Offers an interdisciplinary discussion of both natural and human-induced global environmental change at various scales (space and time). Provides a comprehensive description of how advances in the physical, biological, and geological sciences are being integrated to understand the interplay between the Earth's components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere). Topics include the Earth's building blocks, the Earth through time, natural hazards, natural resources, and Earth system cycles (such as weather, climate change, and atmospheric pollution).