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Books > Earth & environment > Earth sciences > General
Based on the "go to" book in the field of ecological risk assessment, this shorter, principles-based, updated textbook is essential for students and new practitioners who want to understand the purposes of environmental assessments and how to achieve them. It includes environmental risks to humans as well as nonhuman populations and ecosystems, and most types of environmental assessments. Drawing upon the author’s extensive experience in the field, first as a senior research staff member in the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge Laboratory and then as science adviser in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Center for Environmental Assessment, the book explains fundamental principles and basic techniques and illustrates them with example applications which carry through multiple chapters and make this book a practical and hands-on guide. Both the content and the style are inviting and approachable to different levels of students. Features 1. Integrates human health and ecological assessments. 2. Includes epidemiological, risk, causal, impact, and outcome assessments. 3. Focuses on fundamental principles that are applicable in all nations and legal contexts. 4. Employs an engaging style and draws on the author’s practical experience. 5. Explains fundamental concepts in short chapters, making it perfect for beginners in the field. 6. Explains the challenges and rewards of a career in environmental assessment. This book is a practical guide for senior and graduate students in environmental sciences and management, as well as new practitioners of assessment who want to understand the purposes of environmental assessments and how to achieve them.
Learn about scales of measurement used in everything from meteorology to music notation in this comprehensive and informative reference guide. Measurement is constantly all around us. It forms the foundations of science - the ohms and amps of physics and the moles and isotopes of chemistry - and shapes our every day. Our relationships with measurement start the moment we wake and check the day's temperature and continue until the precise second we go to sleep. But beyond the familiar measurements, hundreds more are listed in this entertaining and revealing reference book. Packed with unusual and fascinating facts ranging from everyday amounts, such as how much salt is there in a pinch (1/8 teaspoon), to key scientific measurements, including the parsec, which is equivalent to 3.26 light-years, or just over 19.26 trillion miles, How to Measure Anything's entries are accompanied by diagrams, symbols and illustrations to help demonstrate these concepts and measurements in action. The methods used to measure food, photography, finance, commerce, magnetism, atomic physics are just a fraction of the areas covered in this essential guide that helps us to better understand how our world works.
This classic textbook is now in its fourth edition and Steven Stanley has teamed up with John Luczaj, an award winning field geologist. Written from a truly integrated earth systems perspective this updated edition includes new coverage on mass extinction, the hot topic of climate change and Proterozoic history. There is a wide range of interactive studying and teaching tools available with this text, because of LaunchPad access. Earth System History is available with LaunchPad. LaunchPad combines an interactive ebook with high-quality multimedia content and ready-made assessment options, including LearningCurve adaptive quizzing. See 'Instructor Resources' and 'Student Resources' for further information.
-Offers an interdisciplinary, three-lesson module using project- and problem-based learning to help ninth-grade students investigate different epochs and time periods of the Earth's formation. -Written and developed for ninth grade teachers, the book offers lesson plans guiding students to identify, define and describe the attributes scientists use to delineate Earth's eras, periods, and epochs, in order to determine the appropriate boundary event to define the Anthropocene Epoch, and to develop a publication-ready textbook entry for an Earth science textbook. -Anchored in the Next Generation Science Standards, the Common Core State Standards, and the Framework for 21st Century Learning, which can be used in full or in part to meet the needs of districts, schools and teachers charting a course toward an integrated STEM approach.
Designed in direct response to student surveys, focus groups and interviews, Hendrix/Thompson's EARTH SCIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION, 3rd Edition, delivers concise yet comprehensive coverage in an engaging and accessible format for majors and non-majors alike. The revised text brings concepts to life with current research and examples, a new-and-improved art program, over 150 new photos, and a clean, modern design. A second-to-none supplements package equips you with a wealth of resources, including MindTap--the digital learning solution that enables you to learn on your own terms.
Mathematical models and methods are required for diverse studies in Geosciences and simultaneously, new problems are posing new needs where Mathematics is needed. At the initiative of American and Canadian research mathematical institutes and societies, year 2013 was declared a thematic year in Mathematics and the Planet Earth, under the patronage of UNESCO. To mark the MPE2013, and highlight the two-way street between Mathematics and Earth Sciences, the workshop "Mathematics and Geosciences: Global and Local Perspectives" was hold in Madrid at ICMAT from 4-8 November, 2013. This is the first volume of the Topical Issue on "Mathematics and Geosciences: Global and Local Perspectives" and contains 13 papers, most of which were presented at the congress. They address different topics under both global and local perspectives such as the percolation theory to observe micro seismicity in fracking, fractional differential analysis to model complex dynamics, climate change, earthquake statistics, earth rotation, geomagnetic field, fire models, Mars exploration, numerical methods in meteorology and environmental conservation, probabilistic models in study of soils and fluid mechanics. This volume addresses the interest of scientists of many of the branches in Earth Sciences as well as postgraduate students, covering both approaches, applied and theoretical ones, to solve different problems in Geosciences with the help of mathematical models and methods.
Provides a well-explained and backgrounded, up-to-date account of close binary systems, in a fast-moving field of research that is growing in scientific importance Surveys a wide range of case-studies within the context of binary and multiple star systems Fills an acknowledged gap in current literature
This volume opens up new perspectives on the physics of the Earth's interior and planetary bodies for graduate students and researchers working in the fields of geophysics, planetary sciences and geodesy. It looks at our planet in an integrated fashion, linking the physics of its interior to geophysical and geodetic techniques that record, over a broad spectrum of spatial wavelengths and time scales, the ongoing modifications in the shape and gravity field of the planet. Basic issues related to the rheological properties of the Earth and to its slow deformation are considered, in both mathematical and physical terms, within the framework of an analytical relaxation theory. Fundamentals of this theory are developed in the first two Chapters. Chapters 3-9 deal with a wide range of applications, ranging from changes in the Earth's rotation to post-seismic deformation and from sea-level variations induced by post-glacial rebound to tidal deformation of icy moons of the Solar System. This Second Edition improves substantially our formalism implementing compressibility in viscoelastic relaxation. Chapter 5 now contains new developments in the physics of the gravitational effects of large earthquakes at subduction zones, made possible by new gravity data from space missions. The new Chapter 9 of this Second Edition on deformation and stresses of icy moons enlarges the applications of the book to Planetology, dealing with the additional complications in the theory of viscoelastic relaxation introduced by the shallow low-viscosity zones and inviscid water layers of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
*Documents the use of environmental science and related disciplines in the identification and development of specific climate actions *Includes original actions that represent a wide variety of locations in the U.S. and abroad *Presents actions that are currently being implemented and explains what is needed to interested communities *Provides specific and unique examples, such as the degradation of soil and water resources in the U.S. and abroad, critical natural area threats in the tall grass prairies in North America, and the need for fresh water during drought and water shortages in northern California *Addresses global concerns related to climate actions, their differences and similarities
First published in 1967, this book explores the theme of geographical generalization, or model building. It is composed of eight of the chapters from the original Models in Geography, published in 1967. The first chapter broadly outlines geographical generalization and examines the nature and function of generalized statements, ranging from conceptual models to scale models, in a geographical context. The following chapter deals with model theory in a wider scientific framework and the rest of the book discusses models of physical systems and information models. The book considers model-type generalizations that are applied in the three fields of geomorphology, meteorology and climatology, and hydrology before focusing on the transference of information and ideas in geography. This text represents a robustly anti-idiographic statement of modern work in one of the major branches of geography.
This collection calls for improved technical communication for the public through an embodied, situated understanding of environmental risk that promotes social justice. In addition to providing a series of chapters about recent issues on risk communication, this volume offers a diverse look at methodological practices for students, researchers, and practitioners looking to address embodied aspects of crisis and risk that incorporate UX, storytelling, and dynamic text. It includes chapters that bring embodiment to the forefront of risk communication, highlighting the cycle of content creation, dissemination, public response and decision making, continuing iterations of educational efforts, and recovery, toward increasing adaptive capacity as a whole. In addition, this work directs necessary attention to overcoming perceptual difficulties, memory lapses, definitional differences, access issues, and pedagogical problems in the communication of risks to diverse publics. This collection is essential reading for scholars and can be used as a supplemental text or casebook for courses in technical communication, environmental communication, risk and crisis communication, science communication, and public health.
Chaotic dynamic systems and non-linear processes, together with the resulting fractals and multifractals, are fundamental for analyzing data and understanding processes in the Earth and Environmental Sciences. Many processes and phenomena, poorly recognized only a few years ago, now can be studied and understood with the help of conceptual models from the fields of fractals and dynamics systems. This represents a bold step towards understanding how planet Earth works. The twenty-one papers presented in this volume reflect the state of fundamental and applied research on fractals and dynamic systems in Geoscience, from magma dynamics to geomorphology, from seismology to space science. The volume is of interest to scientists using fractals, multifractals, non-linear dynamics and chaos theory for analyzing complex datasets, as those arising from geological and geophysical processes. Postgraduate students and students in various fields of geoscience as well as physics and applied mathematics will also find the book to be a valuable resource for a clear view of the leading-edge research on fractals and dynamic systems in Geoscience.
Not long ago, the future seemed predictable. Now, certainty about the course of civilization has given way to fear and doubt. Raging fires, ravaging storms, political upheavals, financial collapse, and deadly pandemics lie ahead—or are already here. The world feels less comprehensible and more dangerous, and no one, from individuals to businesses and governments, knows how to navigate the path forward. Ruth DeFries argues that a surprising set of time-tested strategies from the natural world can help humanity weather these crises. Through trial and error over the eons, life has evolved astonishing and counterintuitive tricks in order to survive. DeFries details how a handful of fundamental strategies—investments in diversity, redundancy over efficiency, self-correcting feedbacks, and decisions based on bottom-up knowledge—enable life to persist through unpredictable, sudden shocks. Lessons for supply chains from a leaf’s intricate network of veins and stock market-saving “circuit breakers” patterned on planetary cycles reveal the power of these approaches for modern life. With humility and willingness to apply nature’s experience to our human-constructed world, DeFries demonstrates, we can withstand uncertain and perilous times. Exploring the lessons that life on Earth can teach us about coping with complexity, What Would Nature Do? offers timely options for civilization to reorganize for a safe and prosperous future.
The over-enrichment of surface water bodies with phosphorus compounds can lead to eutrophication resulting in reduced photosynthetic activity, oxygen depletion, production of toxic compounds and, ultimately, loss of plant and animal species. Due to relatively high removal efficiency, economy and environmentally-friendly operation, enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in activated sludge wastewater treatment systems is a popular technology to control and prevent eutrophication in surface water bodies. EBPR can be implemented by promoting the enrichment of the system with polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO). However, EBPR process may suffer of instability and unreliability experiencing process upsets, deterioration and even failure. Among other factors, the appearance of glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO), which compete with PAO, has been hypothesized to be the main cause of deterioration of the EBPR process performance. In this research, the effects of key environmental and operating conditions influencing the PAO-GAO competition were addressed through undertaking different studies at both lab- and full-scale and by applying mathematical modelling. It contributes to get a better understanding about the factors affecting the PAO-GAO competition and, thus, the stability and reliability of the EBPR process in activated sludge systems. The findings obtained in this research may prove useful towards optimization of full-scale EBPR plants.
"Extreme Environmental Events" is an authoritative single source for understanding and applying the basic tenets of complexity and systems theory, as well as the tools and measures for analyzing complex systems, to the prediction, monitoring, and evaluation of major natural phenomena affecting life on earth. These phenomena are often highly destructive, and include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, climate change,, and weather. Early warning, damage, and the immediate response of human populations to these phenomena are also covered from the point of view of complexity and nonlinear systems. In 61 authoritative, state-of-the art articles, world experts in each field apply such tools and concepts as fractals, cellular automata, solitons game theory, network theory, and statistical physics to an understanding of these complex geophysical phenomena.
The focal main objective of the book is to constitute a meaningful linkage among research problems, geoinformation methods and corresponding applications. The research goals, related both to theoretical and practical issues, derive from multidisciplinary fields such as archaeology, history, geography, landscape planning, environment, geoinformation science, geology and geomorphology. All the aforementioned scientific areas have the spatial dimension in common, i.e. the vast amount of spatially referenced data. Their research issues can be addressed and analysed with geoinformation technology; though, the researchers should get familiar to the range of available geoinformation methods. The book provides description of a variety of research problems issues and technological ?solutions?approaches that can be used to support processes of data capturing, mapping and analysis. These techniques and concepts are illustrated on numerous practical examples. along with specific examples, where these have been applied. The current structure of the book includes the following four chapters: introduction, data capturing and mapping, analysis and modelling, and study cases. In the following we provide a more detailed content of each chapter listing the main topics included within the selected articles.
* The books is very timely: Many expect a return to business as usual after Covid19, but the bigger problem of life-threatening climate change makes it clear that the way humans live and work must change. * The book is informative and stimulating: As technological progress made, it is important that those who need to know are informed. This includes both interested members of the public as well as key policy makers and other climate change stakeholders. * The book is controversial: The degree of change is large, with winners and losers coming from ideas and approaches that in some cases appear to contradict current thinking (e.g. electric cars). * The book is written by an expert: The author has had a distinguished career, in designing safe systems using technology pushed to the limit of optimum performance while making sure that everything is safe throughout the whole life. He has served on many advisory boards reporting at high level to the prime minister, and ministerial level both in UK, and in Indonesia.
Tackling environmental issues such as global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, water pollution, and soil contamination requires an understanding of the underlying science and chemistry of these processes in real-world systems and situations. Chemistry for Environmental and Earth Sciences provides a student-friendly introduction to the basic chemistry used for the mitigation, remediation, and elimination of pollutants. Written and organized in a style that is accessible to science as well as non-science majors, this textbook divides its content into four intuitive chapters: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. The first chapter explains classical concepts in chemistry that occur in nature such as atomic and molecular structures, chemical bonding and reactions, states of matter, phase transitions, and radioactivity. Subsequent chapters focus on the chemistry relating to the geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere-including the chemical aspects of soil, water, and air pollution, respectively. Chemistry for Environmental and Earth Sciences uses worked examples and case studies drawn from current applications along with clear diagrams and concise explanations to illustrate the relevance of chemistry to geosciences. In-text and end-of-chapter questions with complete solutions also help students gain confidence in applying concepts from this book towards solving current, real-world problems.
This book is related to various applications of laser scanning in landslide assessment. Landslide detection approaches, susceptibility, hazard, vulnerability assessment and various modeling techniques are presented. Optimization of landslide conditioning parameters and use of heuristic, statistical, data mining approaches, their advantages and their relationship with landslide risk assessment are discussed in detail. The book contains scanning data in tropical forests; its indicators, assessment, modeling and implementation. Additionally, debris flow modeling and analysis including source of debris flow identification and rockfall hazard assessment are also presented.
Kortz and Smay bring their highly successful lecture tutorial approach (Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Geoscience) to easy-to-implement resource for any introductory earth science course. The brief activities here get students actively involved in the practical application of earth science concepts, while helping them navigate common pitfalls and misconceptions. Activities are built around questions that increase in conceptual difficulty as students progress. Easily incorporated in any class setting and size, the tutorials require no technology and no change in the syllabus, and are compatible with any introductory earth science text.
Provides a thorough and up-to-date overview of radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry Now in its second edition, Isotope Geochemistry presents a comprehensive introduction to radiogenic and stable isotope geochemistry. The book opens with an overview of the physics and origins of atoms and nuclei, followed by a review of radioactive decay schemes and geochronological techniques such as fission-track and carbon-14 dating. Subsequent chapters cover nucleosynthetic anomalies in meteorites, early solar system chronology, the theory and application of stable isotope geochemistry, isotopic variation in the noble gases, and more. This edition includes new sections on thermochronology, U-He dating, recently published La-Ce isotope data, stable isotopes in ore deposits, nuclear volume and nuclear spin effects, and the application of isotope geochemistry in areas such as agriculture, forensics, and environmental studies. Revised and expanded discussions address topics including isotope cosmochemistry, non-traditional isotopes, nucleosynthesis, advanced U-Pb dating and isotopic analysis technologies, the subcontinental lithosphere, and mass-independent isotope fractionation. Describes the use of radiogenic isotopes in understanding the evolution of the Earth's mantle, crust, and oceans Explores the use of stable isotopes in areas such as mantle evolution, archeology, paleontology, ore formation, and paleoclimatology Reviews new developments in the understanding of nucleosynthesis, including insights gained from the study of the 2017 neutron star merger detected by gravitational waves Discusses progress in the field of unconventional isotopes, advances in isotope cosmochemistry, and recent data on regional variations in isotopic compositions Illustrated in full color throughout, Isotope Geochemistry, Second Edition is an excellent textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students in all earth science disciplines.
Landslide Risk Management comprises the proceedings of the International Conference on Landslide Risk Management, held in Vancouver, Canada, from May 31 to June 3, 2005. The first part of the book contains state-of-the-art and invited lectures, prepared by teams of authors selected for their experience in specific topics assigned to them by the JTC-1 Committee. The second part is a selection of papers submitted to the conference, most of which serve as case-history illustrations of projects on landslide risk management. This reference work presents the current status of landslide risk management as viewed by experts from around the world.
Modelling forms an implicit part of all engineering design but many engineers engage in modelling without consciously considering the nature, validity and consequences of the supporting assumptions. Derived from courses given to postgraduate and final year undergraduate MEng students, this book presents some of the models that form a part of the typical undergraduate geotechnical curriculum and describes some of the aspects of soil behaviour which contribute to the challenge of geotechnical modelling. Assuming a familiarity with basic soil mechanics and traditional methods of geotechnical design, this book is a valuable tool for students of geotechnical and structural and civil engineering as well as also being useful to practising engineers involved in the specification of numerical or physical geotechnical modelling.
For the millions who remain curious about the world around them, but gained little from science at school, this book offers a way forward. Based on live discussions with adults from all walks of life, each chapter begins with an everyday experience, like swallowing a pill or watching a bee on a flower. The main scientific ideas underlying each topic are then explored, so that understanding of a set of fundamental concepts builds up gradually throughout the book. In contrast to more traditional approaches to science learning, topics range freely across the subject areas. The story of Covid, for example includes aspects of biology, chemistry, mathematics and social behaviour. Plain English is used throughout and mathematical expressions are avoided. Key points are illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs. By drawing on questions and perspectives of ordinary people, the book offers an introduction to basic ideas in science as a whole, rather than any one particular subject. For the adult wishing to make good a gap in their understanding it provides a starting point for entering the rich world of popular science. |
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