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Understanding Global Climate Change: Modelling the Climatic System and Human Impacts
by Arthur P Cracknell Costas A VarotsosClimate change, a familiar term today, is far more than just global warming due to atmospheric greenhouse gases including CO2. In order to understand the nature of climate change, it is necessary to consider the whole climatic system, its complexity, and the ways in which natural and anthropogenic activities act and influence that system and the environment. Over the past 20 years since the first edition of Understanding Global Climate Change was published, not only has the availability of climate-related data and computer modelling changed, but our perceptions of it and its impact have changed as well. Using a combination of ground data, satellite data, and human impacts, this second edition discusses the state of climate research today, on a global scale, and establishes a background for future discussions on climate change. This book is an essential reference text, relevant to any and all who study climate and climate change. Features Provides a thought-provoking and original approach to the science of climate. Emphasises that there are many factors contributing to the causation of climate change. Clarifies that while anthropogenic generation of carbon dioxide is important, it is only one of several human activities contributing to climate change. Considers climate change responses needed to be undertaken by politicians and society at national and global levels. Totally revised and updated with state-of-the-art satellite data and climate models currently in operation around the globe.
Superpower Dogs
by CosmicMeet the real-life superheroes who walk--and bark--among us in this stunning photographic picture book featuring the stars of the IMAX film Superpower Dogs! Every single day, dogs around the world use their amazing abilities to help save lives. In over fifty dynamic photos and a fun, fact-filled text, meet some of the incredible canines who save lives, fight crime, and help people heal. Superpower Dogs is a fun and inspiring read for animal lovers of all ages, celebrating the remarkable work of heroic dogs.
Superpower Dogs: Avalanche Rescue Dog
by CosmicJoin Henry, one of the stars of the IMAX film Superpower Dogs, as he emBARKS on a journey to become an avalanche rescue dog in this gripping true story, perfect for fans of Max! In Whistler, British Columbia, dogs can be found riding chairlifts, perched on skiers' shoulders, and even descending from helicopters--all in the race against time to save people caught in the path of an avalanche. Meet Henry, a lovable border collie, and the team of dogs and human partners he works with in the beautiful and sometimes dangerous mountains. Through the action-packed narrative, informative and engaging interstitials, and eight pages of stunning full-color photographs, young readers will experience real-life rescues and gain a new appreciation for the bond between dogs and humans.
Superpower Dogs: Disaster Response Dog
by CosmicJoin Halo, one of the stars of the IMAX film Superpower Dogs, as she emBARKS on a journey to become a disaster response dog in this gripping nonfiction story, perfect for fans of Max! Dutch Shepherd puppy Halo has spent almost her whole life preparing for one job: finding people who are trapped in disaster zones. Her bond with her human partner, Fire Captain Cat, is unshakeable, and together, they can overcome any obstacle. But training to be an Urban Search and Rescue dog is tough, and it's going to take all of Cat's dedication and Halo's courage to succeed. Enhanced with breathtaking photographs and amazing canine facts, this true story of a hero's journey from adorable puppy to skilled Urban Search and Rescue dog is proof that real life superheroes walk--and bark--among us.
Against Catastrophism: Climate Change, Pandemics, and Hope for the Future
by Cosimo SchinaiaAgainst Catastrophism explores catastrophism from multiple vantage points and considers the impact of ongoing crisis on individuals.Bringing together contributors from psychoanalysis, economics, anthropology, and gastroenterology, this book explores themes including fossil fuel culture, social movements like Extinction Rebellion, the COVID-19 pandemic, media messaging, and the future of food supply chains. By assessing the value of a constant barrage of information about catastrophes and considering the need for a containing environment, the chapters explore how we can avoid endorsing a closed-off vision of the future and instead unlock possibilities. The book concludes with a discussion of optimism, radical hope, and how we can put forward a new narrative on nature.Against Catastrophism will be of great interest to psychoanalysts, psychologists, psychiatrists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists, food scientists, environmentalists, ecologists, politicians, and communication experts.
Recent Progress on Gravity Tests: Challenges and Future Perspectives (Springer Series in Astrophysics and Cosmology)
by Cosimo Bambi Alejandro Cárdenas-AvendañoEinstein's theory of general relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics and it is our standard framework for describing gravitational fields and the spacetime structure. So far, general relativity has passed all experimental tests and agrees with observations. However, the past few years have seen remarkable observational improvements and new techniques that continually challenge the theory's predictions: routinely detect the gravitational wave signals from the coalescence of black holes and neutron stars; can image the supermassive black holes at the center of our Galaxy and of the galaxy M87; can analyze the properties of the X-ray radiation emitted from the very inner part of the accretion disks of several black holes; and keep improving laboratory and Solar System experiments. This book offers an updated self-consistent overview, future perspectives, and challenges of experimental and observational tests of gravity, with both gravitational and electromagnetic spectra. It includes the recent results of laboratory tests of gravity, solar system experiments, tests of gravity in the strong-field regime with astrophysical compact objects, and tests of gravity on large scales with cosmological observations.
Landscape as Dialogue: A New Approach to Site Analysis and Design
by Cory ParkerLandscape as Dialogue redefines the process of understanding landscapes for students and practitioners so they can create more integrated, healthy places. Traditional site analysis sees the landscape as a series of components, evaluated individually, before being put back together. This perpetuates existing social hierarchies, maintains the need for high energy inputs and trumpets iconic designs that contribute to gentrification. This book examines the process of landscape dialogue as a natural give and take with the environment, drawing on diverse and challenging writings from design, geography, philosophy and ecological sciences to probe the relationship between humans and landscape. Each chapter begins with a discussion of a theoretical approach to landscape dialogue, such as perception, information or critique, before offering a series of practical steps and representation techniques that designers can use in understanding the landscape. Detailed illustrated case studies from around the world, including Hawaii, the American Southwest, Japan, China, Mexico, Turkey and Peru, explore the book’s lessons in practice. This must-read book offers a radical alternative to conventional analytical approaches, inspiring designers to fully engage in the landscape to ultimately generate ecologically considered places.
Great Lakes Sea Lamprey: The 70 Year War on a Biological Invader
by Cory BrantThe stuff of nightmares in both their looks and the wounds inflicted on their victims, sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) are perhaps the deadliest invasive species to ever enter the Great Lakes. At the invasion’s apex in the mid-20th century, harvests of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), the lampreys’ preferred host fish in the Great Lakes, plummeted from peak annual catches of 15 million pounds to just a few hundred thousand pounds per year—a drop of 98% in only a few decades. Threatening the complete collapse of the fishery, the sea lamprey invasion triggered an environmental awakening in the region and prompted an international treaty that secured unprecedented cooperation across political boundaries to protect the Great Lakes. Fueled by a pioneering scientific spirit, the war on Great Lakes sea lampreys led to discoveries that are the backbone of the program that eventually brought the creature under control and still protects the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world to this day. Great Lakes Sea Lamprey draws on extensive interviews with individuals who experienced the invasion firsthand as well as a trove of unexplored archival materials to tell the incredible story of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes—what started the invasion, how it was halted, and what this history can teach us about the response to biological invaders in the present and future. Richly illustrated with color and black & white photographs, the book will interest readers concerned with the health of the Great Lakes, the history of the conservation movement, and the ongoing threat of invasive species.
Working across Lines: Resisting Extreme Energy Extraction
by Corrie GrosseHow are communities uniting against fracking and tar sands to change our energy future? Working across Lines offers a detailed comparative analysis of climate justice coalitions in California and Idaho—two states with distinct fossil fuel histories, environmental contexts, and political cultures. Drawing on ethnographic evidence from 106 in-depth interviews and three years of participant observation, Corrie Grosse investigates the ways people build effective energy justice coalitions across differences in political views, race and ethnicity, age, and strategic preferences. This book argues for four practices that are critical for movement building: focusing on core values of justice, accountability, and integrity; identifying the roots of injustice; cultivating relationships among activists; and welcoming difference. In focusing on coalitions related to energy and climate justice, Grosse provides important models for bridging divides to reach common goals. These lessons are more relevant than ever.
The Western European Loess Belt
by Corrie C. BakelsThis book deals with the early history of agriculture in a defined part of Western Europe: the loess belt west of the river Rhine. It is a well-illustrated book that integrates existing and new information, starting with the first farmers and ending when food production was no longer the chief source of livelihood for the entire population. The loess belt was chosen because it is a region with only one type of soil and climate as these are all-important factors where farming is concerned. Subjects covered are crops, crop cultivation, livestock and livestock handling, the farm and its yard, and the farm in connection with other farms. Crop plants and animals are described, together with their origin. New tools such as the plough, wheen, wagon and scythe are introduced. Groundplans of farm buildings, the history of the outhouse and the presence or absence of hamlets are presented as well, and the impact of farming on the landscape is not forgotten. The loess belt was not an island and the world beyond its boundaries was important for new ideas, new materials and new people. Summarising six millennia of agriculture, the thinking in terms of the Western European loess belt as one agricultural-cultural unit seems justified.
Sustainability: A Way to Abundance
by Corrado SommarivaThe book describes mechanisms whereby the Earth naturally thrives towards energy and resources abundance and how unsustainable industrial practices alter this trend. Introduces the concept of earth energy and associates this to the conditions of the biosphere and emphasizes the possibilities with inexpensive wind and solar energy Provides a good quantification of the concepts of sustainability and its effects on the environmentn and critical analysis and updates to the relationships between the environmental impact, affluence and technology
Environmental Politics
by Corrado PoliA change in the way humans relate to nature could be the starting point for a new politics, which will also affect relations among humans. A new approach would help to radically transform the production system, not because it is unjust in the usually considered social terms, but because it endangers nature and humanity. So far, the citizens' grassroots organizations have failed to win broad consensus and political power in the representative institutions. When the time comes to transform the single environmental issue into an electoral platform, environmentalists lose unity and effectiveness since they lack a common political vision and an ensuing strategy. On the other hand European politics is rapidly transforming because the challenge brought by so-called populist movements. We need to transform activists' shared emotions and attitudes into political ideologies and platforms. Moreover, a new educational process and a new science politics are necessary to reform environmental policy.
Closing the Knowledge-Implementation Gap in Conservation Science: Interdisciplinary Evidence Transfer Across Sectors and Spatiotemporal Scales (Wildlife Research Monographs #4)
by Catarina C. Ferreira Cornelya F. C. KlütschThis book aims to synthesize the state of the art on biodiversity knowledge exchange practices to understand where and how improvements can be made to close the knowledge-implementation gap in conservation science and advance this interdisciplinary topic. Bringing together the most prominent scholars and practitioners in the field, the book looks into the various sources used to produce biodiversity knowledge - from natural and social sciences to Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Citizen Science - as well as knowledge mobilization approaches to highlight the key ingredients that render successful conservation action at a global scale. By doing so, the book identified major current challenges and opportunities in the field, for different sectors that generate, mobilize, and use biodiversity knowledge (like academia, boundary organizations, practitioners, and policy-makers), to further develop cross-sectorial knowledge mobilization strategies and enhance evidence-informed decision-making processes globally.
Earth Materials
by Anthony R. Philpotts Cornelis KleinThe fundamental concepts of mineralogy and petrology are explained in this highly illustrated, full-color textbook to create a concise overview for students studying Earth materials. The relationship between minerals and rocks and how they relate to the broader Earth, materials and environmental sciences is interwoven throughout. Beautiful photos of specimens and Crystal-Maker's 3-D illustrations allow students to easily visualize minerals, rocks and crystal structures. Review questions at the end of chapters allow students to check their understanding. The importance of Earth materials to human cultural development and the hazards they pose to humans are discussed in later chapters. This ambitious, wide-ranging book is written by two world-renowned textbook authors each with over 40 years of teaching experience, who bring that experience to clearly convey the important topics.
The Manual of Mineral Science (23rd Edition)
by Cornelis Klein Barbara DutrowThe book offers readers coverage of mineralogy and crystallography, integrating complete coverage of concepts and principles with a more systematic and descriptive treatment of mineralogy.
Germans in the Antarctic
by Cornelia LüdeckeWhile science was usually at the forefront of German Antarctic expeditions, research into the Southern Polar region always had a political or economic component, whether it was about resource use or securing areas of influence.Cornelia Lüdecke presents the course of the three German Antarctic expeditions from 1901-03, 1911-12 and 1938/39 with their partly dramatic turns and twists and provides insights into everyday life under extreme conditions.She also evaluates unpublished material from the archives and private estates of the expedition members. She looks at the expeditions from a scientific and political point of view and also deals with the myths associated with the "Schwabenland" expedition during the National Socialist era.Finally, the author describes German south polar research after World War II, which took different paths in the German Democratic Republic and in the Federal Republic of Germany, and gives an outlook on future research. For the first time, this book presents the history of the Germans in Antarctica in a factual and informative way for the general public. With numerous pictures, some of which have never been published before.
Engineering Reality: The Politics of Environmental Impact Assessments and the Just Energy Transition in Colombia
by Cornelia HelmckeEngineering Reality offers unprecedented insights into the power of environmental impact assessments in engineering a reality favourable to any investment, focusing on the highly contested environmental study of a large hydroelectric dam project in southern Colombia, El Quimbo. The inclusion of environmental impact assessments to project proposals of environmental influence has been an undeniably important step to environmental governance in many countries around the world. Regarding the science behind these studies as objective and their results as the closest in representing reality, however, is misleading. Many activists and scholars made it their mission to uncover the limitations and work towards filling the gaps. Participation processes are considered key to any successful evaluation, but local knowledges and alternative perspectives are still often disqualified through more widely accepted scientific methods. Engineering Reality systematically walks through and accounts for the shortcomings and injustices associated with environmental monitoring. It compares the reality as presented in the dam’s environmental impact study with first-hand accounts from the local and affected populations and observations gathered through two periods of fieldwork in 2012 (before) and 2016-17 (after the dam started operating). It explores how the knowledge of the study was used politically and to what end. Bringing the findings in conversation with the wider environmental impact assessment literature, the book proposes a new framework to assess energy projects -Energy Data Justice- that regards the environmental impact assessment a strictly political tool aimed at reaching the just energy transition in Colombia and worldwide.
Interactions Between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities (Advances in Agroecology)
by Cornelia FloraThere is an increasing realization among biophysical scientists that human behavior drastically impacts the degree to which sound agroecosystems are implemented. Written by an international team of experts assembled by a leading rural sociologist, Interactions Between Agroecosystems and Rural Communities shows how human behavior impacts agroecosyst
A Sugar Creek Chronicle: Observing Climate Change from a Midwestern Woodland
by Cornelia F. MutelIn 2010, while editing a report on the effects of climate change in Iowa, ecologist Cornelia Mutel came to grips with the magnitude and urgency of the problem. She already knew the basics: greenhouse gas emissions and global average temperatures are rising on a trajectory that could, within decades, propel us beyond far-reaching, irreversible atmospheric changes; the results could devastate the environment that enables humans to thrive. The more details she learned, the more she felt compelled to address this emerging crisis. The result is this book, an artful weaving together of the science behind rising temperatures, tumultuous weather events, and a lifetime devoted to the natural world. Climate change isn't just about melting Arctic ice and starving polar bears. It's weakening the web of life in our own backyards. Moving between two timelines, Mutel pairs chapters about a single year in her Iowa woodland with chapters about her life as a fledgling and then professional student of nature. Stories of her childhood ramblings in Wisconsin and the solace she found in the Colorado mountains during early adulthood are merged with accounts of global environmental dilemmas that have redefined nature during her lifespan. Interwoven chapters bring us into her woodland home to watch nature's cycles of life during a single year, 2012, when weather records were broken time and time again. Throughout, in a straightforward manner for a concerned general audience, Mutel integrates information about the science of climate change and its dramatic alteration of the planet in ways that clarify its broad reach, profound impact, and seemingly relentless pace. It is not too late, she informs us: we can still prevent the most catastrophic changes. We can preserve a world full of biodiversity, one that supports human lives as well as those of our myriad companions on this planet. In the end, Mutel offers advice about steps we can all take to curb our own carbon emissions and strategies we can suggest to our policy-makers.
Development, Humanitarian Aid, and Social Welfare: Social Change from the Inside Out
by Cornelia C. WaltherThis book examines how human behavior is shaped by our aspirations, emotions, thoughts and sensations, and conversely, how the experiences that result from our behavior impact ourselves, others and the planet. Based on an analysis of the constant interplay between these four layers, it offers practical solutions to systematically induce sustainable social change dynamics. It shows why change, in addition to economic and political transformation at the macro level, begins with mind-shifts at the micro level. Hereby it establishes the missing link between investments in personal empowerment and collective welfare. A novel theoretical paradigm is the foundation of this book, which is anchored in the perspective of an ongoing ‘body-mind-heart-soul connection.’ Based on the premise that an equitable society is to the benefit of everyone, it is argued that efforts made for others have benefits at three levels – for the individual who acts, the one who has been acted for and for society.
Entwicklung, humanitäre Hilfe und soziale Wohlfahrt: Sozialer Wandel von innen nach außen
by Cornelia C. WaltherIn diesem Buch wird untersucht, wie menschliches Verhalten durch unsere Wünsche, Emotionen, Gedanken und Empfindungen geformt wird und wie sich umgekehrt die Erfahrungen, die sich aus unserem Verhalten ergeben, auf uns selbst, andere und den Planeten auswirken. Auf der Grundlage einer Analyse des ständigen Wechselspiels zwischen diesen vier Ebenen bietet es praktische Lösungen, um systematisch eine nachhaltige gesellschaftliche Veränderungsdynamik in Gang zu setzen. Es wird aufgezeigt, warum der Wandel, zusätzlich zur wirtschaftlichen und politischen Transformation auf der Makroebene, mit einem Bewusstseinswandel auf der Mikroebene beginnt. Dabei stellt er die fehlende Verbindung zwischen Investitionen in die persönliche Befähigung und das kollektive Wohlergehen her. Ein neuartiges theoretisches Paradigma bildet die Grundlage dieses Buches, das in der Perspektive einer kontinuierlichen "Körper-Geist-Herz-Seele-Verbindung" verankert ist. Ausgehend von der Prämisse, dass eine gerechte Gesellschaft allen zugute kommt, wird argumentiert, dass Anstrengungen, die für andere unternommen werden, auf drei Ebenen Vorteile bringen - für den Einzelnen, der handelt, für denjenigen, für den gehandelt wurde, und für die Gesellschaft.
**Missing** (Problem Books in Mathematics)
by Cornel Ioan VăleanThis book contains a multitude of challenging problems and solutions that are not commonly found in classical textbooks. One goal of the book is to present these fascinating mathematical problems in a new and engaging way and illustrate the connections between integrals, sums, and series, many of which involve zeta functions, harmonic series, polylogarithms, and various other special functions and constants. Throughout the book, the reader will find both classical and new problems, with numerous original problems and solutions coming from the personal research of the author. Where classical problems are concerned, such as those given in Olympiads or proposed by famous mathematicians like Ramanujan, the author has come up with new, surprising or unconventional ways of obtaining the desired results. The book begins with a lively foreword by renowned author Paul Nahin and is accessible to those with a good knowledge of calculus from undergraduate students to researchers, and will appeal to all mathematical puzzlers who love a good integral or series.
More: A New Collection of Fiendish Problems and Surprising Solutions (Problem Books in Mathematics)
by Cornel Ioan VăleanThis book, the much-anticipated sequel to (Almost) Impossible, Integrals, Sums, and Series, presents a whole new collection of challenging problems and solutions that are not commonly found in classical textbooks. As in the author’s previous book, these fascinating mathematical problems are shown in new and engaging ways, and illustrate the connections between integrals, sums, and series, many of which involve zeta functions, harmonic series, polylogarithms, and various other special functions and constants. Throughout the book, the reader will find both classical and new problems, with numerous original problems and solutions coming from the personal research of the author. Classical problems are shown in a fresh light, with new, surprising or unconventional ways of obtaining the desired results devised by the author. This book is accessible to readers with a good knowledge of calculus, from undergraduate students to researchers. It will appeal to all mathematical puzzlers who love a good integral or series and aren’t afraid of a challenge.
Wild Law
by Cormac CullinanCullinan, CEO of an environmental law and policy consultancy in Cape Town, South Africa, presents the second edition of his ambitious 2003 volume outlining his vision of a legal system based on the laws of nature rather than those of an industry-based, man-made society. He begins by demonstrating the current human-centric state of man's relationship with nature, in which we view ourselves as separate, independent, and dominant; continues to posit an alternative view inspired by climate science and indigenous cultures, wherein we are interdependent with and reliant upon the natural world; and proceeds to employ political theory, legal history, science, and contemporary philosophy in service of his theory of Earth Jurisprudence and Earth Governance, which questions everything from property ownership, to the modern concept of time, to the legal rights of trees. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Louisiana Herb Journal: Healing on Home Ground
by Corinne MartinIn a world of constant change and crisis, the relationship between humans and their environment has never been more vital. Louisiana Herb Journal invites readers into the world of medicinal herbs, introducing fifty herbs found in Louisiana, with details on identification, habitat, distribution, healing properties, and traditional uses, including instruction on popular preparation methods such as tinctures and teas. Interspersed with these practical details, herbalist Corinne Martin shares stories that foster a true connection between readers and the world around them, from tales of childhood cherry picking to harvest mishaps to folklife traditions passed down through the generations. Accessible to experienced and rookie herbalists alike, Louisiana Herb Journal offers a new way of looking at the natural world, getting to know one’s “home ground” through a lens of healing and participation.Family connections, an intimate knowledge of the surrounding lands and waters, strong community bonds, an irrepressible resilience, and a great capacity for celebrating life despite hardships are part and parcel of what it means to be from Louisiana. A celebration of the state and the cultures of those who live there, Louisiana Herb Journal reflects on the value of medicinal herbs in promoting personal healing and addressing current challenges to the state’s environmental and economic stability. Readers will gain a deeper recognition of the natural wealth Louisiana enjoys and the ways that our stewardship of wild plants can impact our personal health as well as the state’s ecological future.