Fire on Earth: An Introduction

This book puts fire in its rightful place as an integral part of the study of geology, biology, human history, physics, and global chemistry. In recent years fire literature has multiplied exponentially; dedicated journals exist and half a dozen international conferences are held annually. Containing over 250 illustrations of fire in all contexts, this book is designed to provide a synthesis of contemporary thinking; bringing together the most powerful concepts and disciplinary voices to examine, in an international setting, why planetary fire exists, how it works, and why it looks the way it does today.
Students, lecturers, researchers and professionals interested in the physical, ecological and historical characteristics of fire will find this book, and accompanying web-based material, essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all related disciplines, for general interest and for providing an interdisciplinary foundation for further study.