This book investigates the role of the National Petroleum Council (CNP) and especially of Petrobras in the construction and shaping of courses in Geosciences, as part of the historical process of the search for and exploration of oil, which began in Brazil in 1864 and ended in 1968 with the discovery of the first offshore well. The book explores the history of the discovery of oil in Brazil together with the historical development of oil research and geosciences in Brazil. It also elucidates significant events and developments which occurred between 1864 and 1968 such as the foundation of the Ouro Preto Mining School, the foundation of the CNP and Petrobras and other scientific societies and universities and their contributions to the formation and constitution of geosciences in Brazil. This book also discusses the massive investments by CNP and Petrobras in technical and scientific research for oil exploration in the Brazilian territory.This unique book appeals to scientists, students and professionals in geosciences, history and related fields.

Indian Shield: Precambrian Evolution and Phanerozoic Reconstitution highlights unique evolutionary trends covering a period of over 3,500 million years, from the oldest crust to the most recent geological activity of the Indian Subcontinent. The book discusses regional terrain geology in terms of the evolutionary history of the crust, describing how the Precambrian Shield evolved from a stable continental region to a tectonically unstable zone marked by frequent high-intensity earthquakes in a Plate-interior setting. It is a complete and readable account of the history of growth and evolution of the Indian Subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The book is intended for graduate students, researchers, and teachers in the geosciences, especially geophysics, geomorphology and geology. The book also serves as an important resource for tectonics and petrology researchers, as well as those involved in exploration of mineral resources.

As part of its efforts to improve fertilizer use and efficiency in West Africa, and following the recent adoption of the West African fertilizer recommendation action plan (RAP) by ECOWAS, this volume focuses on IFDC's technical lead with key partner institutions and experts to build on previous and current fertilizer recommendations for various crops and countries in West Africa for wider uptake by public policy makers and fertilizer industry actors.

The IUPAC Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems provides the scientific community with a critical evaluation of the state of the art on physicochemical structures and reactions in environmental systems, as well as on the analytical techniques required to study and monitor these systems. The series is aimed at promoting rigorous analysis and understanding of physicochemical functioning of environmental systems.

Soil, water and air are the major environmental media. Few pollutants and nutrients are restricted to only one medium. Thus what happens in soil environments has subsequent impacts on water and air.

The three major (solid) components of soil - minerals, organic components and microorganisms - together profoundly affect the physicochemical and biological properties of terrestrial systems. To date, there have been major scientific accomplishments in individual sub-disciplines, i.e., in the chemistry of soil minerals, the chemistry of soil organic matter and soil microbiology. However, minerals, organic matter and microorganisms should not be considered as separate entities but rather as a united system, with the components constantly in close association and interaction with each other in the terrestrial environment. These interactions have an enormous impact on terrestrial processes critical to environmental quality and ecosystem health.

Interactions between Soil Particles and Microorganisms provides the scientific community with a critical evaluation of state-of-the-art research on the interactions of soil minerals with organic components and microorganisms, with the goal of advancing the understanding of reactions and processes at the interface between chemistry and biology of soil and related environments. In view of the significance of these interactions, there is a need for an advanced treatise to focus on these interactions at the molecular and microscopic levels.

Key features:

• The first book to provide a comprehensive review of current research into the interactions of minerals, organic components and microorganisms in the soil

• Defines the impact that these interactions have on environmental quality and ecosystem health around the globe

• Provides a unique insight into the effects of mineral-organic component-microorganism interactions on pollutants in the soil, which is necessary for all environmental scientists working in this area

• Provides a basis for stimulating further research into the dynamics and mechanisms of environmental processes in nature

Climate Change: Alternate Governance Policy for South Asia provides an assessment of climate change issues through the socioeconomic lens of one of the world's poorest, most populous regions. Although climate change is a global issue, localized solutions have become increasingly necessary to address political, economic and cultural factors in underdeveloped regions. Identifying successes, gaps and shortcomings in existing policies and regional laws relating to climate change, this book evaluates the sustainability of current practices, examining mitigation strategies and suggesting a comprehensive, innovative model of sustainable policies and governance strategy specific to the region. While the book approaches climate change, policy and mitigation from a regionally-focused standpoint, it has an underlying philosophy of Think Global, Act Local, making it universally applicable to anyone interested in climate change and its effects.

This volume represents a contribution to the growing literature on international and comparative climate change policy. The product of a research project of the International Bar Association Section on Energy and Natural Resources Law (SERL), it brings together leading academic lawyers from around the world, who provide detailed perspectives on what individual countries are doing (or, in some cases, not doing) to address the climate change problem. The book illustrates the range of national actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including incentives for renewable energy sources, forestry activities, voluntary agreements with industry, and emissions trading schemes. By including experts from both industrialized and developing countries, it also highlights the very differing perspectives that must be addressed in any international climate change regime, whether under Kyoto or a successor. These detailed case studies provide a rich array of material, which should be of significant interest not only to academic and business lawyers, but also to economists and energy experts, government officials, and NGOs.

There is much scientific interest in ice, both because of its unique and intriguing properties and because of its importance in the natural environment. This book is written for professional scientists and engineers, and is the only currently available book of its kind. It describes the physical properties of ice, interprets them in terms of its molecular structure, and shows their relevance to the forms of ice found on Earth and in space.

Water Policy Science and Politics: An Indian Perspective presents the importance of politics and science working together in policymaking in the water sector. Many countries around the developed and developing world, including India, are experiencing major water scarcity problems that will undoubtedly increase with the impacts of climate change. This book discusses specific topics in India's water, agriculture and energy sectors, focusing on scientific aspects, academic and political discourse, and policy issues. The author presents cases from the interrelated sectors of water resources, supplies, sanitation, and energy and climate, including controversial topics that illustrate how science and politics can work together.

The establishment of clean, safe water is one of the major challenges facing societies around the globe. The continued urbanization of human populations, the increasing manipulation of natural resources, and the resulting pollution are driving remarkable burden on water resources. Increasing demands for food, energy, and natural resources are expected to continue to accelerate in the near future in response to the demands of these changing human populations. In addition, the complexity of human activities is leading to a diversity of new chemical contaminants in the environment that represent a major concern for water managers. This will create increased pressure on both water quantity and quality, making it increasingly difficult to provide a sustainable supply of water for human welfare and activities. Although protection of water resources is the best long-term solution, we will also need innovative novel approaches and technologies to water treatment to ensure an adequate superior quality resource to meet these needs. Solving tomorrow's water issues will require unique approaches that incorporate emerging new technologies. Great advances have been made in the area of nanotechnology. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, nanomaterials are extensively used in antibacterial medical products, membrane filters, electronics, catalysts, and biosensors. Nanoparticles can have distinctly different properties from their bulk counterparts, creating the opportunity for new materials with a diversity of applications. Recent developments related to water treatment include the potential use of carbon nanotubes, nanocompositae, nanospheres, nanofibers, and nanowires for the removal of a diversity of chemical pollutants. By exploiting the assets and structure of these new materials, such as increased surface area, high reactivity, and photocatalytic action, it will be possible to create technologies that can be very efficient at removing and degrading environmental pollutants. Understanding and using these unique properties should lead to innovative, cost-effective applications for addressing the complexities of emerging needs for water treatment and protection. Although still in the early stages, research into the application of nanotechnology shows great promise for solving some of these major global water issues. This comprehensive text describes the latest research and application methods in this rapidly advancing field.

First explored by naturalist William Bartram in the 1760s, the St. Johns River stretches 310 miles along Florida's east coast, making it the longest river in the state. The first "highway" through the once wild interior of Florida, the St. Johns may appear ordinary, but within its banks are some of the most fascinating natural phenomena and historic mysteries in the state. The river, no longer the commercial resource it once was, is now largely ignored by Florida's residents and visitors alike. In the first contemporary book about this American Heritage River, Bill Belleville describes his journey down the length of the St. Johns, kayaking, boating, hiking its riverbanks, diving its springs, and exploring its underwater caves. He rediscovers the natural Florida and establishes his connection with a place once loved for its untamed beauty. Belleville involves scientists, environmentalists, fishermen, cave divers, and folk historians in his journey, soliciting their companionship and their expertise. River of Lakes weaves together the biological, cultural, anthropological, archaeological, and ecological aspects of the St. Johns, capturing the essence of its remarkable history and intrinsic value as a natural wonder.

This book presents a state-of-the-art analysis of energy efficiency as applied to mining processes. From ground fragmentation to mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, experts discuss the current state of knowledge and the nagging questions that call for further research. It offers an excellent resource for all mine managers and engineers who want to improve energy efficiency to boost both production efficiency and sustainability. It will also benefit graduate students and experienced researchers looking for a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge concerning energy efficiency in the minerals industry.

Soil Carbon Storage: Modulators, Mechanisms and Modeling takes a novel approach to the issue of soil carbon storage by considering soil C sequestration as a function of the interaction between biotic (e.g. microbes and plants) and abiotic (climate, soil types, management practices) modulators as a key driver of soil C. These modulators are central to C balance through their processing of C from both plant inputs and native soil organic matter. This book considers this concept in the light of state-of-the-art methodologies that elucidate these interactions and increase our understanding of a vitally important, but poorly characterized component of the global C cycle. The book provides soil scientists with a comprehensive, mechanistic, quantitative and predictive understanding of soil carbon storage. It presents a new framework that can be included in predictive models and management practices for better prediction and enhanced C storage in soils.