This book discusses the history of environmental science and climate change, and the initiation and development of different parameters determining climate changes. The account of the history of such changes and turmoil in India and abroad starts in the prehistoric period, long before the emergence of "Rigveda", the first human written work. The book describes the writings of Aristotle and Theophrastus on climatic disasters and their impact on the vegetation and society in Greek and Roman history, and addresses different studies related to climate change during the prehistoric period and their chronological development. The first book of its kind, it enhances our understanding the origin of research on climate change and climate related problems, and as such is a valuable resource for postgraduate students of agriculture and environment sciences, research scholars, scientists, environmentalists and policy planners.

Metal-semiconductor contacts are one of the most widely used rectifying contacts in semiconductor industry. Therefore, the fabrication of high quality Schottky contacts is essential to improve the performance of the device. InP is a material of particular interest for optoelectronic and high-speed electronic devices. In view of the important applications, the fabrication of Schottky contacts to InP is of vital importance. The contacts formed should have electrical and thermal stability with desired surface morphology. During the technological stages leading to the final device, InP substrates unavoidably undergo many thermal treatments involving rapid thermal annealing. This book includes the fabrication and characterization of Schottky contacts to InP formed with high temperature stable metals like ruthenium and molybdenum. The Schottky structures formed on InP are rapid thermal annealed and its effect on the electrical, structural properties and deep level defects are investigated. The results presnted in the book will be useful for those working in the field of semiconductor Schottky contact fabrication.