Examines the fundamental problems that arise from the interaction between humans and their natural environment. Taken from a physicists perspective, this comprehensive introduction considers how the negative impact of our modern existence upon our environment can be avoided, or at the very least reduced.
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; Appendices; References; Index
...I would regards this as one of the more accessible and useful introductory texts in environmental physics... (Chemistry & Industry, 19 August 2002) "...This book should be a good choice for environmental science teachers..." (Jnl of Environmental Quality (September/October 2002) "...very valuable to all students taking a course in environmental sicence..." (The Int Jnl of Environmental Studies, Vol.59, 2002) "...well adapted to the needs of an environmental science course..." (Int Jnl of Environement & Pollution, Vol.18, No.1, 2002) "...valuable to all students taking courses on environmental sciences..." (Int Jnl of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Vol.82, No.10, 2002) "...the material is fresh and to the point ...It is a highly recommended introductory text..." (Environmental Geology, January 2003) "...an excellent overview...very well written...material is fresh and to the point...highly recommendable..." (Environmental Geology, Vol 43(3), Jan 2003)