|
Humankind is under the
permanent influence of the geological
environment. Roles of some geological biotropic factors, such as volcanic
explosions, strong earthquakes, and geochemical anomalies, have been well
studied. Little is known about biotropic effects of the Earth’s fluid
degassing, geomagnetic activity, natural background radiation, fluid
migration and gas emission within fault zones, mild seismicity, cyclicity
of tectonic and climatic processes, etc. This book is the first attempt to
synthesize the interdisciplinary knowledge on all geogenic factors
influencing humans, society, and civilization.
The book consists of two
parts. The first part represents the state-of-the-art in the field of geo-bio-interactions.
Chapter 1 demonstrates mutual relations between the fluid degassing of the
Earth’s liquid outer core and the origin of oil, life, and the biosphere.
Chapter 2 looks at the stable isotope fractionation in the human body and the role
of natural background
radiation in natural selection. Chapter 3 discusses
health effects of geochemical anomalies. Chapter 4 investigates the
potential of geopsychology, the study of the impact of geophysical and
geochemical variables on human behavior. The second part of the book
introduces particular examples of the influence of the geological
environment on the biosphere and anthroposphere. Chapter 5 considers the
seismically-induced dependence of plant intrapopulation variability within
active fault zones. Chapter 6 probes into geological and geophysical
peculiarities of fault zones influencing human health in the urban
environment. Chapter 7 considers health effects of mild seismic events
causing local variations of geophysical and geochemical parameters. Chapter
8 investigates the role of geomagnetic activity and seismicity in the
occurrence of mystical experience and sacralization of the landscape.
Chapter 9 presents a broad picture of historical development displaying
periodicity synchronous with cycles of climate and endogenous activity.
Chapter 10 discusses multiple biotropic impacts of the Earth’s deep
hydrogen degassing, which is responsible for seismic and volcanic activity,
fluid migration and gas emission within rift and fault zones, ozone
depletion, and climate fluctuations.
The scientific intrigue of the book resides in the
fact that most geogenic biotropic factors are functions or manifestations
of two “meta-agents” – the deep degassing of the Earth and the geomagnetic
field – which are generated by processes in the liquid outer core. This
book, written by leading international experts, will be of interest to a
wide audience of geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, biologists,
biochemists, biophysicists, medical scientists, psychologists, anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians.
|