Environmental science : physical principles and applications
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Environmental science : physical principles and applications
Wiley, c2001
- : pbk.
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Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
-
ISBN 9780471495765
Description
Providing extensive coverage of the field, this book brings together the latest developments, theories, research and concerns from both a scientific and social perspective. Beginning with an introduction on approaching environmental problems, the text then moves on to look at climatic change, energy conversion, the transport of pollutants, experimental methods and ends with a discussion on science and society. Its features are: extensive coverage of the latest concerns, issues and developments within the field from both a scientific and social perspective; numerous relevant examples and mini-case studies (appetisers) combined with exercises in each chapter and references for further reading; a supplementary website where students can access experiments and simple models relevant to the book.
Table of Contents
Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction: A Physical Approach to Environmental Problems. What are Environmental Problems -- Pollution. The Economic and Social Context. Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum. The Greenhouse Effect. Transport of Pollutants. The Carbon Cycle. 2. Weather and Climate. Energy Transport. The Atmsophere, Vertical Structure and Motion. Horizontal Motion of Air. The Oceans. 3. Climate Change. Natural Changes of Climate. Human induced Changes. Consequences of Climate Change. Reactions to Climate Change. 4. Conventional Energy. Physics of Heat. Heat and Power: Thermodynamics. Converting Heat into Power: Problems and 'Solutions'. 5. Carbonfree Energies. Renewable Energies. Nuclear Power. 6. Making up the Balance. Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources. Defining the Task. 7. Transport of Pollutants. Basic Concepts. Dispersion in the Air. Dispersion in Surface Waters. Dispersion by Groundwater. 8. Noise. Physics of Sound. Human Hearing. Reducing Sound Levels. 9. Environmental Spectroscopy. Basic Spectrospcopy. The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level. Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy. Solar UV, Ozone and Life. 10. Geophysical Methods. Radioactive Clocks. Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors. Magnetic Surveys. Seismic Probing. 11. Science and Society. Finite Resources of Energy. Pollution and Health Effects. Environmental Policy. Thinking about the Environment and Human Life. The Responsibility of the Scientist. Appendix A: Numerical and Physical Data. Appendix B: Simple Vector Algebra. Appendix C: Miscellaneous Sources and Websites. Appendix D: Experiments in a Students' Lab. References. Index.
- Volume
-
: pbk. ISBN 9780471495772
Description
Aimed at a first course in environmental physics, environmentalscience, environmental analysis, or environmental monitoring. Thistext can be used by first year students and above, and takes ascientific approach as opposed to a social or political one.Mathematics is kept to a minimum, although some background (school)knowledge of science is assumed. Courses would be taught inphysics, environmental science and physical sciencedepartments.
Comprehensively covering the field, this book brings together thelatest developments, theories, research and concerns, from both thescientific and social sides. Placing the environment firmly at thecentre of the scientific agenda, it provides all the backgroundneeded by readers to fully understand this important and often'hype-driven' subject. Whilst mathematics is introduced wherenecessary, it is carefully explained and kept simple, withderivations generally being avoided. Wherever possible, topics ofcurrent concern and relevance are included, and many examples,features and appetisers or mini-case studies are included,frequently drawn from publications such as New Scientist, Nature,Science, Physics Today and Scientific American. The book startswith a general overview of the subject, and then moves on to coverclimate, energy, pollutants, noise, measurements and socialaspects.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction: A Physical Approach to Environmental Problems
What are Environmental Problems -
Pollution
The Economic and Social Context
Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum
The Greenhouse Effect
Transport of Pollutants
The Carbon Cycle
2. Weather and Climate
Energy Transport
The Atmsophere, Vertical Structure and Motion
Horizontal Motion of Air
The Oceans
3. Climate Change
Natural Changes of Climate
Human induced changes
Consequences of Climate Change
Reactions to Climate Change
4. Conventional Energy
Physics of Heat
Heat and Power: Thermodynamics
Converting Heat into Power: Problems and 'Solutions'
5. Carbonfree Energies
Renewable energies
Nuclear Power
6. Making up the Balance
Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources
Defining the task
7. Transport of Pollutants
Basic Concepts
Dispersion in the Air
Dispersion in Surface Waters
Dispersion by Groundwater
8. Noise
Physics of Sound
Human hearing
Reducing Sound Levels
9. Environmental Spectroscopy
Basic Spectrospcopy
The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level
Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy
Solar UV, Ozone and Life
10. Geophysical Methods
Radioactive Clocks
Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors
Magnetic Surveys
Seismic Probing
11. Science and Society
Finite Resources of Energy
Pollution and Health Effects
Environmental Policy
Thinijhng about the Environment and Human Life
The Responsibility of the Scientist
Appendices
References
Index
by "Nielsen BookData"
