This book provides a comprehensive presentation of Earth s energy flows and their consequences for the climate. The Earth s climate as well as planetary climates in general, are broadly controlled by three fundamental parameters: the solar irradiance, the planetary albedo and the planetary emissivity. Space measurements indicate that these three quantities are remarkably stable. A minor decrease inplanetary emissivity is consistent with theoretical calculations. This is due to the ongoing increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases making the atmosphere more opaque to long wave terrestrial radiation. As a consequence radiation processes are slightly out of balance as less heat is leaving the Earth in the form of thermal radiation than the incoming amount of heat from the sun. Present space-based systems cannot yet satisfactorily measure this imbalance, but the effect can be inferred from the measurements of the increase of heat in the oceans. Minor amounts of heat are also used to melt ice and to warm the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth.
The book brings to fore the complexity of feedback processes of the Earth s climate system and in particular the way clouds and aerosols affect the energy balance both directly and indirectly through feed-back loops driven by the dynamics of atmospheric, ocean and land surface processes. The book highlights recent scientific progress as well as remaining challenges.
Previously published in Surveys in Geophysics, Volume 33, Nos. 3-4, 2012"

The high accuracy of modern astronomical spatial-temporal reference systems has made them considerably complex. This book offers a comprehensive overview of such systems. It begins with a discussion of 'The Problem of Time', including recent developments in the art of clock making (e.g., optical clocks) and various time scales. The authors address the definitions and realization of spatial coordinates by reference to remote celestial objects such as quasars. After an extensive treatment of classical equinox-based coordinates, new paradigms for setting up a celestial reference system are introduced that no longer refer to the translational and rotational motion of the Earth. The role of relativity in the definition and realization of such systems is clarified. The topics presented in this book are complemented by exercises (with solutions). The authors offer a series of files, written in Maple, a standard computer algebra system, to help readers get a feel for the various models and orders of magnitude. Beyond astrometry, the main fields of application of high-precision astronomical spatial-temporal reference systems and frames are navigation (GPS, interplanetary spacecraft navigation) and global geodynamics, which provide a high-precision Celestial Reference System and its link to any terrestrial spatial-temporal reference system. Mankind's urgent environmental questions can only be answered in the context of appropriate reference systems in which both aspects, space and time, are realized with a sufficiently high level of accuracy. This book addresses all those interested in high-precision reference systems and the various techniques (GPS, Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Satellite Laser Ranging, Lunar Laser Ranging) necessary for their realization, including the production and dissemination of time signals.

This book describes origin and characteristics of the Earth's thermal field, thermal flow propagation and some thermal phenomena in the Earth. Description of thermal properties of rocks and methods of thermal field measurements in boreholes, underground, at near-surface conditions enables to understand the principles of temperature field acquisition and geothermal model development. Processing and interpretation of geothermal data are shown on numerous field examples from different regions of the world. The book warps, for instance, such fields as analysis of thermal regime of the Earth's crust, evolution and thermodynamic conditions of the magma-ocean and early Earth atmosphere, thermal properties of permafrost, thermal waters, geysers and mud volcanoes, methods of Curie discontinuity construction, quantitative interpretation of thermal anomalies, examination of some nonlinear effects, and integration of geothermal data with other geophysical methods. This book is intended for students and researchers in the field of Earth Sciences and Environment studying thermal processes in the Earth and in the subsurface. It will be useful for specialists applying thermal field analysis in petroleum, water and ore geophysics, environmental and ecological studies, archaeological prospection and climate of the past.

Proceedings of the 128th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union, held in Coolfont, West Virginia, USA, October 20-24, 1986.

The determination of when, how, how often and with whom an animal breeds is moving rapidly away from evolutionary pressures and towards human purposes: these include the breeding of around 50 billion mammals and birds for food production annually, the breeding of pedigree dogs and cats, racing dogs and horses, specialised laboratory animal strains and the use of reproductive science to conserve endangered species or breeds and to limit unwanted populations of pests and non-native species. But the ethics and sustainability of this takeover of animals' reproductive lives have been insufficiently examined by either professionals or the public. This book discusses the methods, the motivations and the consequences of human intervention in animal breeding in terms of animal health, behaviour and well-being. It explores where we are now and the choices ahead, and looks to a future where we have more respect for animals as sentient beings and where we could loosen the reins of reproductive control.

Ocean engineering is generally considered to be concerned with studies on the effects of the ocean on the land and with the design, construction and operation of vehicles, structures and systems for use in the ocean or marine environment. The practice of engineering differs from that of science in both motivations and objectives. Science seeks understanding of the principles of nature in terms of generalizations expressed as laws and classifications. Engineering seeks the application of knowledge of the physical and natural world to produce a benefit expressed as a device, system, material, and/or process. From the standpoint of the financial sponsors of an engineering project, the ideal approach is one of minimal risk in which only proven knowledge, materials and procedures are employed. There is frequent departure from this ideal in anticipation of the increased benefit expected from a large increase in performance of a structure or device. The process of acquiring this new capability is engineering research. Historically, ocean engineering developed with the application of engineering principles and processes to the design of ships and, later, to the machinery that propels them. In most societies, naval architecture and marine engineering are recognised as the origin of ocean engineering. In fact, the design of a ship constitutes the original systems engineering programme involving hydrodynamics/fluid flow, structural design, machinery design, electrical engineering and so on as well as requiring knowledge of the ocean environment (waves, corrosion, etc.).

The NATO Advanced Study Institute "Paleorift Systems with Emphasis on the Permian Oslo Rift" was held at Sundvollen near Oslo, Norway, 26. July - 5. August, 1977. The meeting included 6 field trips to various parts of the Oslo Region. 70 official participants and 16 observers from 14 countries attended the meeting. The majority of the invited lectures and short research papers and progress reports presented at the meeting are published in two volumes of which this is volume No. I. Lists of content for both volumes are presently included. The guide to the field trips is being published in the Norwegian Geological Survey Series (1978). Oslo, 10. November 1977. Else-Ragnhild Neumann Ivar B. Ramberg Organizing Committee members: O. Eldholm Geological Institute, University G. Grcentsnlie of Oslo J. Naterstad I.B. Ramberg (chairman) Mineralogical-Geological Museum, J.A. Dons B.T. Larsen (secretary) University of Oslo E.-R. Neumann (secretary) K.S. Heier (chairman) Norwegian Geological Survey S. Huseby B. Sundvoll Seismological Observatory, University M.A. Sellevoll of Bergen Geophysics Institute, University of K. Storetvedt Bergen Geological Institute, University of P.M. Ihlen Trondheim Chr. Oftedahl F.M. Vokes NORSAR, 2007 Kjeller E.S. Husebye This volume is Scientific Report No. 39 of the Geodynamics project. The Geodynamics project is an international programme of research on the dynamics and dynamic history of the Earth with emphasis on deep-seated foundations of geological phenomen

1 Grundlagen.- 1.1 Allgemeine Grundlagen.- 1.1.1 Ziele und Aufgaben.- 1.1.2 Methoden.- 1.1.3 Geschichte und Einordnung.- 1.1.3.1 Geschichte der Bauwerksvermessung.- 1.1.3.2 Geschichte des Vermessungswesens.- 1.1.3.3 Geschichte der Architekturphotogrammetrie.- 1.1.4 Rechtliche Grundlagen und Rahmenbedingungen.- 1.1.4.1 Internationale Vereinbarungen und Organisationen.- 1.1.4.2 Baugesetzbuch, Denkmalpflegegesetze, Vermessungsgesetze.- 1.2 Messgroessen und Masseinheiten.- 1.2.1 Strecken.- 1.2.2 Winkel.- 1.3 Bezugssysteme und Koordinaten.- 1.3.1 Bezugsflachen.- 1.3.2 Koordinaten.- 1.3.3 Koordinatensysteme.- 1.3.3.1 Polarkoordinaten.- 1.3.3.2 Lokale Koordinatensysteme.- 1.3.3.3 Regionale Koordinatensysteme.- 1.3.3.4 Globale Koordinatensysteme.- 1.3.3.5 Geographische Koordinaten.- 1.3.3.6 Geozentrische Koordinaten.- 1.3.4 Koordinatentransformationen.- 1.3.4.1 Translation (2D).- 1.3.4.2 Massstabslose Transformation (2D).- 1.3.4.3 AEhnlichkeitstransformation (2D).- 1.3.4.4 Vereinfachte AEhnlichkeitstransformation mit 2 Passpunkten (2D).- 1.3.4.5 Affintransformation (2D).- 1.3.4.6 Weitere ebene Koordinatentransformationen.- 1.3.4.7 Raumliche Koordinatentransformation (3D).- 1.3.5 Festpunktfelder.- 1.3.5.1 Netz trigonometrischer Punkte zur Lagedefinition.- 1.3.5.2 Hoehennetz.- 1.3.6 Vermessungsnetze fur die Bauwerksvermessung.- 1.3.6.1 Netzdesign.- 1.3.6.2 Vermarkung.- 1.3.6.3 Design und Fertigung von Punktsignalisierungen.- 1.3.6.4 Auswahl naturlicher Passpunkte.- 1.3.6.5 Schnurnetz zur temporaren Vermarkung.- 1.3.6.6 Punktubersichten und Einmessskizzen.- 1.4 Fehlerlehre und Statistik.- 1.4.1 Fehlerarten und ihre Wirkung.- 1.4.1.1 Zufallige Fehler.- 1.4.1.2 Systematische Fehler.- 1.4.1.3 Grobe Fehler.- 1.4.2 Fehlerfortpflanzung und Ausgleichsrechnung.- 1.4.3 Rechenscharfe und Rundung.- 1.4.4 Toleranzen im Bauwesen.- 2 Dokumentation von Gebauden und Ensembles.- 2.1 Amtliche Dokumentation.- 2.1.1 Katasterunterlagen.- 2.1.2 Amtliche Karten.- 2.1.3 Lageplan.- 2.1.4 Geoinformationssysteme (GIS).- 2.2 Plane.- 2.2.1 Grundriss.- 2.2.2 Schnitt.- 2.2.3 Ansicht.- 2.2.4 Detaildarstellungen.- 2.2.5 Massstabe und Detaillierungsgrad.- 2.2.6 Materialien und Aufbewahrung.- 2.3 3D-Beschreibungen.- 2.3.1 CAD-Modell.- 2.3.2 Animation.- 2.3.3 Virtual Reality.- 2.3.4 Augmented Reality.- 2.4 Fotografie.- 2.4.1 Analoge Fotografie.- 2.4.1.1 Fotografisches Material.- 2.4.1.2 Kameras.- 2.4.1.3 Objektive.- 2.4.1.4 Licht.- 2.4.1.5 Belichtung.- 2.4.1.6 Archivierungen von Fotomaterialien.- 2.4.2 Digitale Bilder.- 2.4.2.1 Flachensensoren.- 2.4.2.2 Zeilenkameras.- 2.4.2.3 Spezialkameras.- 2.4.3 Scannen analoger Fotovorlagen.- 2.4.4 Digitale Bildverarbeitung.- 2.5 Textliche und hybride Beschreibungen.- 2.5.1 Raumbuch.- 2.5.2 Hypertext Dokumente.- 2.5.3 Informationssystem.- 2.6 Archivierung digitaler Daten.- 2.6.1 Datentrager.- 2.6.2 Datenformate.- 2.6.2.1 Texte.- 2.6.2.2 Datenbanken.- 2.6.2.3 Vektordaten.- 2.6.2.4 Rasterdaten.- 2.6.2.5 Hypermedia.- 3 Erfassung von Messelementen.- 3.1 Messprinzipien.- 3.1.1 Vom-Grossen-ins-Kleine.- 3.1.2 UEberbestimmungen.- 3.1.3 Vermeidung von systematischen Fehlern.- 3.2 Gerate und Instrumente.- 3.2.1 Bauteile, Kleingerate und Zubehoer.- 3.2.1.1 Lote und Libellen.- 3.2.1.2 Fernrohr.- 3.2.1.3 Stative.- 3.2.1.4 Fluchtstab.- 3.2.1.5 Nivellierlatten und Kleingerat.- 3.2.1.6 Aufstellen eines Instruments.- 3.2.2 Winkelmessung.- 3.2.2.1 Bestimmung rechter Winkel.- 3.2.2.2 Theodolit.- 3.2.2.3 Satzmessung.- 3.2.2.4 Berechnung von Richtungswinkeln aus Koordinaten.- 3.2.3 Streckenmessung.- 3.2.3.1 Streckenmessung mit dem Messband.- 3.2.3.2 Optische Streckenmessung.- 3.2.3.3 Elektro-optische Entfernungsmessung (EDM).- 3.2.4 Hoehenmessung.- 3.2.4.1 Einfache Werkzeuge.- 3.2.4.2 Nivellement.- 3.2.4.3 Rotationslaser.- 3.3 Beschaffung einer Vermessungsausrustung.- 4 Messverfahren.- 4.1 Schrittskizze.- 4.2 Handaufmass.- 4.3 Punktbestimmung ohne Theodolit.- 4.3.1 Bogenschlag.- 4.3.2 Einbindeverfahren.- 4.3.3 Orthogonalverfahren.- 4.3.4

GNSS Seismogeodesy: Theory and Applications combines GNSS and seismology theory and applications to offer both disciplines the background information needed to combine forces. It explores the opportunities for integrating GNSS and seismometers, as well as applications for earthquake and tsunami early warning applications. The book allows seismologists to better understand how GNSS positions are computed and how they can be combined with seismic data and allows geodesists to better understand how to apply GNSS to monitoring of crustal motion. This book is a valuable reference for researchers and students studying the interdisciplinary connection between GNSS geodesy and strong-motion seismology. It will also be ideal for anyone working on new approaches for monitoring and predicting geologic hazards.

Today western nations consume annually only a small percentage of their resources from the sea, despite the proclamation of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) by many. In contrast, most Pacific Basin Countries obtain more than a quarter of their annual needs from the ocean. Determination of greater rewards from the development of marine resources is markedly inhibited by the limited technical abilities available to locate and assess them. Knowledge of Exclusive Economic Zone resources is schematic and generalised, and a detailed understanding of the geology and processes relating to the economic use of the seafloor is both fragmentary and very basic. Technology for mapping the mineral resources of continental shelves and ocean areas, except in active offshore hydrocarbon provinces, has been largely developed in pursuit of scientific objectives and competence to rapidly appraise economic potential is limited. Similarly, the capability to characterise and evaluate the other resources of the seas is rudimentary. The development of ocean resources will become increasingly urgent as the growth of the world population and the depletion of land reserves combine to enhance demand. Also, increasing environmental constraints will limit the availability of traditional land-based resources; nevertheless, new offshore development must proceed in a manner whereby the marine environment is not plundered but protected and conserved. The challenge to develop ocean resources with responsible environmental stewardship will require greater leadership than the development of the technologies of exploitation.

Optical Components for Communications is an incomparable book that provides the reader with an understanding of a highly technical subject in a way that is both academically sound and easy to read. Readers with a fundamental understanding of physics from an undergraduate degree will find Dr. Lin's explanation of the principles of quantum physics and optics in this book easy to grasp. This book is also exceptional in its ability to span a subject from the very abstract, fundamental principles of operations to the very specific real world applications of the technology.

Designed to provide engineers with quick access to current and practical information on the dynamics of structure and foundation, this unique work, consisting of two separately available volumes, serves as a complete reference, especially for those involved with earthquake or dynamic analysis, or the design of machine foundations in the oil, gas, and energy sector. This first volume deals with theories and formulations, covering the full range of topics involved and dynamics of structure and foundation. It specifically focuses on a unified approach in dealing with dynamic soul-structure interaction and geotechnical considerations for dynamic soil-structure interaction. The authors present new insights and theories, such as the computation of Rayleigh damping for structures with a large number of degrees of freedom, and the dynamic analysis of Hammer foundations, considering non-classical soil damping. In a clear style, this well-illustrated column addresses detailed topics, grouped in the following major themes: Elasticity and numerical methods in engineering Lumped parameter vibration Soil-structure systems under static load Structural and soil dynamics This reference and design guide is intended for academics and professionals in civil and structural engineering involved with earthquake or dynamic analysis or the design of machine foundations. In combination with Volume 2: Applications (ISBN 9780415492232), it could be used as course material for advanced university and professional education in structural dynamics, soil dynamics, analysis and design of machined foundations, and earthquake engineering.

As the growth of the world's population requires the continued search for residential space, the urbanization of natural lands is an inevitable process, but that process does not have to be one that is accomplished without regard for environmental quality. This book presents the unique perspective of naturbanization, the urbanization of protected and highly valued natural spaces that are geographically removed from current urban centers. It discusses the search and selection of new residential spaces, economic planning and policy in such areas, environmentally sensitive construction, and public investment in infrastructure to make the areas more accessible and habitable.

Specifically, the book analyzes naturbanization as it is occurring in National Parks located along the European Union borders. Recent declarations have made the parks more accessible to development and consequently they are serving as models for ways to reach workable solutions and encourage the sort of economic development that will satisfy both developers and environmentalists

The NATO ASI held in the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, June 17-28, 1991 was, we believe, the first attempt to bring together geoscientists from all the disciplines related to the solar system where fluid flow is a fundamental phenomenon. The various aspects of flow discussed at the meeting ranged from the flow of ice in glaciers, through motion of the solar wind, to the effects of flow in the Earth's mantle as seen in surface phenomena. A major connecting theme is the role played by convection. For a previous attempt to review the various ways in which convection plays an important role in natural phenomena one must go back to an early comprehensive study by 1. Wasiutynski in "Astro physica Norvegica" vo1. 4, 1946. This work, little known now perhaps, was a pioneering study. In understanding the evolution of bodies of the solar system, from accretion to present-day processes, ranging from interplanetary plasma to fluid cores, the understanding of flow hydrodynamics is essentia1. From the large scale in planetary atmospheres to geological processes, such as those seen in magma chambers on the Earth, one is dealing with thermal or chemical convection. Count Rumford, the founder of the Royal Institution, studied thermal convection experimentally and realized its practical importance in domestic contexts."

SEEING THE UNSEEN. GEOPHYSICS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY is a collection of papers presented at the advanced XV International Summer School in Archaeology ?Geophysics for Landscape Archaeology? (Grosseto, Italy, 10-18 July 2006). Bringing together the experience of some of the world's greatest experts in the field of archaeological prospection, the focus of this book is not so much on the analysis of single buried structures, but more on researching the entire landscape in all its multi-period complexity.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part concentrates on the theoretical basis of the various methods, illustrated for the most part through case-studies and practical examples drawn from a variety of geographical and cultural contexts. The second part focuses on the work carried out in the field during the Summer School. Tutors and students took part in the intensive application of the principal techniques of geophysical prospecting (magnetometry, EM, ERT and ground-penetrating radar) to locate, retrieve, process and interpret data for a large Roman villa-complex near Grosseto.

SEEING THE UNSEEN. GEOPHYSICS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY provides a clear illustration of the remarkable potential of geophysical methods in the study of ancient landscapes, and will be usefull to Archaeologists, Geophysicists, Environmental scientists, and those involved in the management of cultural heritage.

The International Congress on Energy Efficiency and Energy Related Materials (ENEFM2013) was held on 9-12 October, 2013. This three-day congress focused on the latest developments of sustainable energy technologies, materials for sustainable energy applications and environmental & economic perspectives of energy. These proceedings include 63 peer reviewed technical papers, submitted from leading academic and research institutions from over 23 countries, representing some of the most cutting edge research available. The papers included were presented at the congress in the following sessions: General Issues Wind Energy Solar Energy Nuclear Energy Biofuels and Bioenergy Energy Storage Energy Conservation and Efficiency Energy in Buildings Economical and Environmental Issues Environment Energy Requirements Economic Development Materials for Sustainable Energy Hydrogen Production and Storage Photovoltaic Cells Thermionic Converters Batteries and Superconductors Phase Change Materials Fuel Cells Superconductors

This book examines different classical and modern aspects of geophysical data processing and inversion with emphasis on the processing of seismic records in applied seismology.

Chapter 1 introduces basic concepts including: probability theory (expectation operator and ensemble statistics), elementary principles of parameter estimation, Fourier and z-transform essentials, and issues of orthogonality. In Chapter 2, the linear treatment of time series is provided. Particular attention is paid to Wold decomposition theorem and time series models (AR, MA, and ARMA) and their connection to seismic data analysis problems. Chapter 3 introduces concepts of Information theory and contains a synopsis of those topics that are used throughout the book. Examples are entropy, conditional entropy, Burg's maximum entropy spectral estimator, and mutual information. Chapter 4 provides a description of inverse problems first from a deterministic point of view, then from a probabilistic one. Chapter 5 deals with methods to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of seismic records. Concepts from previous chapters are put in practice for designing prediction error filters for noise attenuation and high-resolution Radon operators. Chapter 6 deals with the topic of deconvolution and the inversion of acoustic impedance. The first part discusses band-limited extrapolation assuming a known wavelet and considers the issue of wavelet estimation. The second part deals with sparse deconvolution using various 'entropy' type norms. Finally, Chapter 7 introduces recent topics of interest to the authors.

The emphasis of this book is on applied seismology but researchers in the area of global seismology, and geophysical signal processing and inversion will find material that is relevant to the ubiquitous problem of estimating complex models from a limited number of noisy observations.
* Non-conventional approaches to data processing and inversion are presented
* Important problems in the area of seismic resolution enhancement are discussed
* Contains research material that could inspire graduate students and their supervisors to undertake new research directions in applied seismology and geophysical signal processing

For many years, the two subjects of (1) postglacial rebound and its potential for generating earthquakes and (2) the seismicity of passive continental ml!rgins have been of interest and concern to earth scientists on both sides of the North Atlantic. New data and theoretical interpretations have given rise to vigorous discussions on how much the two phenomena inter-relate and whether a significant controlling factor on seismicity in northeastern North America and Scandinavia is the crustal uplift that has been occurring since the latest ice age. The lack of a good understanding of these phenomena presented a particular problem for engineering seismologists attempting to prepare accurate seismic hazard estimates for facili ties both on land (e. g. , nuclear power stations and radioactive waste repositories) and offshore (e. g. , petroleum production facili ties) . The NATO Advanced Research Workshop programme provided an opportuni ty to bring together a group of relevant geophysicists, geologists and geodesists from both sides of the North Atlantic, and a workshop on "Causes and Effects of Earthquakes at Passive Margins and in Areas of Postglacial Rebound on both Sides of the North Atlantic" was held in Vordingborg, Denmark, 9-13 May 1988. The sup port of the NATO Science Committee is gratefully acknowledged.

A reprinting of eight articles from Surveys in geophysics, v.10, nos.2-4 (1989) on geophysical data processing. The topics include data sets from shear waves, which, generated by mode conversion, are used in solving reservoir problems; the zero-phase term, essential to further processing, and the d

For the fourth consecutive year, the Association of Geographic Infor- tion Laboratories for Europe (AGILE) promoted the edition of a book with the collection of the scientific papers that were submitted as full-papers to the AGILE annual international conference. Those papers went through a th competitive review process. The 13 AGILE conference call for fu- papers of original and unpublished fundamental scientific research resulted in 54 submissions, of which 21 were accepted for publication in this - lume (acceptance rate of 39%). Published in the Springer Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Car- th graphy, this book is associated to the 13 AGILE Conference on G- graphic Information Science, held in 2010 in Guimaraes, Portugal, under the title "Geospatial Thinking." The efficient use of geospatial information and related technologies assumes the knowledge of concepts that are fundamental components of Geospatial Thinking, which is built on reasoning processes, spatial conc- tualizations, and representation methods. Geospatial Thinking is associated with a set of cognitive skills consisting of several forms of knowledge and cognitive operators used to transform, combine or, in any other way, act on that same knowledge. The scientific papers published in this volume cover an important set of topics within Geoinformation Science, including: Representation and Visualisation of Geographic Phenomena; Spatiotemporal Data Analysis; Geo-Collaboration, Participation, and Decision Support; Semantics of Geoinformation and Knowledge Discovery; Spatiotemporal Modelling and Reasoning; and Web Services, Geospatial Systems and Real-time Appli- tions."

This book is devoted to the quantitative physical modeling of subduction and subduction-related processes. It presents a coherent description of the modeling method (including similarity criteria, and a novel applied experimental technique), results from model experiments, theoretical analysis of results on the basis of continuum mechanics, and their geodynamic interpretation. Subduction is modeled in general as well as applied to particular regions using both 2-D and 3-D approaches, with both slab-push and slab-pull driving forces. The modeling covers all stages from subduction initiation to death', different regimes of subduction producing back arc extension and compression, blocking of subduction and jumps of subduction zone, arc-continent collision and continental subduction. This work is for geologists and geophysicists interested in geodynamics of the convergent plate boundaries and in mechanics of the lithosphere.

Particularly intense lightning discharges can produce transient luminous events above thunderclouds, termed sprites, elves and jets. These short lived optical emissions in the mesosphere can reach from the tops of thunderclouds up to the ionosphere; they provide direct evidence of coupling from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere. Sprites are arguably the most dramatic recent discovery in solar-terrestrial physics. Shortly after the first ground based video recordings of sprites, observations on board the Space Shuttle detected sprites and elves occurring all around the world. These reports led to detailed sprite observations in North America, South America, Australia, Japan, and Europe. Subsequently, sprites were detected from other space platforms such as the International Space Station and the ROCSAT satellite. During the past 15 years, more than 200 contributions on sprites have been published in the scientific literature to document this rapidly evolving new research area. The need for international information exchange was quickly recognized, and sprite sessions became a permanent feature with a constantly growing number of contributions in the scientific communities of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the International Union of Radio Science (URSI), the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) and the European Geosciences Union EGU).

Landslide Risk Management comprises the proceedings of the International Conference on Landslide Risk Management, held in Vancouver, Canada, from May 31 to June 3, 2005. The first part of the book contains state-of-the-art and invited lectures, prepared by teams of authors selected for their experience in specific topics assigned to them by the JTC-1 Committee. The second part is a selection of papers submitted to the conference, most of which serve as case-history illustrations of projects on landslide risk management. This reference work presents the current status of landslide risk management as viewed by experts from around the world.

This book draws together a series of studies of spit geomorphology and temporal evolution from around the world. The volume offers some unique insights into how these landforms are examined scientifically and how we as humans impact them, offering a global perspective on spit genesis and evolution. Spits are unique natural environments whose evolution is linked to the adjacent coast and near shore morphology, sediment supply, coastal dynamics and sea-level change. Over the past century, Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL) has risen by 10 to 20 centimetres and many coastal spits represent the first sentinel against coastal submersion. Scientific research indicates that sea levels worldwide have been rising at a rate of 3.5 millimetres per year since the early 1990s, roughly twice the average speed of the preceding 80 years. This trend, linked to global warming will undoubtedly cause major changes in spit morphology. Spits are highly mobile coastal landforms that respond rapidly to environmental change. They therefore represent a signature of past environmental change and provide a landform indicator of climate change.