Man’s environment is pervaded by ionizing radiation of predominantly natural origin but now with an important contribution from anthropogenic activities. Exposure to ionizing radiation can have serious health implications, which is why it is of concern to us. This book brings together under one cover, the fundamentals of radiological protection, the techniques used for measuring radioactivity and radionuclides and the methods for modelling the dispersion of radionuclides in the environment. Information on radioactive decay, the interaction of ionizing radiation with matter and biological effects of radiation is provided in a form that enables the reader to quickly appreciate its importance to the environment and human health. Summaries of the effects of past releases, including the Chernobyl accident, are included as well as examples of applications of models to calculate and predict concentrations of radionuclides in our environment.

This book is aimed at all those studying, at undergraduate and graduate levels, radioactivity in the environment and its impact on man. It will also serve as a handbook for workers in the fields of radiochemical analysis and environmental modelling and for scientists, consultants and environmental health and pollution officers who have to provide radiological data or information for legislative and related purposes.

This book has following unique features that distinguish it from other works from the same area: 1) Investigates the influence of fissure geometry on strength failure and crack evolution behaviour of real rock material; 2) Analyzes the effect of pre-experiment high-temperature treatment on fracture mechanical behaviour of rock material with a single fissure or two parallel fissures; 3) Compares quantitatively simulated results using discrete element modelling and experimental results of fracture mechanical behaviour of rock material with two fissures; 4) Constructs the relationship between crack evolution processes and acoustic emission distribution of pre-fissured rock material under entire deformation; and 5) Discusses the crack evolution mechanism of pre-fissured rock material with respect to different confining pressures. This book can become the reference for technicians in the field of geotechnical engineering, mining engineering and geology engineering. At the same time, this book can be regarded as a good reference for scientific researchers carrying out fissured rock mechanics and correlated specialties.

This book presents mainly experimental studies on the mechanical behavior and damage fracture mechanism of deep rocks including sandstone, marble, mudstone and granite, combining with several advanced technologies of X-ray micro-CT and AE monitoring. It has several unique features: 1) Investigates the influence of loading path on triaxial strength and deformation behavior of sandstone and marble; 2) Analyzes the effect of borehole size on triaxial strength and deformation behavior of hollow sandstone; 3) Explores the influence of high temperature on triaxial deformation and permeability behavior of sandstone and granite; 4) to reveal the damage fracture mechanism of deep rocks using spatial AE techniques and X-ray micro CT observations. This work will appeal to a wide readership from technicians in the field of geotechnical engineering and engineering geology to scholars carrying out research in the rock mechanics.

Modern life is increasingly relying on digital technology, which in turn runs on mathematics. However, this underlying math is hidden from us. That is mostly a good thing since we do not want to be solving equations and calculating fractions just to get things done in our everyday business. But the mathematical details do matter for anyone who wants to understand how stuff works, or wishes to create something new in the jungle of apps and algorithms. This book takes a look at the mathematical models behind weather forecasting, climate change prediction, artificial intelligence, medical imaging and computer graphics. The reader is expected to have only a curious mind; technical math skills are not needed for enjoying this text.

Ever-increasing population growth has caused a proportional increased demand for water, and existing water sources are depleting day by day. Moreover, with the impact of climate change, the rates of rainfall in many regions have experienced a higher degree of variability. In many cities, government utilities have been struggling to maintain sufficient water for the residents and other users. The Handbook of Irrigation Hydrology and Management examines and analyzes irrigated ecosystems in which water storage, applications, or drainage volumes are artificially controlled in the landscape and the spatial domain of processes varies from micrometers to tens of kilometers, while the temporal domain spans from seconds to centuries. The continuum science of irrigation hydrology includes the surface, subsurface (unsaturated and groundwater systems), atmospheric, and plant subsystems. Further, the book includes coverage of environmental and economic impacts, water quality issues, water harvesting, satellite measurements for irrigation, and more. Features: Offers water-saving strategies to increase the judicious use of scarce water resources Presents strategies to maximize agricultural yield per unit of water used for different regions Compares irrigation methods to offset changing weather patterns and impacts of climate change

The Routledge Handbook of Law and the Anthropocene provides a critical survey into the function of law and governance during a time period when humans have power to impact the Earth system. The Anthropocene is a 'crisis of the earth system'. This book addresses its implications for law and legal thinking in the 21st century. Unpacking the challenges of the Anthropocene for advocates of ecological law and politics, this handbook pursues a range of approaches to the scientific fact of anthropocentrism, with contributions from lawyers, philosophers, geographers and environmental and political scientists. Rather than adopting a hubristic normativity, the contributors engage methods, concepts and legal instruments in a way that underscores the importance of humility and an expansive ethical worldview. Contributors to this volume are the leading scholars and future leaders in the field. Rather than upholding orthodoxy, the handbook also problematizes received wisdom and is grounded in the conviction that the ideas we have inherited from the Holocene must all be open to question. Engaging such issues as the Capitalocene, Gaia theory, the rights of nature, posthumanism, the commons, geoengineering and civil disobedience, this handbook will be of enormous interest to academics, students and others with interests in ecological law and the current environmental crisis.

1. Demonstrates the recent advances in geospatial analytics tools, technologies, and algorithms. 2. Provides insight and direction to the geospatial community regarding the future trends in scalable and intelligent geospatial analytics. 3. Exhibits recent geospatial applications and demonstrates innovative ways to use big geospatial data to address various domain-specific, real-world problems. 4. Recognizes the analytical and computational challenges posed and opportunities provided by the increased volume, velocity, and veracity of geospatial data.

Science Communication in a Crisis: An Insider’s Guide identifies the principal challenges that scientists face when communicating with different stakeholder groups and offers advice on how to navigate the maze of competing interests and deliver actionable science when the clock is ticking. If a scientist’s goal is to deliver content and expertise to the people who need it, then other stakeholder groups—the media, the government, industry—need to be considered as partners to collaborate with in order to solve problems. Written by established scientist Christopher Reddy, who has been on the front lines of several environmental crisis events, the book highlights ten specific challenges and reflects on mistakes made and lessons learned. Reddy’s aim is not to teach scientists how to ace an interview or craft a soundbite, rather, through exploring several high-profile case studies, including the North Cape oil spill, Deepwater Horizon, and the 2021 Sri Lanka shipping disaster, he presents a clear pathway to effective and collaborative communication. This book will be a great resource for junior and established scientists who want to make an impact, as well as students in courses such as environmental and science communication.

Characterizes the geology of Japan by describing the large scale construction of each geotectonically defined terrane and mass, and tracing the geotectonic history of the island chain. Also considers the submarine topography and geology around the islands, and ore deposits in relation to igneous act

Controlling the level of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is a rapidly growing area of commercial activity. While debate continues both about the impact of greenhouse gas on climate and the role humans play in influencing its concentration, engineers are faced with less controversial questions of how to manage this uncertainty and how to control greenhouse gases at a minimum cost to society. This book gives a concise review of current knowledge required for engineers to develop strategies to help us manage and adapt to climate change. It has been developed from the author's graduate course in environmental engineering. It is written without technical jargon so as to be accessible to a wide range of students and policymakers who do not necessarily have scientific or engineering backgrounds. Appendices allow readers to calculate for themselves the impact of the various strategies, and the book contains student exercises and references for further reading.

Millions of lives and business have either been lost or significantly impacted by COVID-19. Yet, many are warning that climate change will be much more devastating over the coming decades. Reality is starting to set in. We are not going to achieve our global mitigation targets; we probably won’t even come close. Individuals faced with this reality react differently, from willful ignorance to anxiety and depression, all normal reactions. If you believe in science and understand the likelihood of our failure to meet our targets, you need to accept and plan for an unknown, challenging future. We may be individually powerless to stop climate change, but we certainly can act in ways that will help us better face the consequences. This book provides a structured approach to plan and prepare today for a world rocked by a turbulent climate.

Millions of lives and business have either been lost or significantly impacted by COVID-19. Yet, many are warning that climate change will be much more devastating over the coming decades. Reality is starting to set in. We are not going to achieve our global mitigation targets; we probably won’t even come close. Individuals faced with this reality react differently, from willful ignorance to anxiety and depression, all normal reactions. If you believe in science and understand the likelihood of our failure to meet our targets, you need to accept and plan for an unknown, challenging future. We may be individually powerless to stop climate change, but we certainly can act in ways that will help us better face the consequences. This book provides a structured approach to plan and prepare today for a world rocked by a turbulent climate.

The second edition of this introductory GIS textbook is thoroughly rewritten and updated to respond to the demand for critical engagement with technologies that address relevant issues across several disciplines preparing students for higher-level work in geotechnologies. Chapters are arranged to (1) build competence in fundamental skills, (2) explore applications of higher-level managerial and analytical functions that are typically called upon in public, nonprofit, and private sector milieu, and (3) propose and detail a template for organizing, executing, and completing a GIS project successfully. This interests all users from beginners to experienced professionals.

Features:

Uses the latest version of ArcGIS Pro (3.0) to present a fully rewritten and updated text with diverse perspectives.

Includes many real-world examples with urban planning, environmental, and social justice foci.

Presents new discussions, examples, and lab materials on open-source GIS projects.

Includes lab activities and data available for download from Support Materials.

Junior and senior level undergraduate students taking courses in remote sensing and GIS applications, studying in the fields of Geography, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Urban Studies, Public Health, and Social Disciplines, as well as researchers and academics in the same fields, will all benefit from the information provided in the updated version of this book.

Table of Contents

1. Making Sense of Geotechnology 2. Georeferencing 3. Getting the World into Your GIS 4. Geospatial Analysis: Introduction 5.Thematic Mapping 6. Data Models 7.Web GIS 8. Open-Source GIS 9. Introduction to Remote Sensing and GIS 10. Introduction to Health GIS Applications 11. GIS and Digital Humanities 12. Organizational GIS

Uncertainty can take many forms, can be represented in many ways, and can have important implications in decision-making and policy development. This book provides a rigorous scientific framework for dealing with uncertainty in real-world situations, and provides a comprehensive study of concepts, measurements, and applications of uncertainty in ecological modeling and natural resource management. The focus of this book is on the kinds and implications of uncertainty in environmental modeling and management, with practical guidelines and examples for successful modeling and risk analysis in the face of uncertain conditions and incomplete information. Provided is a clear classification of uncertainty; methods for measuring, modeling, and communicating uncertainty; practical guidelines for capturing and representing expert knowledge and judgment; explanations of the role of uncertainty in decision-making; a guideline to avoiding logical fallacies when dealing with uncertainty; and several example cases of real-world ecological modeling and risk analysis to illustrate the concepts and approaches. Case topics provide examples of structured decision-making, statistical modeling, and related topics. A summary provides practical next steps that the reader can take in analyzing and interpreting uncertainty in real-world situations. Also provided is a glossary and a suite of references.

The number of Earth observation satellites launched in recent years is growing exponentially, along with the datasets they gather from free-to-access and commercial providers. The second edition of Practical Handbook of Remote Sensing is updated with new explanations and practical examples using the Copernicus satellite data and new versions of the open-source software. A new chapter and new applications have also been added. Thoroughly revised, the handbook continues to be a practical "how-to" remote sensing guide for those who want to use the technology, understand what is available, how to access it, and answer questions about our planet, but do not necessarily want to become scientific experts.

This 2nd edition lays out an updated version of the general theory of light propagation and imaging through Earth's turbulent atmosphere initially developed in the late '70s and '80s, with additional applications in the areas of laser communications and high-energy laser beam propagation. New material includes a chapter providing a comprehensive mathematical tool set for precisely characterizing image formation with the anticipated Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTS), enabling a staggering range of star image shapes and sizes; existing chapters rewritten or modified so as to supplement the mathematics with clearer physical insight through written and graphical means; a history of the development of present-day understanding of light propagation and imaging through the atmosphere as represented by the general theory described. Beginning with the rudimentary, geometrical-optics based understanding of a century ago, it describes advances made in the 1960s, including the development of the 'Kolmogorov theory,' the deficiencies of which undermined its credibility, but not before it had done enormous damage, such as construction of a generation of underperforming 'light bucket' telescopes. The general theory requires no a priori turbulence assumptions. Instead, it provides means for calculating the turbulence properties directly from readily-measurable properties of star images.

This book presents a comprehensive coverage of remote sensing technology used to gather information on 12 types of natural hazards in the terrestrial sphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. It clarifies in detail how to yield spatial and quantitative data on a natural hazard, including its spatial distribution, severity, causes, and the likelihood of occurrence. The author explains multiple methods of attaining data, describes the pros and cons of each method, and encourages readers to choose the best method applicable to their case. The author offers a practical approach to data analysis using the most appropriate methods and software. 1. Covers all major natural hazards including hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and avalanches. 2. Studies each natural hazard holistically, ranging from spatial extent, severity, impact assessment, causes, and prediction of occurrence. 3. Explains different remotely sensed data and the most appropriate method used. 4. Compares different ways of sensing and clarifies the pros and cons of any selected data or their analysis. 5. Provides ample examples of each aspect of a natural hazard studied augmented with graphic illustrations and quality assurance information. All professionals working in the field of natural hazards, senior undergraduate, and graduate students, will find in-depth approaches and sufficient information to become knowledgeable in the methods of yielding and analyzing data provided with remote sensing technology, ultimately providing a deeper understanding of natural hazards.

There have been concerns about the integrity of thousands of wells drilled worldwide for different purposes ranging from oil and gas to geological carbon sequestration. This is the first book to integrate different aspects of wellbore integrity into a single volume. It looks at the energy sector's green wave movement by expanding an important topic for practitioners, regulators, and students. It is an area where petroleum and subsurface engineers will increasingly need to be involved in the future to address growing expectations regarding environmental impacts and sustainability. Coverage also includes recent developments in regulations and R&D with indications on emerging areas. Wellbore Integrity: From Theory to Practice will be a valuable resource for practicing engineers and students working on problems related to subsurface energy, subsurface disposals, and environmental impacts of oil and gas wells. In parallel, it will be a valuable reference for engineers and scientists interested in repurposing existing wells for carbon sequestration or geothermal purposes.

This book is the proceedings of the 7th China High-resolution Earth Observation Conference (CHREOC). The series conference of China High Resolution Earth Observation has become an influential academic event in the earth detection area, attracting more and more top experts and industry users of related fields. The CHREOCs focus on the popular topics including military-civilian integration, the One Belt and One Road project, the transformation of scientific research achievements. They also discuss the new ideas, new technologies, new methods, and new developments. The CHREOCs have effectively promoted high-level institutional mechanisms, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading in the high-resolution earth observation area, and extend the influences of the state-sponsored major projects.

This volume contains the papers presented at the International Workshop "Information Fusion and Geographic Information Systems" (IF&GIS'09) held in St. Petersburg, Russia in May 2009. The workshop was organized by the St. Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPIIRAS). The workshop continues a series organised biannually, and attracts academics and industrials from a wide range of disciplines including computer science, geography, statistics, mathematics, hydrography, geomorphology, and environmental sciences. The objective of this workshop is to provide a forum for innovative research oriented towards Geographic Information Science and tech- logies and Corporate Information Systems whose close association highlight novel theoretical and practical challenges. The papers selected by the International Program Committee cover a wide range of innovative areas including ontological and semantic approaches for the representation of geographical data, geographical data monitoring, situation management and forecast, to emerging applications oriented to the maritime environment, disaster management and security threats. While traditional topics of GIS conferences are well represented and still being advanced, several new domains appear and stress the need for the development of versatile monitoring systems and decision making systems. While GIS already have a de facto standard for geographical monitoring and analysis, the papers accepted in this volume also illustrate several novel directions of application whose objective is more closely oriented to process modeling and decision making, and where the nature of the objects represented is revisited using ontological and semantic approaches.

This book gathers the proceedings of the 6th China High Resolution Earth Observation Conference (CHREOC). Since its inception, the conference series has become an influential academic event in the earth detection area and attracted more and more top experts and industry practitioners in related fields. CHREOC chiefly focuses on popular topics including military-civilian integration, the One Belt and One Road initiative, and the transformation of scientific research achievements, while also discussing new ideas, new technologies, new methods, and new developments. The CHREOC conferences have effectively promoted high-level institutional mechanisms, technological innovation, and industrial upgrading in the high-resolution earth observation area, and sparked new interest in the major national-sponsored project CHREOS. The majority of the contributing authors are researchers and experts participating in the CHREOS project. The papers highlight new findings, technical innovations, and research directions in the field of high-resolution earth observation. All articles have undergone several rounds of expert review and reflect cutting-edge advances. Accordingly, the proceedings offer an informative and valuable resource for both academic research and engineering practice.

Many of the crops widely grown today stem from a very narrow genetic base and so understanding and preserving crop genetic resources is vital to the security of food systems worldwide. This work presents state-of-the-art reviews on plant genetics and the breeding of all types of crops by both traditional means and molecular methods. With emphasis on methodology, understanding crop genetics, and applications to major crops, it covers a wide range of crops including row crops, fruits, vegetables, nuts and trees grown for timber and pulp.

This volume provides essential information on the origin and evolution of Greek rivers, as well as their ecological and anthropogenic characteristics. The topics covered include geomythology, biogeography, hydrology, hydrobiology, hydrogeochemistry, geological and biogeochemical processes, anthropogenic pressures and ecological impacts, water management - both in the antiquity and today - and river restoration. The book is divided into four parts, the first of which explores the importance of rivers for ancient Greek civilization and the natural processes affecting their evolution during the Holocene. In the second part, the hydrological, hydrochemical and biological features of Greek rivers and the unique biogeographical characteristics that form the basis for their high biodiversity and endemism are highlighted, while the third part comprehensively discusses the impacts of environmental pollution on the structure and function of Greek river ecosystems. In turn, the final part describes the current socio-economic factors in Greece that are affecting established water management practices, the application of ecohydrological approaches in restoring fragmented rivers, and the lessons learned from restoring aquatic ecosystems in general as a paradigm for understanding and minimizing anthropogenic impacts on water resources, at the Mediterranean scale. Given the breadth and depth of its coverage, the book offers an invaluable source of information for researchers, students and environmental managers alike.

This Edited book introduces the concept of complex disasters and considers both disaster risks and impacts across the disaster management spectrum - Prevention - Preparation - Response and Recovery. Three types of complex disasters are analysed - 'Compound', 'Cascading' and 'Protracted'. Case studies include hazards from fires, through to floods, sea level rise and typhoons are explored through case studies from Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Each is written by scholars and/or practitioners with acknowledged expertise in the field and most chapters are based on detailed case studies of ongoing or recent research projects. The book will be useful to researchers in climate, disaster, or environmental and economic policy, disaster risk reduction, and climate change studies, and practitioners and policy makers applying disaster theory and knowledge into policy and decision-making.