This highly topical book comes at a time when the two-way relationship between humankind and the environment is moving inexorably to the top of the agenda. It covers both sides of this delicate balancing act, explaining how various natural processes influence humanity, including its economic activities and engineering structures, while also illuminating the ways in which human activity puts pressure on the natural environment.
Part 1. Natural processes and their impacts on human activity
1. Geological processes: 1.1. Seismic processes; 1.2. Cryogenic processes; 1.3. Karst; 1.4. Suffosion; 1.5. Swamping; 1.6. Floating earth and quicksands; 1.7. Swelling and shrinkage; 1.8. Land subsidence 2. Geomorphologic processes: 2.1. Rockfalls; 2.2. Screes; 2.3. Avalanches; 2.4. Landslides; 2.5. Submarine landslides and turbidity currents; 2.6. Mud flows; 2.7. Rock streams; 2.8. Aufeises; 2.9. Aeolian processes; 2.10. Soil erosion; 2.11. River erosion; 2.12. Abrasion 3. Meteorological processes: 3.1. Tropical cyclones; 3.2. Extratropical cyclones; 3.3. Tornadoes; 3.4. Thunderstorms; 3.5. Blizzards; 3.6. Droughts; 3.7. Precipitation; 3.8. Atmospheric pressure; 3.9. Wind; 3.10. Temperature; 3.11. Solar radiation; 3.12. Cloudiness; 3.13. Humidity; 3.14. Glaze; 3.15. Ice-covered ground 4. Hydrological processes: 4.1. River floods; 4.2. Wind-induced surges (coastal floods); 4.3. Sea currents; 4.5. Sea and lake ice; 4.6. River ice; 4.7. Ice jams; 4.8. Waterfalls; 4.9. Tides; 4.10. Waves; 4.11. Glaciers; 4.12. Rock glaciers; 4.13. Variation of non-draining lake levels; 4.14. Upwelling and downwelling 5. Biological processes: 5.1. Agricultural pests; 5.2. Forest pests; 5.3. Plant diseases; 5.4. Diseases of animals and humans; 5.5. Weeds; 5.6. Bloodsucking insects and animals; 5.7. Predatory animals; 5.8. Venomous and poisonous animals and insects; 5.9. Other dangerous animals; 5.10. Poisonous plants; 5.11. Bioinvasions; 5.12. Biodeterioration; 5.13. Natural fires; 5.14. Environmental allergens 6. Biogeochemical processes: 6.1. Salinization of soils; 6.2. Microelementoses; 6.3. Fish suffocation; 6.4. Gas bursts from basins; 6.5. Underground fires 7. Cosmic processes: 7.1. Collisions with cosmic bodies; 7.2. Magnetic storms; 7.3. Regime of solar illumination; 7.4. Cosmic radiation.
Part 2. Human impacts on the environment
8. Electric power industry; 8.1. Hydropower structures; 8.2. Thermal power structures; 8.3. Nuclear power plants; 8.4. Non-traditional or alternative power structures; 8.5. Power transmission and communication lines 9. Industry: 9.1. Chemical industry; 9.2. Metallurgy; 9.3. Mechanical engineering; 9.4. Building materials industry; 9.5. Woodworking industry; 9.6. Wood pulp and paper industry; 9.7. Light industry; 9.8. Food processing industry 10. Mining and mineral processing: 10.1. Opencast mines; 10.2. Underground mines; 10.3. Drag and hydraulic extraction of deposits; 10.4. In situ and heap leaching; 10.5. Land oil and gas development; 10.6. Sea bottom oil and gas development 11. Agriculture and forestry: 11.1. Agriculture; 11.2. Forestry 12. Transport: 12.1. Automobile transport; 12.2. Railway transport; 12.3. Pipeline transport; 12.4. Air transport; 12.5. Water transport 13. Other kinds of activity: 13.1. Fisheries; 13.2. Aquaculture; 13.3. Hunting; 13.4. Water transfers; 13.5. Housing and communal services; 13.6. Recreational activity; 13.7. Sports activity; 13.8. Military activity; 13.9. Space exploration; 13.10. Health and veterinary services; 13.11. Ritual activity Index