Did the Universe have a beginning? Will it have an end? Or has it always been the same, never changing? This is the subject of cosmology; the study of the Universe, and this book provides a perfect introduction to the subject for anyone that is interested in the wonders of our Universe This book provides an accessible overview of the Standard Model of Cosmology, which is explained in six Cosmological Clues, including evidence for the Big Bang and dark matter and dark energy - the keystones of modern cosmology. It takes readers through some of the most exciting questions in cosmology, such as what evidence do we have that the Universe started from the Big Bang? Has dark matter been observed? Will we ever know what dark energy is? Are the multiverses real? And could the Universe be a hologram? This book is an ideal guide for anyone interested in finding out more about our Universe. It will be of interest to those studying cosmology for the first time, including readers without a scientific background, who have an interest in looking up at the stars and wondering where they all came from! Key features: Contains the latest evidence for the Big Bang, dark matter, and dark energy and explores exciting scientific ideas, such as inflation and multiverses Provides a clear explanation of the main theories of how the Universe evolved based on key observations - the Cosmological Clues Gives the reader a concise introduction to the scientific process, using cosmology as the example, and explores why it has been so successful in creating the technologies we have today

Discover the epic history of human exploration and migration, and the stories of fearless pioneers the world over, with this stunning tour of history - map by map.

Charting everything from the movement of early Homo species out of Africa some 1.8 million years ago to the astonishing voyages of Polynesian sailors across the Pacific from 4,000 BCE, and from the California Gold Rush to the Race for Space, entries explain the movements of people and cultures who set off into the unknown - in search of adventure or a better life.

Specially commissioned maps show the key driving factors of each journey, and why certain routes were chosen over others - whether due to climate, terrain, or territory - while stunning contemporary examples offer fascinating insights into the unique world-views and political motivations of the people who commissioned them, and the cartographers who created them.

The voyages of history’s greatest explorers - from Zheng He to Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo - are brought to vivid life with accompanying photos, illustrations, and original artefacts, along with recent missions to chart the depths of the oceans and the surface of Mars. And entries also explore the experiences of established Indigenous groups and the impact of settler populations.

Packed with fascinating detail and bursting with lavish illustrations, Exploration: Map by Map is a must-have title for anyone who loves maps, history, or the pioneering spirit.

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.

This book deals with the estimation of natural ressources using a Monte Carlo methodology. It includes a set of tools to describe the morphological, statistical and stereological properties of spatial random models. Furthermore the author presents a wide range of spatial models, including random sets and functions, point processes and object populations applicable to the geosciences. This book results from a series of courses given in the USA and Latin America to civil, mining and petroleum engineers as well as graduate students in statistics. It is the first book discussing the geostatistical simulation techniques in such a specific way. .

The growth of cosmology into a precision science represents one of the most remarkable stories of the past century. Much has been written chronicling this development, but rarely has any of it focused on the most critical element of this work-the cosmic spacetime itself. Addressing this lacuna is the principal focus of this book, documenting the growing body of evidence compelling us-not only to use this famous solution to Einstein's equations in order to refine the current paradigm, but-to probe its foundation at a much deeper level. Its excursion from the smallest to largest possible scales insightfully reveals an emerging link between the Universe we behold and the established tenets of our most fundamental physical theories. Key Features: Uncovers the critical link between the Local Flatness Theorem in general relativity and the symmetries informing the spacetime's metric coefficients Develops a physical explanation for some of the most unpalatable coincidences in cosmology Provides a sober assessment of the horizon problems precluding our full understanding of the early Universe Reveals a possible explanation for the origin of rest-mass energy in Einstein's theory In spite of its technical layout, this book does not shy away from introducing the principal players who have made the most enduring contributions to this field. Anyone with a graduate level foundation in physics and astronomy will be able to easily follow its contents.

This volume examines the way in which cultural ideas about "the heavens" shape religious ideas and are shaped by them in return. Our approaches to cosmology have a profound effect on the way in which we each deal with religious questions and participate in the imaginative work of public and private world-building. Employing an interdisciplinary team of international scholars, each chapter shows how religion and cosmology interrelate and matter for real people. Historical and contemporary case studies are included to demonstrate the lived reality of a variety of faith traditions and their interactions with the cosmos. This breadth of scope allows readers to get a unique overview of how religion, science and our view of space have, and will continue to, impact our worldviews. Offering a comprehensive exploration of humanity and its relationship with cosmology, this book will be an important reference for scholars of Religion and Science, Religion and Culture, Interreligious Dialogue and Theology, as well as those interested in Science and Culture and Public Education.

Based on the first edition with extensive analysis of practical applications of environmental risk management and compliance management systems, this second edition of International Environmental Risk Management reflects updates made in the understanding and application of risk management best practices and makes available a frame of reference and systematic approach to environmental and social governance (ESG). It provides a pathway for readers to implement environmental management strategies that can be integrated with core operations and other risk management efforts, including supporting sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives associated with climate change, the circular economy or supply chain conditions, as well as enterprise risk management; anti-bribery, and other compliance management systems. This book provides in-depth discussions of ways to use global environmental management standards. New features in this edition: Combines EMS standards with discussion of specific principles, other authors' research, and guidelines on management practices. Provides guidelines on how to prepare for, anticipate, and resolve environmental issues. Includes easily understandable information for all readers and is not simply aimed toward individuals who are knowledgeable about this topic. Provides in-depth discussions on using global environmental management standards to manage risk and promote resilience, as well as legal strategies and voluntary initiatives that companies can utilize to minimize risk. Accounts for the substantive revisions in ISO 14001:2015. As a growing and rapidly changing field, it is necessary to address new issues, guidelines, and regulations to assist businesses, academia, students, consultants, lawyers, and environmental managers with a pragmatic resolution to environmental risk management issues. This second edition gives a broad and detailed analysis of the changes made to international standards and practices and serves as an excellent guide to managing environmental risk.

In today's world, deep learning source codes and a plethora of open access geospatial images are readily available and easily accessible. However, most people are missing the educational tools to make use of this resource. Deep Learning for Remote Sensing Images with Open Source Software is the first practical book to introduce deep learning techniques using free open source tools for processing real world remote sensing images. The approaches detailed in this book are generic and can be adapted to suit many different applications for remote sensing image processing, including landcover mapping, forestry, urban studies, disaster mapping, image restoration, etc. Written with practitioners and students in mind, this book helps link together the theory and practical use of existing tools and data to apply deep learning techniques on remote sensing images and data. Specific Features of this Book: The first book that explains how to apply deep learning techniques to public, free available data (Spot-7 and Sentinel-2 images, OpenStreetMap vector data), using open source software (QGIS, Orfeo ToolBox, TensorFlow) Presents approaches suited for real world images and data targeting large scale processing and GIS applications Introduces state of the art deep learning architecture families that can be applied to remote sensing world, mainly for landcover mapping, but also for generic approaches (e.g. image restoration) Suited for deep learning beginners and readers with some GIS knowledge. No coding knowledge is required to learn practical skills. Includes deep learning techniques through many step by step remote sensing data processing exercises.

Microbe-Assisted Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants: Recent Advances and Challenges provides comprehensive information on the principles and practical knowledge of microbe-assisted phytoremediation of organic and inorganic pollutants for environmental safety. This book describes the physiological, biochemical, microbiological, and molecular basis of microbe-assisted phytoremediation and contains many relevant topics to fill the gaps in developing an understanding of microbe-assisted phytoremediation of environmental pollutants. The book provides state-of-the-art knowledge on fundamental, practical, and purposeful utilization of plant-associated bacteria (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria [PGPR] and endophytes) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for plant-growth promotion and enhanced phytoremediation of environmental pollutants in the contaminated matrix. Features: Provides a state-of-the-art overview of microbe-assisted phytoremediation Emphasizes the roles of PGPR, endophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi in assisted phytoremediation Elucidates biochemical and molecular mechanisms of microbe-assisted phytoremediation Details field studies and success stories of microbe-assisted phytoremediation Explores advances, challenges, and future directions in microbe-assisted phytoremediation The book serves as a valuable resource for researchers, ecotoxicologists, environmental scientists and engineers, environmental microbiologists and biotechnologists, environmental health and risk scientists, environmental science managers and administrators, remediation practitioners, environmental policymakers, and students at the postgraduate and doctoral levels in the relevant fields who wish to work on microbe-assisted phytoremediation of pollutants for environmental safety and sustainability.

First published in 1992, this wide-ranging volume features 44 articles from 89 contributors on issues of and solutions to modelling of coastal waters around the world in response to an increasing interest in the development and application of numerical hydraulic models as design and management tools. The contributors advise on areas including tidal current modelling, water quality modelling, sediment transport modelling, wave kinematics and computational methods, along with two keynote articles. The main aim of the conference and its resulting volume was to provide a forum whereby engineers, scientists and planners involved in multi-disciplinary models could collaborate and share their expertise. The counterpart to this book is Hydraulic and Environmental Modelling: Estuarine and River Waters.

First Published in 1992. This book arose as a result of the authors work on the review 'Solitary Vortices in Plasmas' written for the Soviet Journal of Plasma Physics. With the development of nonlinear wave theory some novel concepts came into use, such as solitary waves, solitary vortices, and solitons. There is still some inconsistency in the use of these terms. The study of solitary waves (solitons) should ultimately lead to a better understanding of the internal structure of elementary particles. That is why solitons are attracting great attention from physicists and mathematicians. The material presented in this book shows that solitons are also of interest in plasma physics and geophysics, where these concepts have many important applications.

Originally published in 1899, The History of Creation was the first book of its kind to apply a doctrine to the whole range of organic morphology and make use of the effect Darwin had on biological sciences during the 19th century. Haeckel looks at Darwin's reform of Descent Theory and its establishment through the doctrine of selection. He introduces Descent Theory into the systematic classification of animals and plants and finds a "natural system" on the basis of genealogy - that is, to construct hypothetical pedigrees for the various species of organisms. The book will be of interest to those studying natural history and the origins of modern scientific thought, it will appeal to researchers both in the natural sciences and in history.

The latest 4th edition of the international standard on the principles of reliability for load bearing structures (ISO2394:2015) includes a new Annex D dedicated to the reliability of geotechnical structures. The emphasis in Annex D is to identify and characterize critical elements of the geotechnical reliability-based design process. This book contains a wealth of data and information to assist geotechnical engineers with the implementation of semi-probabilistic or full probabilistic design approaches within the context of established geotechnical knowledge, principles, and experience. The introduction to the book presents an overview on how reliability can play a complementary role within prevailing norms in geotechnical practice to address situations where some measured data and/or past experience exist for limited site-specifi c data to be supplemented by both objective regional data and subjective judgment derived from comparable sites elsewhere. The principles of reliability as presented in ISO2394:2015 provides the common basis for harmonization of structural and geotechnical design. The balance of the chapters describes the uncertainty representation of geotechnical design parameters, the statistical characterization of multivariate geotechnical data and model factors, semi-probabilistic and direct probability-based design methods in accordance to the outline of Annex D. This book elaborates and reinforces the goal of Annex D to advance geotechnical reliability-based design with geotechnical needs at the forefront while complying with the general principles of reliability given by ISO2394:2015. It serves as a supplementary reference to Annex D and it is a must-read for designing geotechnical structures in compliance with ISO2394:2015.

"... the most comprehensive book on NEPA and impact assessment to date....provides practical guidance for navigating the complexities of NEPA, environmental planning; readers are provided with a single guide describing modern tools, techniques, and approaches for streamlining project implementation." Dr. Lynton K. Caldwell, "The Father of NEPA" (Endorsement prepared for draft text, before he passed away) The U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 established the world's first modern national environmental policy. All federal agencies must comply with NEPA's sweeping mandate to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating impacts and alternatives of significant federal actions. More than 100 countries have now enacted similar policies emulating NEPA. Written by a leading NEPA expert, this all-inclusive handbook: * Incorporates a step-by-by step approach, advancing the reader from NEPA's basic principles through advanced topics of interest to seasoned professionals * Describes environmental planning and EIA from both American and international perspectives * Integrates best professional practices from hundreds of sources, papers, and guidance directives * Demonstrates state-of-the-art tools, techniques, and approaches for solving problems that have hindered NEPA and environmental planning practices. NEPA and Environmental Planning: Tools, Techniques, and Approaches for Practitioners is an indispensable resource for professionals in government, consulting, planning, science and engineering, as well as students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The definitive reference in its field, Ecological Risk Assessment, Second Edition details the latest advances in science and practice. In the fourteen years since the publication of the best-selling first edition, ecological risk assessment (ERA) has moved from the margins into the spotlight. It is now commonly applied to the regulation of chemicals, the remediation of contaminated sites, the monitoring of importation of exotic organisms, the management of watersheds, and other environmental management issues. Delineating the processes for performing an ERA, the book begins by defining the field, then goes on to describe its relationship to other environmental assessment practices and its organizational framework. The book also includes a chapter on ecological epidemiology, which has previously been treated as a type of ERA, but is now recognized as a distinct practice in itself. It explores important concepts in the ERA process including probability, uncertainty, scale, mode of action and multiple causes. Reflecting changes in the field, the book's scope has been broadened to include discussions of the application of ERA to agents other than chemical contaminants. The multitude of illustrative figures provides a flavor for the diverse practice of ERA. The author has re-organized the material, presenting a unitary process of ERA that is applicable to various problems, scales, and mandates. He keeps the emphasis squarely on providing clear, scientifically sound, and unbiased technical advice on the risks from chemicals and chemical mixtures.

A Practical Guide to Understanding, Managing and Reviewing Environmental Risk Assessment Reports provides team leaders and team members with a strategy for developing the elements of risk assessment into a readable and beneficial report. The authors believe that successful management of the risk assessment team is a key factor is quality reports. Leadership first clarifies the roles of each participant and the unique technical factors of their respective disciplines. Teamwork is achieved through an emphasis on common language and procedures. Belluck and Benjamin explore a variety of techniques for creating accurate and useful reports. An example is Proactive Risk Assessment, which breaks a project into discrete parts to be delivered on an interim basis. This method, based on iterative review, drastically increases the chance of detecting errors while they can still be corrected. The authors emphasize rigorous standards by which reports are audited, evaluated and critiqued. The goal is to create reports that are accurate, useful and, adaptable on an industry-wide basis.

Originally published in 1899, The History of Creation was the first book of its kind to apply a doctrine to the whole range of organic morphology and make use of the effect Darwin had on biological sciences during the 19th century. Haeckel looks at Darwin's reform of Descent Theory and its establishment through the doctrine of selection. He introduces Descent Theory into the systematic classification of animals and plants and finds a "natural system" on the basis of genealogy - that is, to construct hypothetical pedigrees for the various species of organisms. The book will be of interest to those studying natural history and the origins of modern scientific thought, it will appeal to researchers both in the natural sciences and in history.

Advances in Carbon Management Technologies comprises 43 chapters contributed by experts from all over the world. Volume 1 of the book, containing 23 chapters, discusses the status of technologies capable of yielding substantial reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from major combustion sources. Such technologies include renewable energy sources that can replace fossil fuels and technologies to capture CO2 after fossil fuel combustion or directly from the atmosphere, with subsequent permanent long-term storage. The introductory chapter emphasizes the gravity of the issues related to greenhouse gas emissionglobal temperature correlation, the state of the art of key technologies and the necessary emission reductions needed to meet international warming targets. Section 1 deals with global challenges associated with key fossil fuel mitigation technologies, including removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and emission measurements. Section 2 presents technological choices for coal, petroleum, and natural gas for the purpose of reducing carbon footprints associated with the utilization of such fuels. Section 3 deals with promising contributions of alternatives to fossil fuels, such as hydropower, nuclear, solar photovoltaics, and wind. Chapters 19 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. The links can be found on the book's Routledge web page at https://www.routledge.com//9780367198428

This book focuses on learning and adapting nonlinear geometry tool in rock engineering through fractal theories, hypotheses, algorithm, practical understandings, and case studies. Understanding self-similarity and self-affinity is a prerequisite to the fractal model in rock mechanics. The book aims to provide a guide for the readers seeking to understand and build nonlinear model by fractal algorithm. The book is motivated by recent rapid advances in rock engineering in China including application of fractal theory, in addition to percolation theory. It is an essential reference to the most promising innovative rock engineering. Chapters are carefully developed to cover (1) new fractal algorithms (2) five engineering cases. This authored book addresses the issue with a holistic and systematic approach that utilizes fractal theory to nonlinear behavior in rock engineering. The book is written for researchers interested in rock and geological engineering as well as organizations engaged in underground energy practices.

This book provides a practical guide to applying soft-computing methods to interpret geophysical data. It discusses the design of neural networks with Matlab for geophysical data, as well as fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy concepts and their applications. In addition, it describes genetic algorithms for the automatic and/or intelligent processing and interpretation of geophysical data.

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.

COLORADO’S HOT SPRINGS is an entertaining, comprehensive guide to the state's sweet soaking sites and their histories. This all new, up-to-date guide profiles forty-four hot springs, providing descriptions, contact information, directions, maps, photographs, and historical notes. The photographs capture each spring's unique character and beauty. Each chapter blends descriptions of the warm water wonders with stories about the unique characters, events, and ancient use by Native Americans. The springs are Colorado's warm water ocean and Debbie visited each one, twice. One visit was announced and the other was an unannounced, anonymous visit to truth-test information and chat anonymously with visitors about their observations.

Earthquakes affecting urban areas can lead to catastrophic situations and hazard mitigation requires preparatory measures at all levels. Structural assessment is the diagnosis of the seismic health of buildings. Assessment is the prelude to decisions about rehabilitation or even demolition. The scale of the problem in dense urban settings brings about a need for macro seismic appraisal procedures because large numbers of existing buildings do not conform to the increased requirements of new earthquake codes and specifications or have other deficiencies. It is the vulnerable buildings - liable to cause damage and loss of life - that need immediate attention and urgent appraisal in order to decide if structural rehabilitation and upgrading are feasible. Current economic, efficient and occupant-friendly rehabilitation techniques vary widely and include the application either of precast concrete panels or layers, strips and patches of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) in strategic locations. The papers in this book, many by renowned authorities in earthquake engineering, chart new and vital directions of research and application in the assessment and rehabilitation of buildings in seismic regions. While several papers discuss the probabilistic prediction and quantification of structural damage, others present approaches related with the in-situ and occupant friendly upgrading of buildings and propose both economical and practical techniques to address the problem.