This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the utilisation of biomass for renewable bioenergy development; depressions of superficial deposit; nature and origin of granitic rocks; nature and technology of geothermal energy, clean sustainable energy for the benefit of humanity and environment; kinetic energy metamorphosis of rocks; an improved workflow towards real-time microseismic data processing; a brief overview of the Brazilian legislation and the radioactive wastes geologic repository project; detection of groundwater and soil contamination by hydrocarbons using radon as a tracer; genetic programming applied to chemical and environmental engineering; and a multisided analysis of living matter in an aquatic ecosystem.

This book explores the most recent developments in Earth Science research. Chapters include research on the Indian Summer Monsoon and its impacts on society and the economy; geothermal heat pumps (GSHPs) or direct expansion (DX) ground source heat pumps as a highly efficient renewable energy technology; a comprehensive review of biomass energy sources, environment and sustainable development; aerodynamic landforms and their sedimentological characteristics and environmental implications; the mechanism of assymetric basin formation and evolution; a discussion on the development of inselbergs; the application of GREENSCOPE as a sustainability assessment tool for chemical processes; sedimentary basin as a cradle for biodiversity, focusing on the Buenos Aires Province in Argentina; deep sea depositional systems and their use as primary target for hydrocarbon exploration and development; the transformation of rivers during the process of certain human activities; and the results of field observations of small river basin waters, including their chemical composition.

This monograph consists of six chapters that provide updates in the field of earth science research. Chapter One explicates the history of exploration of the Antarctic continent and tries to answer questions surrounding the initial discovery of Antarctica. Chapter Two describes the properties of the Kwanza Basin in terms of the presence of hydrocarbons and other aspects of interest to oil companies. Chapter Three includes information about the planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy at the K/PG boundary at El Kef GSSP of the Tethyan realm. Chapter Four quantitively assesses the microfabric of the Kawabata Formation by evaluating rock specimens using magnetic techniques. Chapter Five presents the results of the research of distribution of rare-earth and other trace elements in relict zircons from restitogenic ultramafic rocks of Shaman massifs. Finally, Chapter Six introduces a new monitoring technology that could lead to the next generation of hydraulic fracture optimization and rejuvenate unconventional reservoir development.

In the opening chapter Volume 19 uses obtained kinetic data to estimate the growth rate of the basic copper carbonates with the participation of complexing agents, thus demonstrating that natural organic complexing agents can play an important role in the formation of copper carbonate minerals. The next section deals with how the presence of organic matter, which is much softer than the inorganic matrix, affects gas production in shale reservoirs. A comprehensive study of the characteristics of organic matter can improve our understanding of organic-rich shale reservoirs. Additionally, remote-sensing for oil spills is reviewed. The technical aspects of sensors are summarised and the benefits and limitations of each sensor are given. In the last few decades, as the number of reclamation projects has increased, the diversity of the landscape has also increased, as has the proportion of ecologically valuable elements (such as forests, meadows and water bodies) which can approximate the original landscape with a greater degree of ecological stability. More accurate quantification of the extent of mining activities and reclamation projects is important for exploration of environmental impacts on the ecosystem. In order to address coastal degradation, the Atlantic Andalusian Coastal District has performed beach and dune restoration planning, described by the authors as an example of sustainable coastal management. In the penultimate chapter, the method of the gravitational mass spectroscopy is used to investigate the inhomogeneity of the density in the surface layers of the Earth's crust under the European continent in the area of massive deposits of hard coal. The final chapter describes the petrography, whole-rock major and trace-element geochemistry of lamprophyre dyke reported in southern India.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the impact of internal wave breaking on ocean upper layer formation; geoexchange; neutron clusters in the earth's core; pyrite as a concentrator of gold in laboratory and natural systems; triggering earthquakes by rainfalls; and mineralogy and origin of rare-earth-element-bearing granites.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on high resolution insight on the submarine mudflows of the gulf of Mexico; shale and its beneficial and dangerous characteristics for human beings; publicly available open access data and machine learning model-predictions applied with open source GIS for the entire Antarctic ocean: a first meta-analysis and synthesis from 53 charismatic species; a case study on ice sheets self-destructing and causing rapid climate change; conservation planning and management of limited water resources in arid and semi-arid areas as economic resources; laser Raman spectroscopy study on the growth zoning of feldspar, zircon and apatite; statistical prediction of winter rainfall in Patagonia (Argentina); and research of seismicity at an oceanic and sea bottoms.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the role of hydrology in salt marsh ecology; modelling tool applications in freshwater ecosystems and resource management; the flood cycle model; mechanisms of global change in the biosphere; the impact of tropical forest canopies in the planning of rural settlements and sustainable environments; long-term consistency of main taxonomic groups of Lake Kinneret phytoplankton; modelling landslide susceptibility analysis; and the Earth's gravitational dipole.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on glacial erosion and Karst Evolution; the Lake Urmia Dike and its hydrodynamic and geological impact; geometry of coronal rays; Estonian dolomite; the last continental glaciation of Western Siberia; fracture network properties in limestone and dolostone; and solar EUV coronas.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the utility of schist in rock art studies; fossil records of angiosperm origin; crater detection algorithms; crater distributions in volcanoes controlled by magmatic and tectonic conditions; and the mineralogical compositions of gneisses and schists.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a specific focus on the kryosphere and its relationship to the hydrosphere. Explored also are the shield volcanoes of the Siberian flood basalts and the dynamics of lava sheet formation, as well as the planetary conditions at the Hadean and Archean transition and the possible scenarios for the origin of life and oxygen genesis in the early earth atmosphere.

The dynamics and mechanisms of a monsoon is one of the most spectacular global phenomena of nature. Climate change could influence monsoon dynamics, cause poor summer precipitation, and delay the start of monsoon season. This book discusses the impact of monsoons from the normal or even slight deviations in the light of country economics, agricultural production, water availability, and hydroelectric power generation. Also discussed in this compilation are the methodical aspects of an avalanche mechanism and the electrical breakdown of gases.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the dynamics of continental deformation with regard to rifting and plate tectonics; archaeological charcoal signals from Upper Paleolithic sites; olivine and its role in chemical evolution and in the origin of life; Great Lakes ecology, conservation and management; volcanic ash soils in Taiwan; finite half-space models of the oceanic lithosphere and manifestations of upwelling mantle flow on the Earth's surface.

Horizons in Earth Science Research. Volume 17 opens with a discussion about the attainment of a new multichannel seismic profile in the Volturno Basin, located in the Northern Campania continental shelf of the Southern Tyrrhenian margin of Italy. This multichannel seismic profile has permitted geological sections to be constructed and interpreted to study the correlation between seismic units individuated through the seismo-stratigraphic techniques. Next, a conversation about the idea that human built structures can be studied as a geological system is presented. It will be argued that considering human works in the context of geological processes can be traced back, at least, to Lyell's works that set the foundations of modern Geology. One of the largest plutonic bodies in the European Variscan belt, Moldanubian batholith, is studied for composition, with the findings including coarse-grained, porphyritic I/S-type biotite granites to granodiorites of the Weinsberg suite, (2) two-mica S-type granites of the Eisgarn suite and (3) fine to medium-grained, and I/S-type biotite granodiorites of the Freistadt/Mauthausen suite. An analysis of satellite gravimetry is presented using several applied methodologies including entropial and information transformations, computing of various derivatives, coherence features and multistatistical characteristics, inverse probability, and advanced downward continuation. This book includes a chapter focused on the chemical and biological properties of the water in salt lakes in order to understand the mechanisms of the organisms adaptation to extreme conditions in hypersaline biotope. The history of the application of radiometric dating of speleothems physically related to rock art is reviewed to show that there are significant issues with both radiocarbon analysis and 230Th/234U analysis of carbonate precipitates in limestone caves. A geochemical and thermochronological study designed for the elucidation of the burial and exhumation history of an extensive pull-apart basin conducted on the East Eurasian longstanding convergent margin is presented. Several tests are described using an S8 Tiger spectrometer from Bruker Co., belonging to LARIN (Ionizing Radiations Laboratory) and UNESPetro (Geosciences Center Applied to Petroleum), IGCE-UNESP-Rio Claro (SP), Brazil. Next, Ions in water samples collected from rivers and wells are examined. In closing, a study comparing surface-to-volume (SV) allometries of natural water bodies and of the living systems inhabiting them is presented.

Peatlands are characterised as habitats where waterlogged and low oxygen conditions result in the accumulation of organic matter. This organic material is the peat, the partially decomposed remains of vegetation, and peat accumulations can be tens of meters deep, with peat to at least 30 to 40 cm depth typically being used to classify an ecosystem as a peatland. This book examines the microbial ecology of peat swamp forests, new methods for the waterproofing of construction materials with organic peat compounds, and the fundamentals of obtaining sorption materials from mineral peat-based compositions and their industrial applications.

Rangelands are confined to the tropic and sub-tropic regions, and cover about 4.5 billion hectares of the world's dry lands or one fifth of the earth's land surface. In spite of their hostile environment, they are important biodiversity conservation landscapes and support livelihoods of nearly 135 million people, yet they are some of the most neglected and abused biomes. This book examines the degradation of rangelands, and its potential ecological and socio-economic implications. Also discussed are the traditional management of dehesa systems, with a focus on the problems and advantages of the livestock diversification which characterise them. A brief description of the Surface Renewal (SR) method and research is given, and performance observed for estimating sensible heat, latent heat and C02 fluxes against the more expensive EC measurements over grasslands are looked at as well. This book also gives an overview of the widespread isotopic techniques applied to study connectivity between streams and groundwater; assumptions, advantages and drawbacks of the isotopic methodologies are reported. In addition, human impact is arguably the most important issue confronting mountain ecosystems today across the world. This book outlines the trajectory of mountain studies in anthropology, from early studies to the peak of mountain anthropology in the 1980s, highlighting major theoretical and research foci. Other chapters in this book review the current threats to inland desert rangelands, ranging from groundwater depletion, habitat fragmentation, exotic species introductions and overgrazing. Recommendations on how to improve the state of irrigated soils and to eliminate anthropogenic desertification are also discussed.

This edited volume includes five chapters, each detailing recent advancements in earth science research. Chapter One explores the role of artificial intelligence in issuing more accurate and timely forecasts of summer monsoon rainfall. Chapter Two describes the process of recycling magnets to obtain rare earth elements as well as the potential economic, environmental, and strategic advantages of doing so. Chapter Three highlights the necessity of moving from a conventional linear economy to a circular economy in which the value of electronic waste is maximized through reusing, recycling, remanufacturing, and refurbishing. Chapter Four reviews and discusses the recent trends, developments, and future perspectives of direct and chemical recycling techniques of nonmetal fractions from electronic waste. Lastly, Chapter Five overviews the application of remote sensing and geographic information systems in agriculture and natural resource management.

Chapter one reports the results of a radiometric survey performed at the main installations of DPM-Department of Petrology and Metallogeny of IGCE-Institute of Geosciences and Exacts Sciences belonging to UNESP, Rio Claro (SP), Brazil, whose major task has been to realise researches with crystalline rocks. The acquired dataset is presented and discussed in terms of possible implications for human health. Chapter two aims to map the spatial distribution of various land cover types at the surface of the Ghuwaymid sabkha using L1B ASTER data. Chapter three discusses if the zone of shearing is treated as a separate layer (Layer of Lateral Anisotropy and Mass Advection, LLAMA), it can remain isolated from the convecting mantle but be only partially attached to the overlying plate. As such it may serve as a long-lived shallow source for intraplate volcanism if it undergoes suitable metasomatic enrichment. Chapter four applies statistical and geochemical modelling techniques to an extensive major and trace element composition database for 86 samples from eight outcrops. A statistical comparison scheme applied to diverse geochemical ratios discards a genetic link between San Felipe volcanic ashes and regional contemporary magmatic localities. In Chapter five, Subsidence dolines are described. Additionally, the morphological environment of subsidence dolines of glaciokarst, the bearing cover, their size, their morphology and features of their activity are characterised. Chapter six provides new insight into the formation of high-grade precious-metal ores in low-sulfidation deposits. The chapter presents textural evidence for formation of electrum flocs in a boiling environment under epithermal conditions. Chapter seven suggests that a large low shear velocity province beneath Columbia would have triggered mantle plumes after the arrival of 2.0 Ga to 1.8 Ga active subducting slabs in the lower mantle. Columbia breakup attempt could have been started in such Large Igneous Provinces regions, where rifting processes may have occurred. Finally, Chapter eight examines what we define as legally relevant "outer space" and who has legal competence in space to begin with? These issues are considered in regard to potential outer space warfare: its legality, pros and cons, as well as its probability.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the stratigraphic setting of continental shelves of Southern Italy investigated through seismic stratigraphy: crust and upper mantle structure of Northern Eurasia from long-range seismic profiling with chemical and nuclear explosions; multi-storied plantation surfaces, base-level control, and the morphotectonic interpretation of crustal movements in the basement regions of a case study from Zimbabwe; hydrochemical aspects of groundwaters occurring at Basaltic rocks, Parana Basin, Brazil; localisation of geochemical aureoles of rare earths in the Northern Region of the Republic of Moldova; groundwater sources, geological formation, and their environment in the Sudan; shale and its beneficial and dangerous characteristics for human beings; remote sensing techniques as an effective tool for systematic survey and better management of natural resources; and the use of climbing plants in heritage bioconservation.

This book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the iron bioavailability in the Southern Oceans; the electrical properties of sedimentary rocks; the evolution of movement of asteroids; climatological features of cyclonic development over the Southwestern South Atlantic Ocean; coastal impacts related to wind/wave changes in the South American Continental Shelf; hydraulic conductivity assessment in fractured rock masses and the geology of hematite on the Earth's surface.