Climate Change: Alternate Governance Policy for South Asia provides an assessment of climate change issues through the socioeconomic lens of one of the world's poorest, most populous regions. Although climate change is a global issue, localized solutions have become increasingly necessary to address political, economic and cultural factors in underdeveloped regions. Identifying successes, gaps and shortcomings in existing policies and regional laws relating to climate change, this book evaluates the sustainability of current practices, examining mitigation strategies and suggesting a comprehensive, innovative model of sustainable policies and governance strategy specific to the region. While the book approaches climate change, policy and mitigation from a regionally-focused standpoint, it has an underlying philosophy of Think Global, Act Local, making it universally applicable to anyone interested in climate change and its effects.

Rockslides and Rock Avalanches of Central Asia: Distribution, Impacts, and Hazard Assessment arms scientists with an inclusive and specialized reference for future studies of large-scale bedrock landslides in Central Asia, a phenomenon that poses a major threat to local communities, infrastructure and industrial facilities. The book covers the Dzungaria, Tien Shan, and Pamir mountain systems that are characterized by arid climates and scarce forestation, and is an ideal reference for scientists searching for data that accurately summarizes bedrock landslides through the analyses of a multitude of case studies that have applications in comparable, global scenarios. Through its relatively low precipitation and good preservation of minor geomorphic features, particularly those formed by past landslides, this region provides opportunities for detailed study of the internal structure of landslide bodies.

Indian Shield: Precambrian Evolution and Phanerozoic Reconstitution highlights unique evolutionary trends covering a period of over 3,500 million years, from the oldest crust to the most recent geological activity of the Indian Subcontinent. The book discusses regional terrain geology in terms of the evolutionary history of the crust, describing how the Precambrian Shield evolved from a stable continental region to a tectonically unstable zone marked by frequent high-intensity earthquakes in a Plate-interior setting. It is a complete and readable account of the history of growth and evolution of the Indian Subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The book is intended for graduate students, researchers, and teachers in the geosciences, especially geophysics, geomorphology and geology. The book also serves as an important resource for tectonics and petrology researchers, as well as those involved in exploration of mineral resources.

As part of its efforts to improve fertilizer use and efficiency in West Africa, and following the recent adoption of the West African fertilizer recommendation action plan (RAP) by ECOWAS, this volume focuses on IFDC's technical lead with key partner institutions and experts to build on previous and current fertilizer recommendations for various crops and countries in West Africa for wider uptake by public policy makers and fertilizer industry actors.

The IUPAC Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems provides the scientific community with a critical evaluation of the state of the art on physicochemical structures and reactions in environmental systems, as well as on the analytical techniques required to study and monitor these systems. The series is aimed at promoting rigorous analysis and understanding of physicochemical functioning of environmental systems.

Soil, water and air are the major environmental media. Few pollutants and nutrients are restricted to only one medium. Thus what happens in soil environments has subsequent impacts on water and air.

The three major (solid) components of soil - minerals, organic components and microorganisms - together profoundly affect the physicochemical and biological properties of terrestrial systems. To date, there have been major scientific accomplishments in individual sub-disciplines, i.e., in the chemistry of soil minerals, the chemistry of soil organic matter and soil microbiology. However, minerals, organic matter and microorganisms should not be considered as separate entities but rather as a united system, with the components constantly in close association and interaction with each other in the terrestrial environment. These interactions have an enormous impact on terrestrial processes critical to environmental quality and ecosystem health.

Interactions between Soil Particles and Microorganisms provides the scientific community with a critical evaluation of state-of-the-art research on the interactions of soil minerals with organic components and microorganisms, with the goal of advancing the understanding of reactions and processes at the interface between chemistry and biology of soil and related environments. In view of the significance of these interactions, there is a need for an advanced treatise to focus on these interactions at the molecular and microscopic levels.

Key features:

• The first book to provide a comprehensive review of current research into the interactions of minerals, organic components and microorganisms in the soil

• Defines the impact that these interactions have on environmental quality and ecosystem health around the globe

• Provides a unique insight into the effects of mineral-organic component-microorganism interactions on pollutants in the soil, which is necessary for all environmental scientists working in this area

• Provides a basis for stimulating further research into the dynamics and mechanisms of environmental processes in nature

This book presents a collection of 17 papers by authors from eight different countries from diverse fields dealing with multi disciplinary research on the Patagonian Icefields. The main emphasis is glaciology, climatology and paleoclimatology, with contributions in glacier ecology, microbiology and aerosols. The volume is the proceedings of a meeting held on board a Chilean Navy ship, which sailed along the fjords, where the participants had the opportunity of actually setting foot on the Southern Patagonia Icefield.

The volume presents an updated review of glacier and climate-related research of the Patagonian icefields, and will become necessary reading for anyone interested in the Patagonian glaciers and the surrounding environment.

Soil Carbon Storage: Modulators, Mechanisms and Modeling takes a novel approach to the issue of soil carbon storage by considering soil C sequestration as a function of the interaction between biotic (e.g. microbes and plants) and abiotic (climate, soil types, management practices) modulators as a key driver of soil C. These modulators are central to C balance through their processing of C from both plant inputs and native soil organic matter. This book considers this concept in the light of state-of-the-art methodologies that elucidate these interactions and increase our understanding of a vitally important, but poorly characterized component of the global C cycle. The book provides soil scientists with a comprehensive, mechanistic, quantitative and predictive understanding of soil carbon storage. It presents a new framework that can be included in predictive models and management practices for better prediction and enhanced C storage in soils.

This is the first handbook that covers all aspects of bio-inoculants used in degraded lands to improve soil fertility and crop productivity as well as for the remediation of polluted lands. It discusses all novel sustainable approaches for the reclamation of problematic soils. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, this book explores the recent uses of plant microbe interactions in ecological and agricultural revitalization beyond normal agriculture practices and offers practical and applied solutions for the restoration of degraded lands for food, fodder, fuel and fiber security. Provides a single comprehensive platform for soil scientist, agriculture specialists, ecologists, and others.

There is much scientific interest in ice, both because of its unique and intriguing properties and because of its importance in the natural environment. This book is written for professional scientists and engineers, and is the only currently available book of its kind. It describes the physical properties of ice, interprets them in terms of its molecular structure, and shows their relevance to the forms of ice found on Earth and in space.

This edited book discusses various challenges in teaching structural geology and tectonics and how they have been overcome by eminent instructors, who employed effective and innovative means to do so. All of the chapters were written by prominent and active academics and geoscientists fully engaged in teaching Structural Geology and Tectonics. New instructors will find this book indispensible in framing their teaching strategy. Effective teaching of Structural Geology and Tectonics constitutes the backbone of geoscience education. Teaching takes place not only in classrooms, but also in labs and in the field. The content and teaching methodologies for these two fields have changed over time, shaped by the responsibilities that present-day geoscientists are expected to fulfill.

This book gathers the latest insights into soil health and its sustainability, providing an up-to-date overview of the various aspects of soil quality and fertility management, e.g., plant-microbe interactions to maintain soil health; and the use of algal, fungal and bacterial fertilizers and earthworms for sustainable soil health and agricultural production. It first discusses the past, present, and future scenarios of soil health, and then explores factors influencing soil health, as well as the consequences of degradation of soil health for sustainable agriculture. Lastly it highlights solutions to improve and maintain soil health so as to achieve greater productivity and sustainability without damaging the soil system or the environment. Soil health is defined as the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem frontiers, to sustain biological productivity, to maintain environmental quality and to promote plant, animal and human health. Soil health is established through the interactions of physical, chemical and biological properties, e.g., soil texture, soil structure, and soil organisms. Healthy soil provides adequate levels of macro- and micronutrients to plants and contains sufficient populations of soil microorganisms. As a result of the increasingly intensified agriculture over the past few decades, soils are now showing symptoms of exhaustion and stagnating or declining crop yields. Exploring these developments as well as possible solutions based on holistic and sustainable approaches, this book is a valuable resource for researchers in the area of soil and environmental science, agronomy, agriculture, as well as students in the field of botany, ecology and microbiology.

As part of its efforts to improve fertilizer use and efficiency in West Africa, and following the recent adoption of the West African fertilizer recommendation action plan (RAP) by ECOWAS, this volume focuses on IFDC's technical lead with key partner institutions and experts to build on previous and current fertilizer recommendations for various crops and countries in West Africa for wider uptake by public policy makers and fertilizer industry actors.

This book offers a comprehensive review devoted exclusively to slate as dimension stone. Beginning with a description of the slate as dimension stone, the book describes the origin of slate and related geological phenomena. It thoroughly explains key data acquisition methods and techniques, which are accompanied by extensive data. In turn, slate standards are introduced and compared with regard to their importance for product quality. The book covers in detail the specific petrographical, fabric, strength, physical properties and weathering behaviour of slates. The chapter on mining and production provides an overview of the different forms of exploitation and related geotechnical aspects, together with production and workflow design, from the beginning to the final product. The second part comprises a thorough description of worldwide slate deposits and their geology, properties and appearance as well as a brief introduction of the history. Given its scope and accessible format, the book represents an essential guide for scientists, engineers, and professionals in geology, conservation science, architecture, and mining, as well as readers who are active in the slate industry.

Bio-Geotechnologies for Mine Site Rehabilitation deals with the biological, physical, chemical, and engineering approaches necessary for the reclamation of mine waste. As mining has negative effects on natural resources and deteriorates the quality of the surrounding environment, this book provides coverage across different types of mining industries, which are currently creating industrial deserts overloaded with technogenic waste. The book offers cost-effective strategies and approaches for contaminated sites, along with remediation and rehabilitation methods for contaminated soils and waste dumps. It is an essential resource for students and academics, but is also ideal for applied professionals in environmental geology, mineral geologists, biotechnologists and policymakers.

This book provides a comprehensive coverage of the theory and principle of the Hoek-Brown (HB) failure criterion, methods or guidelines for estimating the HB input parameters, and the methodology of application of the HB criterion in rock engineering projects. It aims to help researchers, engineers and research students who work in the area of rock mechanics and mining engineering. Academics can quickly obtain an overview of the state of the art of the theory and principle of the Hoek-Brown criterion by reading the book before they advance their researches on the topics related to rock failure criteria. Geotechnical engineers can select appropriate Hoek-Brown input parameters for the design and analysis of rock engineering projects with the help of the principles introduced in this book. Research students may use the book as a textbook to learn the principle of rock mechanics related to rock mass properties.

Extensively revised, accessible, and up-to-date—the new edition of Tate’s classic soil microbiology text Now in its second edition, Soil Microbiology offers students a broad knowledge of the behavior and function of microbes in soil—all the essentials they will need in order to address the long-term stewardship of the earth’s soil resources. Designed for use as the core text for microbiology courses in the soil science curriculum, it explores the tremendous diversity of life found in soil ecosystems. With its amplified focus on the reclamation of contaminated and damaged soils, greenhouse gas production, and the sustainability of soil ecosystems, this book is an ideal resource for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, as well as a useful reference for professionals in soil and environmental science. Soil Microbiology, Second Edition features:

• A focus on new advances as well as environmental science aspects of soil microbiology
• Completely new chapters on the biological diversity of soil ecosystems, soil remediation, and soil systems management
• A strong emphasis on research in real-world settings as well as theoretical concerns

The Indian Ocean Nodule Field: Geology and Resource Potential, Second Edition, provides a view of the most recent studies along with classical theories starting from the 1960s. New concepts, hypotheses and critical appreciation of the state-of-the-art knowledge on nodule formation and resource management are featured in this new edition. The economy of the Indian Ocean has vast potential and yet it is one of the least studied oceans. Garnering economic advantage out of mineral resources from deep oceans has been a long cherished dream for the mining community. The availability of 5-metal rich polymetallic (manganese) nodules in specific areas of the Indian Ocean has lured researchers to discover more about their processes of formation, growth, distribution and enrichment.

At the heart of this book is the generalized theoretical approach that is applied to investigate the geoelectrical structure of the Earth's mantle. It also analyzes the results of regional and global induction sounding of the Earth's mantle and compares them with the results obtained by other geophysical methods. The generalized theoretical approach employs the Induction Law as a basis for identifying extended relations between magnetic field components, including their plane divergence, impedances and spatial derivatives. The estimations of impedance values and spatial derivatives are performed using the theory of stochastic processes. The book also considers the external sources of magnetic fields used for sounding the Earths mantle from the modern theory perspective, as well as the problem of coincidence of magneto-variation and magnetotelluric methods. Further, it discusses secular variations in the Earth's resistance caused by non-induction sources, factors that are correlated with the number of earthquakes in the region and shifted in time with global indexes. It is a valuable resource for scientists applying deep induction soundings or interested in the structures of and processes in the Earth's interior.

Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms' metabolism to degrade waste contaminants (sewage, domestic, and industrial effluents) into non-toxic or less toxic materials by natural biological processes. Volume 2 offers new discussion of remediation through fungi-or mycoremediation-and its multifarious possibilities in applied remediation engineering and the future of environmental sustainability. Fungi have the biochemical and ecological capability to degrade environmental organic chemicals and to decrease the risk associated with metals, semi-metals, noble metals, and radionuclides, either by chemical modification or by manipulating chemical bioavailability. Additional expanded texts shows the capability of these fungi to form extended mycelia networks, the low specificity of their catabolic enzymes, and their use against pollutants as a growth substrate, making these fungi well suited for bioremediation processes. Their mycelia exhibit the robustness of adapting to highly limiting environmental conditions often experienced in the presence of persistent pollutants, which makes them more useful compared to other microbes. Despite dominating the living biomass in soil and being abundant in aquatic ecosystems, however, fungi have not been exploited for the bioremediation of such environments until this added Volume 2. This book covers the various types of fungi and associated fungal processes used to clean up waste and wastewaters in contaminated environments and discusses future potential applications.

The monograph introduces the reader to the world of inductive well logging - an established method for surveying the electrical conductivity of rocks surrounding a borehole. The emphasis is on developing a theory of inductive logging and on understanding logging tools basic physics, since this theory and understanding furnish valuable insights for inventing practical induction logging techniques.

The first chapter of the book presents the basic laws of electromagnetism from a point of view that will facilitate the application of the theory to problems in electromagnetic logging. Many topics that play an important role in the design and interpretation of tools readings are covered. The vertical resolution and radial depth of investigation of different induction tools is systematically considered. Special attention is paid to principles of induction logging with transversal induction coils, to transient method of induction logging in media with cylindrical and horizontal interfaces and to the influence of anisotropy on the electromagnetic field measured in a conducting medium. Multi-coil differential induction probes and induction logging based on measuring the inphase component of the secondary field or the quadrature component difference are also described in detail. The last chapter is devoted to mathematical modeling of the response of induction logging tools in 3D geometries. The theory of inductive logging presented in this volume can be applied to logging after drilling as well as logging while drilling.

This book offers a high-level summary of shallow magmatic systems (dykes, sills and laccoliths) to support geoscience master and PhD students, scientists and practicing professionals. The product of the LASI (Laccoliths and Sills conference) workshop, it comprises thematic sections written by one or more experts on the respective field. It features reviews concerning the physical properties of magma, geotectonic settings, and the structure of subvolcanic systems, as well as case studies on the best-known systems. The book provides readers a broad and comprehensive understanding of the subvolcanic perspective on pluton growth, which is relevant for mineralogical processes as well as the genesis of mineral deposits.

The aim of this book is to present, in depth, updated information on soil and microbial processes involved in mixed plantations of Eucalyptus and N2-fixing species, especially Acacia mangium, focusing on Forestry, Soils, Biology, Ecosystem Services and Sustainability. The potential of substituting chemical N fertilizer by a consortium of leguminous species that fix atmospheric nitrogen is an interesting solution for a more sustainable, economically and environmentally sound forest system. Among the main topics, we present reference topics on soil microbiology, as biological nitrogen fixation, the role of mycorrhiza in mixed plantations, bio-indicators of soil quality, and plantgrowth promoting bacteria with biotechnological potential. Here we discuss Ecosystem services and ecological benefits of these systems, the invasive potential of A.mangium, as well as the regulations and perspectives of land use policies for mixed forests and their role in the sustainability of the system.