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Books > Earth & environment > Earth sciences > Geology & the lithosphere
This book summarizes the research being pursued as part of the
Erasmus+ CBHE KA2 project entitled "Development of master curricula
for natural disasters risk management in Western Balkan countries"
(NatRisk), which aims to educate experts on the prevention and
management of natural disasters in the Western Balkan region in
line with national and EU policies. The project has successfully
developed and implemented master curricula and educational training
in the field of natural disasters risk management, and a
methodology for the identification and prevention of natural
disasters. Consisting of 11 chapters, the book analyzes and
discusses topics such as risk assessment tools and quality methods,
the different approaches for civil-military collaboration, natural
disasters risk management in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leadership
models for managing crises resulting from natural disasters,
natural disasters in industrial areas, natural risk management in
geotechnics, flood risk modeling, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference
models for flood prediction, collapse prediction of masonry arches,
an algorithm for fire truck dispatch in emergency situations, and
processing drought data in a GIS environment.
This volume brings together contributions from world renowned
researchers and practitioners in the field of geotechnical
engineering. The chapters of this book are based on the keynote and
invited lectures delivered at the 7th International Conference on
Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil
Dynamics. The book presents advances in the field of soil dynamics
and geotechnical earthquake engineering. A strong emphasis is
placed on proving connections between academic research and field
practice, with many examples, case studies, best practices, and
discussions on performance-based design. This volume will be of
interest to research scholars, academicians and industry
professionals alike.
All sub disciplines in Organic Geochemistry (Petroleum
Geochemistry, Environmental Geochemistry etc.) are linked by the
basic analytical approaches used for identification and
quantitation of individual organic substances. Hence, a fundamental
prerequisite for organic geochemists is the knowledge not only
about the individual analytical techniques but more about their
potential as well as their limitations. In this issues basic
analytical procedures and techniques are introduced comprising
fundamental steps like sampling and sample storage, aspects of
sample treatment like extraction and fractionation procedures and
finally the specific techniques used for organic analyses on
partially very low concentration levels such as mass spectrometry
or infrared spectroscopy. Beside the technical aspects also
application on organic-geochemical problems and the standard data
evaluation practice is introduced. Finally, special chapters point
to analytical pitfalls and to principal standard operation
procedures. The intention of this issue is to get the readers
familiar with analytical Organic Geochemistry and to enable them to
assess the quality and suitability of specific analytical
approaches, in particular with respect to the organic-geochemical
problems.
This book offers essential, systematic information on the
assessment of the spatial association between two processes from a
statistical standpoint. Divided into eight chapters, the book
begins with preliminary concepts, mainly concerning spatial
statistics. The following seven chapters focus on the methodologies
needed to assess the correlation between two or more processes;
from theory introduced 35 years ago, to techniques that have only
recently been published. Furthermore, each chapter contains a
section on R computations to explore how the methodology works with
real data. References and a list of exercises are included at the
end of each chapter. The assessment of the correlation between two
spatial processes has been tackled from several different
perspectives in a variety of applications fields. In particular,
the problem of testing for the existence of spatial association
between two georeferenced variables is relevant for posterior
modeling and inference. One evident application in this context is
the quantification of the spatial correlation between two images
(processes defined on a rectangular grid in a two-dimensional
space). From a statistical perspective, this problem can be handled
via hypothesis testing, or by using extensions of the correlation
coefficient. In an image-processing framework, these extensions can
also be used to define similarity indices between images.
This book describes the multitude of interactions between plant,
soil, and micro-organisms. It emphasizes on how growth and
development in plants, starting from seed germination, is heavily
influenced by the soil type. It describes the interactions
established by plants with soil and inhabitant microbial community.
The chapters describe how plants selectively promote certain
microorganisms in the rhizospheric ecozone to derive multifarious
benefits such as nutrient acquisition and protection from diseases.
The diversity of these rhizospheric microbes and their interactions
with plants largely depend on plant genotype, soils attributes, and
several abiotic and biotic factors. Most of the studies concerned
with plant-microbe interaction are focused on temperate regions,
even though the tropical ecosystems are more diverse and need more
attention. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how soil type and
climatic conditions influence the plant-soil-microbes interaction
in the tropics. Considering the significance of the subject, the
present volume is designed to cover the most relevant aspects of
rhizospheric microbial interactions in tropical ecosystems.
Chapters include aspects related to the diversity of rhizospheric
microbes, as well as modern tools and techniques to assess the
rhizospheric microbiomes and their functional roles. The book also
covers applications of rhizospheric microbes and evaluation of
prospects improving agricultural practice and productivity through
the use of microbiome technologies. This book will be extremely
interesting to microbiologists, plant biologists, and ecologists.
This book comprises select proceedings of the annual conference of
the Indian Geotechnical Society. The conference brings together
research and case histories on various aspects of geotechnical and
geoenvironmental engineering. The book presents papers on
geotechnical applications and case histories, covering topics such
as (i) Characterization of Geomaterials and Physical Modelling;
(ii) Foundations and Deep Excavations; (iii) Soil Stabilization and
Ground Improvement; (iv) Geoenvironmental Engineering and Waste
Material Utilization; (v) Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Geotechnical
Engineering; (vi) Earth Retaining Structures, Dams and Embankments;
(vii) Slope Stability and Landslides; (viii) Transportation
Geotechnics; (ix) Geosynthetics Applications; (x) Computational,
Analytical and Numerical Modelling; (xi) Rock Engineering,
Tunnelling and Underground Constructions; (xii) Forensic
Geotechnical Engineering and Case Studies; and (xiii) Others
Topics: Behaviour of Unsaturated Soils, Offshore and Marine
Geotechnics, Remote Sensing and GIS, Field Investigations,
Instrumentation and Monitoring, Retrofitting of Geotechnical
Structures, Reliability in Geotechnical Engineering, Geotechnical
Education, Codes and Standards, and other relevant topics. The
contents of this book are of interest to researchers and practicing
engineers alike.
Volcanoes have terrified and, at the same time, fascinated
civilizations for thousands of years. Many aspects of volcanoes,
most notably the eruptive processes and the compositional
variations of magma, have been widely investigated for several
decades and today constitute the core of any volcanology textbook.
Nevertheless, in the last two decades, boosted by the availability
of volcano monitoring data, there has been an increasing interest
in the pre-eruptive processes related to the shallow accumulation
and to the transfer of magma approaching the surface, as well as in
the resulting structure of volcanoes. These are innovative and
essential aspects of modern volcanology and, as driving volcanic
unrest, their understanding also improves hazard assessment and
eruption forecasting. So far, the significant progress made in
unravelling these volcano-tectonic processes has not been supported
by a comprehensive overview. This monograph aims at filling this
gap, describing the pre-eruptive processes related to the
structure, deformation and tectonics of volcanoes, at the local and
regional scale, in any tectonic setting. The monograph is organized
into three sections ("Fundamentals", "Magma migration towards the
surface" and "The regional perspective"), consisting of thirteen
chapters that are lavishly illustrated. The reader is accompanied
in a journey within the volcano factory, discovering the processes
associated with the shallow accumulation of magma and its transfer
towards the surface, how these control the structure of volcanoes
and their activity and, ultimately, improve our ability to estimate
hazard and forecast eruption. The potential readership includes any
academic, researcher and upper undergraduate student interested in
volcanology, magma intrusions, structural geology, tectonics,
geodesy, as well as geology and geophysics in general.
This volume presents select papers presented during the Second
International Conference on Waste Management held at IIT Guwahati.
The book comprises of eight sections, and deals with various
technologies associated with curbing of different environmental
issues as well as management and legislative policies associated
with them. This book will be of interest to various researchers,
students, policy makers and people who pursue keen interest in the
waste management techniques and policies.
Authored by world-class scientists and scholars, the Handbook of
Natural Resources, Second Edition, is an excellent reference for
understanding the consequences of changing natural resources to the
degradation of ecological integrity and the sustainability of life.
Based on the content of the bestselling and CHOICE awarded
Encyclopedia of Natural Resources, this new edition demonstrates
the major challenges that the society is facing for the
sustainability of all wellbeing on planet Earth. The experience,
evidence, methods, and models used in studying natural resources
are presented in six stand-alone volumes, arranged along the main
systems: land, water, and air. It reviews state-of-the-art
knowledge, highlights advances made in different areas, and
provides guidance for the appropriate use of remote sensing data in
the study of natural resources on a global scale. The six volumes
in this set cover: Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biodiversity;
Landscape and Land Capacity; Wetlands and Habitats; Fresh Water and
Watersheds; Coastal and Marine Environments; and finally Atmosphere
and Climate. Written in an easy-to-reference manner, the Handbook
of Natural Resources, Second Edition, as a complete set, is
essential for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the
science and management of natural resources. Public and private
libraries, educational and research institutions, scientists,
scholars, and resource managers will benefit enormously from this
set. Individual volumes and chapters can also be used in a wide
variety of both graduate and undergraduate courses in environmental
science and natural science courses at different levels and
disciplines, such as biology, geography, Earth system science,
ecology, etc.
After the 1998 flood of the Yangtze River, one of the world s most
important rivers, environmental experts realized that, to control
flooding, much more attention must be paid to vegetation cover on
bare lands, thin forest land, and shrub-covered land in mountain
areas. In 1999, an environmental monitoring project of the forests
in 11 provinces of the Yangtze River basin was undertaken. This
book reports on soil loss prediction and the successful practices
of soil loss control in eastern China in recent years.
Several nano-scale devices have emerged that are capable of
analysing plant diseases, nutrient deficiencies and any other
ailments that may affect food security in agro-ecosystems. It has
been envisioned that smart delivery systems can be developed and
utilised for better management of agricultural ecosystems. These
systems could exhibit beneficial, multi-functional characteristics,
which could be used to assess and also control habitat-imposed
stresses to crops. Nanoparticle-mediated smart delivery systems can
control the delivery of nutrients or bioactive and/or pesticide
molecules in plants. It has been suggested that nano-particles in
plants might help determine their nutrient status and could also be
used as cures in agro-ecosystems. Further, to enhance soil and crop
productivity, nanotechnology has been used to create and deliver
nano fertilizers, which can be defined as nano-particles that
directly help supply nutrients for plant growth and soil
productivity. Nano-particles can be absorbed onto clay networks,
leading to improved soil health and more efficient nutrient use by
crops. Additionally, fertilizer particles can be coated with
nano-particles that facilitate slow and steady release of
nutrients, reducing loss of nutrients and enhancing their
efficiency in agri-crops. Although the use of nanotechnology in
agro-ecosystems is still in its early stages and needs to be
developed further, nano-particle-mediated delivery systems are
promising solutions for the successful management of
agri-ecosystems. In this context, the book offers insights into
nanotechnology in agro-ecosystems with reference to biogenic
nanoparticles. It highlights the: * occurrence and diversity of
Biogenic Nanoparticles * mechanistic approach involved in the
synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles * synthesis of nanoparticles
using photo-activation, and their fate in the soil ecosystem *
potential applications of nanoparticles in agricultural systems *
application and biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their
characterization * impact of biogenic nanoparticles on biotic
stress to plants * mechanistic approaches involved in the
antimicrobial effects and cytotoxicity of biogenic nanoparticles *
role of biogenic nanoparticles in plant diseases management *
relevance of biological synthesized nanoparticles in the longevity
of agricultural crops * design and synthesis of nano-biosensors for
monitoring pollutants in water, soil and plant systems *
applications of nanotechnology in agriculture with special refer to
soil, water and plant sciences A useful resource for postgraduate
and research students in the field of plant and agricultural
sciences, it is also of interest to researchers working in nano and
biotechnology.
This book analyses the theoretical and methodological foundations
of ecotourism and geotourism and examines the essence, content,
factors, and models of ecotourism development. The authors
conducted research to assess the tourist and recreational potential
of ecotourism in Kazakhstan. The study analyses the current state
and describes the problems of the long-term development of
ecotourism. Besides, the authors also show the role of specially
protected natural areas in ecotourism development, including a list
of organizations that can create tourist products in the
environmental direction. This book also defines the primary
conditions necessary for ecotourism in protected natural and rural
areas. The resulting cartographic material visualizes the
geospatial potential of the regions of Kazakhstan, aiming a more
targeted expenditure of financial resources allocated to tourism
development. Thus, the presented book is relevant from a practical
perspective to scientists and researchers and is of value to
business structures and stakeholders.
The book requires only rudimentary physics knowledge but ability to
program computers creatively and to keep the mind open to simple
and not so simple models, based in individuals, for the living
world around us.
* Interdisciplinary coverage
* Research oriented
* Contains and explains programs
* Based on recent discoveries
* Little special knowledge required besides programming
* Suitable for undergraduate and graduate research projects
Milan and Lombardy have played an important role in the Italian
country since the Roman period. This importance is reflected also
by the diffusion of stone architecture: a persisting trait of Milan
architecture was the use of different stones in the same building.
Milan lies in the middle of the alluvial plain of the Po, far from
the stone quarries; some waterways were dug out in order to supply
the building stones from the surrounding territories. The study of
stone as building material was significant at the end of 19th
century, but then it was largely neglected by both architects and
geologists. So it is significant to suggest a study about the
stones employed to build in Milan (Part One) in relationship with a
petrographic study about the features of the stones quarried in the
whole Lombard territory (Part Two). Part One contains a record of
Milanese edifices, edifices marking the different historical
periods. Each edifice is described in a "card" containing: the
building history, the architect, the kind of stone employed and
subdivided according to the different parts of the building, the
shape of stone elements. Part Two contains the description of the
features of the stones reported in the first part. They are
metamorphic and magmatic rocks of the Alpine area; sedimentary
rocks and loose materials of the Prealpine area; sedimentary rocks
of the Apennine area; loose sediments of the Padania plain. Some
stones, coming from other northern Italian regions, and used in
Lombard architecture, are also described. Each stone is described
in a "card" containing: commercial and historical names,
petrographic classification, macroscopic features, mineralogical
composition, microscopic features, geological setting, quarry
sites, transport to yards, morphology of dressed elements and
surface handworking, use in architecture in the whole Lombard
territory and abroad, decay morphologies. A particular
investigation is addressed to the stones used during the 20th
century, a great part of them was never used before in Milan and in
Lombardy.
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