Since the greenhouse effect emerged as a predictable threat, necessitating the evalu ation of its future impact on the environment in the various parts of the globe, interest in the climate changes during the Holocene has gained momentum. The background can be summarized by the sentence: The past is a key to the future. As a matter of fact, this sentence is in the opposite direction, on the dimension of time, to the principle adopted by the founders of the science of geology. They proposed that geological processes in the present should be used as a key for understanding the past. Another reason for the interest in the history of the climate of the Holocene can be described as the renaissance of a modified deterministic approach to the inter relation between physical and human geography. This relates in the first place to the fact that various investigations, especially as carried out by Hubert Lamb, showed that the sequence of climate changes previously suggested by Blytt and Sernander for Europe and adopted by most Holocene climatologists was far too general, and that there were more climate changes during recent history than previously taken account of. In the second place it was found out that these changes had had an impact on the history of human communities. Thus, one can conclude that once the taboo on geographical determinism (i. e."

Proceedings of the Symposium on Glacier Fluctuations and Climatic Change, held in Amsterdam, June 1-5, 1987

This book covers the basics of abiotic colloid characterization, of biocolloids and biofilms, the resulting transport phenomena and their engineering aspects. The contributors comprise an international group of leading specialists devoted to colloidal sciences. The contributions include theoretical considerations, results from model experiments, and field studies. The information provided here will benefit students and scientists interested in the analytical, chemical, microbiological, geological and hydrological aspects of material transport in aquatic systems and soils.

Professionals and students in any geology-related field will find this an essential reference. It clearly and systematically explains underground engineering geology principles, methods, theories and case studies. The authors lay out engineering problems in underground rock engineering and how to study and solve them. The book specially emphasizes mechanical and hydraulic couplings in rock engineering for wellbore stability, mining near aquifers and other underground structures where inflow is a problem.

This book provides concise, up-to-date and easy-to-follow information on certain aspects of an ever important research area: multiphase flow in porous media. This flow type is of great significance in many petroleum and environmental engineering problems, such as in secondary and tertiary oil recovery, subsurface remediation and CO2 sequestration. This book contains a collection of selected papers (all refereed) from a number of well-known experts on multiphase flow. The papers describe both recent and state-of-the-art modeling and experimental techniques for study of multiphase flow phenomena in porous media. Specifically, the book analyses three advanced topics: upscaling, pore-scale modeling, and dynamic effects in multiphase flow in porous media.

This will be an invaluable reference for the development of new theories and computer-based modeling techniques for solving realistic multiphase flow problems. Part of this book has already been published in a journal.

Audience

This book will be of interest to academics, researchers and consultants working in the area of flow in porous media.

Sustainable water management is a key environmental challenge of the 21st century. Developing and implementing innovative management approaches and how to cope with the increasing complexity and uncertainties was the theme of the first International Conference on Adaptive and Integrated Water Management, held in November 2007 in Basel, Switzerland. The conference volume includes selected contributions on conceptual and methodological innovations and empirical insights from case studies on important themes such as multi-level governance, change management, vulnerability assessment, environmental flows, uncertainty analysis and the impacts of climate change. The book addresses a wide interdisciplinary audience of scientists and professionals from academia, industry, and involved in policy making.

THE "LITTLE ICE AGE": LOCAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES P. D. JONES and K. R. BRIFFA Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. This volume of Climatic Change is devoted to the study of the climate of the last 1000 years, with a major emphasis on the last few centuries. The timespan encompasses what has been referred to as the "Little Ice Age" (Bradley, 1992). This term was originally coined by glaciologists, with reference to the most recent major glacial advance of the Holocene (Bradley and Jones, 1993). Although other such advances in different parts of the world may not have been synchronous, the term "Little Ice Age" has come to be associated with the period of a widespread foreward movement of European glaciers between about 14 50 to 1850, as well as with relatively cooler temperatures. The issue of whether or not this concept is appropriate, is a major theme of many of the papers included in this volume.

The Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) is a recently developed technique used to analyze nonstationary data. This book uses methods based on the Hilbert-Huang Transform to analyze hydrological and environmental time series. These results are compared to the results from the traditional methods such as those based on Fourier transform and other classical statistical tests.

This book addresses the major challenges in assuring globally sustainable water use. It examines critical contemporary and global issues through the lens of global change processes and with a focus on mountain regions. In doing so, it aims to bring state-of-the-art science from numerous disciplines to bear on important environmental and policy questions related to water resources. The volume will be a boon to a range of readers, from environmental scientists to hydrologists.

This book reviews a selection of organic-geochemical investigations, dealing with the characterization and environmental behaviour of organic contaminations of German river and groundwater systems. Topics include comprehensive non-target screening as well as isotope analysis of contaminants in water and sediments, detailed characterisation of bound residues, recording riverine pollution histories and an extensive application of the anthropogenic marker approach.

This book considers an array of state-of-the-art coupling and modelling concepts. First the relevant Earth system cycles are presented, followed by a discussion on scale issues and multiple equilibria. Inter- and intra-compartmental coupling is addressed, along with a debate on non-linearities and questions of parameterisation. Several applications are presented, where a focus is on cases where the hydrological cycle plays a central role.

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a modern numerical technique, very efficient, flexible to simulate different flows within complex/varying geome tries. It is evolved from the lattice gas automata (LGA) in order to overcome the difficulties with the LGA. The core equation in the LBM turns out to be a special discrete form of the continuum Boltzmann equation, leading it to be self-explanatory in statistical physics. The method describes the micro scopic picture of particles movement in an extremely simplified way, and on the macroscopic level it gives a correct average description of a fluid. The av eraged particle velocities behave in time and space just as the flow velocities in a physical fluid, showing a direct link between discrete microscopic and continuum macroscopic phenomena. In contrast to the traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on a direct solution of flow equations, the lattice Boltzmann method provides an indirect way for solution of the flow equations. The method is characterized by simple calculation, parallel process and easy implementation of boundary conditions. It is these features that make the lattice Boltzmann method a very promising computational method in different areas. In recent years, it receives extensive attentions and becomes a very potential research area in computational fluid dynamics. However, most published books are limited to the lattice Boltzmann methods for the Navier-Stokes equations. On the other hand, shallow water flows exist in many practical situations such as tidal flows, waves, open channel flows and dam-break flows."

This book addresses the characterization of flow and transport in porous fractured media from experimental and modeling perspectives. It provides a comprehensive presentation of investigations performed and analyzed on different scales.

'Tensile Fracturing in Rocks' presents field observations on fracturing of sedim- tary rocks and granite outcrops from various provinces in three continents. It also combines results of recent experiments conducted at different laboratories around the world with current theories on fracturing. In treating faults, this book limits itself to faults that are associated with joint sets produced by definable causes and occasi- ally to cases where interaction between the two types of fracture - faults and joints - is not clear. The book's subject matter is divided over six chapters, which are briefly described below. Chapter 1 summarizes current key concepts in fracture physics. It starts with a pr- entation of the elastic theory of fracture, and concentrates on the results of linear el- tic fracture mechanics. The chapter touches also upon other fracture properties, e.g., crack nucleation, dynamic fracturing and slow fracturing processes. Nucleation is - dressed by statistical mechanics methods incorporating modern approaches of th- mal and fiber bundle processes. The analyses of dynamic fracturing and slow fract- ing focus on the differences, as compared to the linear elastic approach. The cont- versy in interpreting experimental dynamic results is highlighted, as are the surface morphology patterns that emerge in fracturing and the non-Griffith crack extension criterion in very slow fracturing processes.

These proceedings are a continuation of the series of International Conferences in Germany entitled "Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils." The objective is to discuss and understand unsaturated soil behaviour, so that engineered activities are improved in terms of judgement and quality. In addition to knowledge of classical concepts, it is a challenge to adapt convincing new concepts and present them in such a way that they can be used in engineering practices.

THE STUDY OF THE BIOSPHERE The term 'biosphere' first appeared in the works of the French biologist 1.-B. Lamarck and the Austrian geologist E. Suess in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the study of the biosphere attracted considerable attention, largely due to the research of V. I. Vernadsky (1863- 1945). The results Qf Vernadsky's investigations have appeared in a number of publications, including the monograph The Biosphere published in 1926. This work consists of two parts, The Biosphere in Cosmos' and The Zone of Life', written in a form of speculation and reflection that is rarely used in modern studies. This work concerns the distinguishing properties of the space occupied by organisms and the exceptional importance of the activities of these organisms in the formation of their environment. In this and subsequent studies, Vernadsky has laid the foundations of the science of the biosphere, which today plays an important role in th.c many branches of science concerned with the Earth. Several terms have been suggested for the science of the biosphere, including global ecology (a discipline studying the global ecological system, whose meaning is close to that of the biosphere). One of the most prominent predecessors of Vernadsky was his teacher V.

This book presents a systematic approach to understanding and applying the principles of hydrology and hydroclimatology, examining the interactions among different components of the water cycle. It takes a fresh look at the fundamentals and challenges in hydrologic and hydroclimatic systems as well as climate change. The author describes the application of nontraditional data sets and new investigation techniques to water-related problems. He also examines long lead forecasting and simulation, time series analysis, and risk and uncertainty in hydrologic design.

This book presents various approaches to the resolution of the severe water resource issues of the Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian water conflicts. The authors include leading Palestinian and Israeli water experts who have worked together on joint research projects aimed at building up mutual understanding and respect. The studies consider the various approaches that could be used to improve cooperation and solve the problems arising from conflicting interests.

Eastern and Western, NATO partner and member country specialists discuss recent accomplishments in the sharing of timely, accurate data and information to protect the water resources of the Danube Basin, a strategic region shared by two Western and 11 former Communist countries. An International Commission, continuing the work of an ad hoc environmental management programme, is expected to take over in 1997 and may well adopt the recommendations of this timely workshop. These recommendations include the establishment of a central source of water quality data and information on levels of pollution, government standards and their enforcement, NGO environmental groups, and other programmes and policies. The editor, Dr. Irene Lyons Murphy, received support from the United States Institute of Peace during 1995- a study of the cooperative management of Danube River resources which began with the end of the Cold War. It analyzes the development and ratification of the Danube River Protection Convention and other aspects of joint pro-environment activities from 1991 to 1996. Its title The Danube: A River Basin in Transition is to be published in early 1997. Users, investors in new and/or joint business ventures, national and international governments, research scientists, the media, NGOs and the general public will be served on the Internet and through the distribution of CD-ROM and diskettes.

Numerical simulation models have become indispensable in hydro- and environmental sciences and engineering. This monograph presents a general introduction to numerical simulation in environment water, based on the solution of the equations for groundwater flow and transport processes, for multiphase and multicomponent flow and transport processes in the subsurface as well as for flow and transport processes in surface waters. It displays in detail the state of the art of discretization and stabilization methods (e.g. finite-difference, finite-element, and finite-volume methods), parallel methods, and adaptive methods as well as fast solvers, with particular focus on explaining the interactions of the different methods. The book gives a brief overview of various information-processing techniques and demonstrates the interactions of the numerical methods with the information-processing techniques, in order to achieve efficient numerical simulations for a wide range of applications in environment water.

This book presents decade-long advances in atmospheric research in the Mackenzie River Basin in northern Canada, which encompasses environments representative of most cold areas on Earth. Collaborative efforts have yielded knowledge entirely transferable to other high latitude regions in America, Europe and Asia. This book complements the first volume coming from the GEWEX project, dealing with the region's atmospheric dynamics.

Edited by Reinhard Kirsch, this book demonstrates the use of geophysics for the detection and delineation of groundwater resources. As well as being an excellent reference, it could also be used as a textbook. An addition to the bookshelf of any geophysicist.

The biennial International Gothenburg Symposia on Chemical Water and Waste water Treatment have proven to be a unique platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences between administrators, engineers and scientists active in the fields of water supply, wastewater disposal and pollution control. The First Symposium (Gothenburg, 1984) provided a long needed survey over theory and application of chemical water and wastewater treatment. The Second Symposium (Berlin, 1986) was devoted to aspects of recycling in chemical water and wastewater technology. The Third Symposium (Gothenburg, 1988) recognised the growing need and the potentials of pretreatment. These proceedings of the 4th Symposium focus on technology transfer from chemical treatment theory to practical treatment of drinking water and industrial or domestic wastewater. The contributions are devoted to questions of floc for mation and floc separation as well as problems and practical solutions associated with chemicals and dosing control. Special attention is given to the combination of chemical and biological processes for nutrient removal from wastewater. It is the editors' privilege to acknowledge the invaluable help from the authors of this book. It is the editors' hope that they might convey the significance and potential of chemical treatment in solving the challenging problems water purification, wastewater disposal and pollution control.

In recent years, several major natural and man-made hazards have challenged scientists, government officials and the public in general: earthquakes, major volcanic and other seismic eruptions in Mount St. Helens, EI Chichon, Mexico city, Nevado del Ruiz, Japan, Italy, Greece, Cameroon and many other places on our globe; Tsunami in the Pacific Ocean and deadly storm surges along the coasts of India, Bangladesh and Japan; Cyclones, floods, thunderstorms, snow storms, tornadoes, drought, desertification and other climatic catastrophes; Amoco-Cadiz oil spill accident (France), Three-Mile Island (U. S. A. ) and Chernobyl (U. S. S. R. ) nuclear accidents, Bhopal chemical accident (India), acid rain (Canada, U. S. A. ) and other technological disasters. Such hazards have snuffed out millions of lives, infli

Climate modelling is a field in rapid development, and the fltudy of cryospheric processes has become an important part of it. On smaller time scales, the effect of snow cover and sea ice on the atmospheric circulation is of concern for long-range weather forecasting. Thinking in decades or centuries, the effect of a C02 climatic warming on the present-day ice sheets, and the resulting changes in global sea level, has drawn a lot of attention. In particular, the dynamics of marine ice sheets (ice sheets on a bed that would be below sea level after removal of ice and full isostatic rebound) is a subject of continuous research. This interest stems from the fact that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is a marine ice sheet which, according to some workers, may be close to a complete collapse. The Pleistocene ice ages, or glacial cycles, are best characterized by total ice volume on earth, indicating that on 4 5 large time scales (10 to 10 yr) ice sheets are a dominant component of the climate system. The enormous amount of paleoclimatic information obtained from deep-sea sediments in the last few decades has led to a complete revival of iriterest in the physical aspects of the Pleistocene climatic evolution.