work. Finally, I acknowledge the debt I owe to Dr. C.F. Keller, and to the late Prof. Dennis Sciama, who so broadened my horizons in the subjects of this dictionary.

Richard Matzner

Austin, Texas

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

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