Book description
Impact cratering is arguably the most ubiquitous geological process
in the Solar System. It has played an important role in Earth's
history, shaping the geological landscape, affecting the evolution of
life, and generating economic resources. However, it was only in the
latter half of the 20th century that the importance of impact
cratering as a geological process was recognized and only during the
past couple of decades that the study of meteorite impact structures
has moved into the mainstream. This book seeks to fill a critical gap
in the literature by providing an overview text covering broad aspects
of the impact cratering process and aimed at graduate students,
professionals and researchers alike. It introduces readers to the
threat and nature of impactors, the impact cratering process, the
products, and the effects - both destructive and beneficial. A series
of chapters on the various techniques used to study impact craters
provide a foundation for anyone studying impact craters for the first time.
Dr. Gordon “Oz” Osinski is the NSERC/MDA/CSA Industrial
Research Chair in Planetary Geology in the Departments of Earth
Sciences and Physics and Astronomy at Western University, Canada. He
holds a B. Sc. (Hons) First Class in Geology from the University of
St. Andrews, Scotland (1999) and a Ph. D., also in Geology (2004),
from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. His research covers the
tectonics of impact crater formation, the generation of impact melts,
emplacement of ejecta, and post-impact processes such as
impact-associated hydrothermal activity. He has published more than 70
papers in peer-reviewed journals and special papers and has given over
60 conference presentations since 2001.
Dr. Elisabetta Pierazzo , who tragically died during the
preparation of this book, was a Research Scientist at the Planetary
Science Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Research Scientist at
the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, both
located in Tucson, Arizona. She held a Laurea in Physics from the
University of Padua, Italy (1988) and a Ph. D. in Planetary Sciences
from University of Arizona (1997). She was a world renowned expert on
the numerical modelling of impact events, focusing on the
environmental effects of impact events, oblique impacts, and impact
melt production.
