Students on such modules are taught together (a typical lecture size is 60-80) and have a wideranging ability in maths - some will have A-level maths, some will not. There is a distinct need for a statistics textbook that all students can work through, regardless of their geography or earth science stream degree pathway and their existing mathematical knowledge. The main rationale for the?text is to demystify the mathematical component of statistics and to present these techniques in a digestible fashion. This will be achieved through case studies that illustrate the workings of each technique, through photographs and diagrams that help students visualise some of the processes involved and through a clear explanation of how statistical software packages work. The book will also be supported by a website that will hold downloadable datasets used in each of the cases.