Contents
List of Figures
vii
List of Tables
xi
Preface to the Second Edition
xiii
How to Use This Book
xiii
1
Introduction
1
1. What is environmental science?
1
2. Environmental interactions, cycles, and systems
4
3. Ecology and environmentalism
7
4. History of environmental science
10
5. Changing attitudes to the natural world
13
Further reading
17
Notes
17
References
17
2
Earth Sciences
19
6. Formation and structure of the Earth
19
7. The formation of rocks, minerals, and geologic structures
23
8. Weathering
27
9. The evolution of landforms
30
10. Coasts, estuaries, sea levels
34
11. Energy from the Sun
37
12. Albedo and heat capacity
42
13. The greenhouse effect
44
14. The evolution, composition, and structure of the atmosphere
51
15. General circulation of the atmosphere
54
16. Oceans, gyres, currents
59
17. Weather and climate
64
18. Glacials, interglacials, and interstadials
68
19. Dating methods
73
20. Climate change
76
21. Climatic regions and floristic regions
81
Further reading
86
Notes
87
References
87
3
Physical Resources
90
22. Fresh water and the hydrologic cycle
90
23. Eutrophication and the life cycle of lakes
95
24. Salt water, brackish water, and desalination
99
25. Irrigation, waterlogging, and salinization
103
26. Soil formation, ageing, and taxonomy
107
27. Transport by water and wind
111
28. Soil, climate, and land use
115
29. Soil erosion and its control
119
30. Mining and processing of fuels
123
31. Mining and processing of minerals
130
Further reading
135
Note
135
References
135
Contents / v