In this chapter, very brief scenarios of the complex interaction of solar radiations with the Earth’s magnetosphere are presented and the intricate origin of the (i) sferics, (ii) pulsations and micropulsations, (iii) variations of the extraterrestrial magnetic fields, (iv) Van Allen Radiation belts, (v) ionosphere, (vi) ring current, (vii) magnetopause, (viii) magnetic sheath, (ix) magnetotail and (x) magnetic storms are discussed. The various branches of geophysics, evolved because of this time varying natural source electromagnetics, are also discussed in reasonable detail. They are (i) telluric current methods (T), (ii) magnetotellurics (MT), (iii) audiofrequency magnetotellurics (AMT), (iv) geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS), (v) magnetometer array studies (MA), (vi) magneto-variational sounding (MVS), marine MT (MMT) and (vii) the audio-frequency magnetic method (AFMAG). A few controlled-source auxiliary tools that are used along with MT and AMT are: (i) controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT), (ii) long/offset transient electromagnetics (LOTEM), (iii) marine controlled electromagnetic (CSEM) and radiomagnetotellurics (RMT). Brief discussions on mathematical modelling and inversion are included to touch upon the interpretational aspects of geophysical data. <...>

Natural hazards are associated with land, ocean and atmospheric processes, and their impacts on human societies. Over the years, the interactions between land, ocean, biosphere and atmosphere have increased, mainly due to population growth and anthropogenic activities, which have impacted the climate and weather conditions at local, regional and global scales.

SIEGESMUND, S., WEISS, T. & VoLLBRECHT, A. Natural stone, weathering phenomena, conservation strategies and case studies: introduction
Weathering of natural building stones
ONDRASINA, I, KIRCHNER, D. & SIEGESMUND, S. Freeze-thaw cycles and their influence on marble deterioration: a long-term experiment
THOMACHOT, C. & JEANNETTE, D. Evolution of the petrophysical properties of two types of Alsatian sandstone subjected to simulated freeze-thaw conditions
CASSAR, J. Deterioration of the Globigerina Limestone of the Maltese Islands

Weathering processes
DOEHNE, E. Salt weathering: a selective review

In the Bazhenovskoye chrysotile–asbestos deposit (Middle Urals), nephrite bodies of the serpentinite type were found on the contact of after gabbro rodingites and serpentinites. The color is uniform to non-uniform, green to light green, bluish green, greyish green, and whitish. Spots, streaks, lenticules of bright bluish-green or, on the contrary, light green color are sometimes noted.