Author Description

All too often geology is not applied when it should be, with disastrous or unnecessarily expensive consequences. The aim of this book is to improve communication between geologists and decision makers, to demonstrate the types of problems to which geological information and expertise are relevant, and to indicate the great volume of national and international information that is available. More than 230 geologists from 21 national geological surveys and associated institutions have collaborated to provide a summary of the geology, the natural resources, and the geological hazards of Western Europe, together with examples of the benefits of applying geological techniques to understanding, conserving, and developing the environment. Each chapter gives a concise but informative summary of the subject concerned, backed up by a series of case studies. While its geological content will be of interest to Earth scientists generally, the book is accessible to nonspecialists, and is intended to bridge the gap between geologists and all those concerned with the environment, including national and local policymakers, planners, teachers, and administrators.