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Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the Universe
by Charles S. CockellAstrobiology is an interdisciplinary field that asks profound scientific questions. How did life originate on the Earth? How has life persisted on the Earth for over three billion years? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth?Astrobiology: Understanding Life in the Universe is an introductory text which explores the structure of living things, the formation of the elements for life in the Universe, the biological and geological history of the Earth and the habitability of other planets in our own Solar System and beyond. The book is designed to convey some of the major conceptual foundations in astrobiology that cut across a diversity of traditional fields including chemistry, biology, geosciences, physics and astronomy. It can be used to complement existing courses in these fields or as a stand-alone text for astrobiology courses. Readership: Undergraduates studying for degrees in earth or life sciences, physics, astronomy and related disciplines, as well as anyone with an interest in grasping some of the major concepts and ideas in astrobiology.
Astrobiology: An Evolutionary Approach (Series in Astrobiology)
by Vera M. KolbAstrobiology: An Evolutionary Approach provides a full course in astrobiology with an emphasis on abiogenesis and evolution. The book presents astrobiology both as a developing science and as the science of the future.The origins of life and the possibility of life elsewhere continues to be a subject of scientific and philosophical examination. The
Astrobiology: From the Origins of Life to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
by Akihiko Yamagishi Takeshi Kakegawa Tomohiro UsuiThis book provides concise and cutting-edge reviews in astrobiology, a young and still emerging multidisciplinary field of science that addresses the fundamental questions of how life originated and diversified on Earth, whether life exists beyond Earth, and what is the future for life on Earth. Readers will find coverage of the latest understanding of a wide range of fascinating topics, including, for example, solar system formation, the origins of life, the history of Earth as revealed by geology, the evolution of intelligence on Earth, the implications of genome data, insights from extremophile research, and the possible existence of life on other planets within and beyond the solar system. Each chapter contains a brief summary of the current status of the topic under discussion, sufficient references to enable more detailed study, and descriptions of recent findings and forthcoming missions or anticipated research. Written by leading experts in astronomy, planetary science, geoscience, chemistry, biology, and physics, this insightful and thought-provoking book will appeal to all students and scientists who are interested in life and space.
Astromineralogy (Lecture Notes in Physics #815)
by Thomas HenningAstromineralogy deals with the science of gathering mineralogical information from the astronomical spectroscopy of asteroids, comets and dust in the circumstellar environments in general. This field has received a tremendous boost with the reliable identification of minerals by the Infrared Space Observatory. The first edition of this book, published in 2003, was the first comprehensive and coherent account of this exciting field. Data obtained in the meantime with the Spitzer Infrared Space Telescope, the stardust mission to the comet 81P / Wild 2, and with the Cassini mission, together with progress in ground-based observations and laboratory astrophysics form the basis for this updated and widely extended second edition.Beyond addressing the specialist in the field, the book is intended as a high-level but readable introduction to astromineralogy for both the nonspecialist researcher and the advanced student.
La astronomía en 100 preguntas (100 preguntas Esenciales)
by Vicent Martínez BadenésTodas las cuestiones esenciales de la ciencia del universo: Instrumentación astronómica, misiones espaciales, el sistema solar, física estelar, exoplanetas, física galáctica, extragaláctica y cosmología. Desde el origen de la astronomía hasta los experimentos más avanzados y la investigación científica de vanguardia.
Astronomy
by OpenStaxDesigned to meet the scope and sequence of your course, Astronomy 2e is written in clear non-technical language, with the occasional touch of humor and a wide range of clarifying illustrations. It has many analogies drawn from everyday life to help non-science majors appreciate, on their own terms, what our modern exploration of the universe is revealing. The book can be used for either a one-semester or two-semester introductory course. <p><p>The second edition has been updated according to new exploration and discoveries. The second edition also includes a significant amount of new art and images. The first edition of Astronomy by OpenStax is also available. <p><p>This is the official print version of this OpenStax textbook. OpenStax makes full-color hardcover and B&W paperback print copies available for students who prefer a hardcopy textbook to go with the free digital version of this OpenStax title. The textbook content is exactly the same as the OpenStax digital book. This textbook is available for free download at the OpenStax dot org website, but as many students prefer to study with hardcopy books, we offer affordable OpenStax textbooks for sale through Amazon as well as most campus bookstores.
Astronomy and the Climate Crisis (Astronomers' Universe)
by Antony CookeClimate change is acknowledged as being one of the most important areas of research today. Increasing global temperatures will impact all of us to a greater or lesser extent. From the point of view of research it is an enormously important and complex subject. However, little attention is paid to its relationship to astronomy, the sun in particular but not exclusively. Though directed at an astronomically inclined readership, and providing some less well-known astronomically related information, studies and concepts, this book will also appeal to a broader public, who need to understand the subject of climate change and learn of all the various theories and possible solutions.
Astronomy Through the Ages: The Story Of The Human Attempt To Understand The Universe (Princeton Legacy Library #5215)
by Sir Robert WilsonFrom an historical perspective, this text presents an entirely non- mathematical introduction to astronomy from the first endeavours of the ancients to the current developments in research enabled by cutting edge technological advances. Free of mathematics and complex graphs, the book nevertheless explains deep concepts of space and time, of relativity and quantum mechanics, and of origin and nature of the universe. It conveys not only the intrinsic fascination of the subject, but also the human side and the scientific method as practised by Kepler, defined and elucidated by Galileo, and then demonstrated by Newton.
Astroparticle Physics: Theory and Phenomenology (Atlantis Studies in Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology #1)
by Günter SiglThis books aims at giving an overview over theoretical and phenomenological aspects of particle astrophysics and particle cosmology. To be of interest for both students and researchers in neighboring fields of physics, it keeps a balance between well established foundations that will not significantly change in the future and a more in-depth treatment of selected subfields in which significant new developments have been taking place recently. These include high energy particle astrophysics, such as cosmic high energy neutrinos, the interplay between detection techniques of dark matter in the laboratory and in high energy cosmic radiation, axion-like particles, and relics of the early Universe such as primordial magnetic fields and gravitational waves. It also contains exercises and thus will be suitable for both introductory and advanced courses in astroparticle physics.
Astrophysics of Exoplanetary Atmospheres: 2nd Advanced School on Exoplanetary Science (Astrophysics and Space Science Library #450)
by Valerio Bozza Luigi Mancini Alessandro SozzettiIn this book, renowned scientists describe the complexity of exoplanetary atmospheres and all of the observational techniques that are employed to probe them. Readers will also find a panoramic description of the atmospheres of the planets within the Solar System, with explanation of considerations especially relevant to exoplanets. Over the past few years, thousands of exoplanets have been discovered orbiting around stars relatively close to the Solar System. Astronomers have revealed how varied these exoplanets are (rocky, icy, giant) and how diverse their architecture can be, confirming science fiction images in several cases and extending beyond the human imagination in others. The natural next step is to study their atmospheres and to understand their chemical composition and the physical processes taking place in their interiors, with the aim of detecting biomarkers. This book will appeal to all who seek a comprehensive, state-of-the-art account of the latest knowledge in the rapidly developing and highly interdisciplinary field of exoplanet research.
ASVAB Test Prep Flash Cards: Earth Science (Exambusters ASVAB Workbook #2 of 8)
by Ace Inc.<P><P><i>Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.</i><P><P> 600 questions and answers. Essential earth science and geology facts. <P><P>Topics: Earth's Origin, Minerals, Rocks, Weathering, Wind and Glaciers, Oceans, Maps, Atmosphere, Astronomy <P>EXAMBUSTERS ASVAB Prep Workbooks provide comprehensive, fundamental ASVAB review--one fact at a time--to prepare students to take practice ASVAB tests. Each ASVAB study guide focuses on one specific subject area covered on the ASVAB exam. From 300 to 600 questions and answers, each volume in the ASVAB series is a quick and easy, focused read. Reviewing ASVAB flash cards is the first step toward more confident ASVAB preparation and ultimately, higher ASVAB exam scores!
Aswan High Dam Resettlement of Egyptian Nubians (SpringerBriefs on Case Studies of Sustainable Development)
by Thayer ScudderThis book highlights the long-term resettlement process of the Egyptian Nubian people along the Aswan High Dam. Assessing the resettlement of 48,000 Egyptian Nubians in connection with the High Dam is especially important for three main reasons: firstly, this resettlement process is one of the rare cases in which research begun before the dam was built has continued for over forty years. Secondly, the resettlement of the Egyptian Nubian people is one of the few cases in which the living standards of the large majority improved because of the initial political will of the government, combined with Nubian initiatives. Thirdly, given the complexity of the resettlement process, weaknesses in government planning, implementation, and in the weakening of government political provide valuable lessons for future dam-induced resettlement efforts.
Asymmetry in Plants: Biology of Handedness
by Bir Bahadur K. V. Krishnamurthy Monoranjan Ghose S. John AdamsPlants exhibit forms of asymmetry analogous to "handedness" in bilaterally symmetrical animals. This book explores the evolutionary significance and development of asymmetry. Examples of genetic control include the direction of tendril or stem coiling of many climbing plants; the so-called spiral phyllotaxy and floral taxy; and contorted petal arrangement is another kind of left- right symmetry in plants; the direction of contortion is fixed in some but not in other plants. The book will underscore tha all phenomena related to handedness start during embryogenesis itself, with the occurrence of embryo rotation. Key selling features: First consolidated book on Plant Handedness Relates handedness, asymmetry and chirality to the evolution of different organizational levels in plant biology Emphasizes handedness as a vital governing force in plant functional evolution Provides a new perspective, hitherto ignored, into plant developemtn and evolution Describes how an age-old phenomenon can give scope for investigation from a very modern interdisciplinary approach
Asymptotic Expansions and Summability: Application to Partial Differential Equations (Lecture Notes in Mathematics #2351)
by Pascal RemyThis book provides a comprehensive exploration of the theory of summability of formal power series with analytic coefficients at the origin of Cn, aiming to apply it to formal solutions of partial differential equations (PDEs). It offers three characterizations of summability and discusses their applications to PDEs, which play a pivotal role in understanding physical, chemical, biological, and ecological phenomena. Determining exact solutions and analyzing properties such as dynamic and asymptotic behavior are major challenges in this field. The book compares various summability approaches and presents simple applications to PDEs, introducing theoretical tools such as Nagumo norms, Newton polygon, and combinatorial methods. Additionally, it presents moment PDEs, offering a broad class of functional equations including classical, fractional, and q-difference equations. With detailed examples and references, the book caters to readers familiar with the topics seeking proofs or deeper understanding, as well as newcomers looking for comprehensive tools to grasp the subject matter. Whether readers are seeking precise references or aiming to deepen their knowledge, this book provides the necessary tools to understand the complexities of summability theory and its applications to PDEs.
Asymptotic methods in mechanics of solids (International Series of Numerical Mathematics #167)
by Svetlana M. Bauer Sergei B. Filippov Andrei L. Smirnov Petr E. Tovstik Rémi VaillancourtThe construction of solutions of singularly perturbed systems of equations and boundary value problems that are characteristic for the mechanics of thin-walled structures are the main focus of the book. The theoretical results are supplemented by the analysis of problems and exercises. Some of the topics are rarely discussed in the textbooks, for example, the Newton polyhedron, which is a generalization of the Newton polygon for equations with two or more parameters. After introducing the important concept of the index of variation for functions special attention is devoted to eigenvalue problems containing a small parameter. The main part of the book deals with methods of asymptotic solutions of linear singularly perturbed boundary and boundary value problems without or with turning points, respectively. As examples, one-dimensional equilibrium, dynamics and stability problems for rigid bodies and solids are presented in detail. Numerous exercises and examples as well as vast references to the relevant Russian literature not well known for an English speaking reader makes this a indispensable textbook on the topic.
Asymptotic Perturbation Methods: For Nonlinear Differential Equations in Physics
by Attilio MaccariAsymptotic Perturbation Methods Cohesive overview of powerful mathematical methods to solve differential equations in physics Asymptotic Perturbation Methods for Nonlinear Differential Equations in Physics addresses nonlinearity in various fields of physics from the vantage point of its mathematical description in the form of nonlinear partial differential equations and presents a unified view on nonlinear systems in physics by providing a common framework to obtain approximate solutions to the respective nonlinear partial differential equations based on the asymptotic perturbation method. Aside from its complete coverage of a complicated topic, a noteworthy feature of the book is the emphasis on applications. There are several examples included throughout the text, and, crucially, the scientific background is explained at an elementary level and closely integrated with the mathematical theory to enable seamless reader comprehension. To fully understand the concepts within this book, the prerequisites are multivariable calculus and introductory physics. Written by a highly qualified author with significant accomplishments in the field, Asymptotic Perturbation Methods for Nonlinear Differential Equations in Physics covers sample topics such as: Application of the various flavors of the asymptotic perturbation method, such as the Maccari method to the governing equations of nonlinear system Nonlinear oscillators, limit cycles, and their bifurcations, iterated nonlinear maps, continuous systems, and nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDEs) Nonlinear systems, such as the van der Pol oscillator, with advanced coverage of plasma physics, quantum mechanics, elementary particle physics, cosmology, and chaotic systems Infinite-period bifurcation in the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and fractal and chaotic solutions in NPDEs Asymptotic Perturbation Methods for Nonlinear Differential Equations in Physics is ideal for an introductory course at the senior or first year graduate level. It is also a highly valuable reference for any professional scientist who does not possess deep knowledge about nonlinear physics.
Asymptotic Solutions of Strongly Nonlinear Systems of Differential Equations (Springer Monographs in Mathematics)
by Stanislav D. Furta Valery V. Kozlov Lester SenechalThe book is dedicated to the construction of particular solutions of systems of ordinary differential equations in the form of series that are analogous to those used in Lyapunov's first method. A prominent place is given to asymptotic solutions that tend to an equilibrium position, especially in the strongly nonlinear case, where the existence of such solutions can't be inferred on the basis of the first approximation alone. The book is illustrated with a large number of concrete examples of systems in which the presence of a particular solution of a certain class is related to special properties of the system's dynamic behavior. It is a book for students and specialists who work with dynamical systems in the fields of mechanics, mathematics, and theoretical physics.
Asymptotics of Elliptic and Parabolic PDEs: And Their Applications In Statistical Physics, Computational Neuroscience, And Biophysics (Applied Mathematical Sciences #199)
by Zeev Schuss David HolcmanThis is a monograph on the emerging branch of mathematical biophysics combining asymptotic analysis with numerical and stochastic methods to analyze partial differential equations arising in biological and physical sciences. In more detail, the book presents the analytic methods and tools for approximating solutions of mixed boundary value problems, with particular emphasis on the narrow escape problem. Informed throughout by real-world applications, the book includes topics such as the Fokker-Planck equation, boundary layer analysis, WKB approximation, applications of spectral theory, as well as recent results in narrow escape theory. Numerical and stochastic aspects, including mean first passage time and extreme statistics, are discussed in detail and relevant applications are presented in parallel with the theory. Including background on the classical asymptotic theory of differential equations, this book is written for scientists of various backgrounds interested in deriving solutions to real-world problems from first principles.
At Every Depth: Our Growing Knowledge of the Changing Oceans
by Tessa Hill Eric SimonsThe world’s oceans are changing at a drastic pace. Beneath the waves and along the coasts, climate change and environmental degradation have spurred the most radical transformations in human history. In response, the people who know the ocean most intimately are taking action for the sake of our shared future. Community scientists track species in California tidepools. Researchers dive into the waters around Sydney to replant kelp forests. Scientists and First Nations communities collaborate to restore clam gardens in the Pacific Northwest.In At Every Depth, the oceanographer Tessa Hill and the science journalist Eric Simons profile these and other efforts to understand and protect marine environments, taking readers to habitats from shallow tidepools to the deep sea. They delve into the many human connections to the ocean—how people live with and make their living from the waters—journeying to places as far-flung as coral reefs, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the Arctic and Antarctic poles. At Every Depth shares the stories of people from all walks of life, including scientists, coastal community members, Indigenous people, shellfish farmers, and fisheries workers. It brings together varied viewpoints, showing how scientists’ research and local and Indigenous knowledge can complement each other to inform a more sustainable future. Poignantly written and grounded in science, this book offers a narrative perspective on the changing oceans, letting us see how our relationships to the oceans are changing too.
At Home in the World: California Women and the Postwar Environmental Movement
by Kathleen A. CairnsFrom the beginning of California&’s statehood, adventurers, scientists, and writers reveled in its majestic landscape. Some were women, though few garnered attention or invitations to join the Sierra Club, the organization created in 1892 to preserve wilderness. Over the next sixty years the Sierra Club and other groups gained prestige and members—including an increasing number of women. But these organizations were not equipped to confront the massive growth of industry that overtook postwar California. This era needed a new approach, and it came from an unlikely source: white, middle-class housewives with no experience in politics. These women successfully battled smog, nuclear power plants, piles of garbage in the San Francisco Bay, and over-building in the Santa Monica Mountains. In At Home in the World Cairns shows how women were at the center of a broader and more inclusive environmental movement that looked beyond wilderness to focus on people&’s daily life. These women challenged the approach long promoted by establishment groups and laid the foundation for the modern environmental movement.
At Home on an Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on a Changed Earth
by Madeline OstranderFrom rural Alaska to coastal Florida, a vivid account of Americans working to protect the places they call home in an era of climate crisisHow do we find a sense of home and rootedness in a time of unprecedented upheaval? What happens when the seasons and rhythms in which we have built our lives go off-kilter?Once a distant forecast, climate change is now reaching into the familiar, threatening our basic safety and forcing us to reexamine who we are and how we live. In At Home on an Unruly Planet, science journalist Madeline Ostrander reflects on this crisis not as an abstract scientific or political problem but as a palpable force that is now affecting all of us at home. She offers vivid accounts of people fighting to protect places they love from increasingly dangerous circumstances. A firefighter works to rebuild her town after catastrophic western wildfires. A Florida preservationist strives to protect one of North America's most historic cities from rising seas. An urban farmer struggles to transform a California city plagued by fossil fuel disasters. An Alaskan community heads for higher ground as its land erodes.Ostrander pairs deeply reported stories of hard-won optimism with lyrical essays on the strengths we need in an era of crisis. The book is required reading for anyone who wants to make a home in the twenty-first century.
At One with Nature: Advances in Ecological Architecture in the Work of Ken Yeang
by Ken Yeang Edwina Threipland"At One with Nature is an inspiring collection of the latest work of Ken Yeang that further advances sustainable architecture and design. This collection features recent projects as he explores how we can achieve harmony between the natural and our built environments to create a better planet by design. Each project features and highlights not only the systems and devices adopted, but also outlines the intentions and ecological considerations demonstrating best practices for how we can proceed moving forward. The book role models our living Earth and shows how we can behave as stewards of our planet."--Cassia Patel, Oceanic Global Foundation At One with Nature showcases Ken Yeang's latest ideas, built projects designs, research work and advances in the field of designing with nature, a topic that Yeang has pioneered and developed over many decades since receiving his doctorate in ecological design and planning from Cambridge University. His ideas and work are even more pertinent today with the current state of devastation of Earth's natural systems and a biogeochemical cycle that has been extensively and severely impacted by human society. The global environment today is in a state of crisis, but what can society do to address the issues? Yeang's recent projects are presented with instructive diagrams that provide a basis for action for architects, planners, designers, engineers, and anyone whose daily work impinges on the natural environment. Offered in a highly visual, annotated format, with instructive illustrations of Yeang's theoretical books on the topic, At One with Nature is an invaluable resource that students and academics interested in designing with nature will find both informative and relevant.
At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters
by Piers Blaikie Terry Cannon Ian Davis Ben WisnerThe term 'natural disaster' is often used to refer to natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes or floods. However, the phrase 'natural disaster' suggests an uncritical acceptance of a deeply engrained ideological and cultural myth. At Risk questions this myth and argues that extreme natural events are not disasters until a vulnerable group of people is exposed. The updated new edition confronts a further ten years of ever more expensive and deadly disasters and discusses disaster not as an aberration, but as a signal failure of mainstream 'development'. Two analytical models are provided as tools for understanding vulnerability. One links remote and distant 'root causes' to 'unsafe conditions' in a 'progression of vulnerability'. The other uses the concepts of 'access' and 'livelihood' to understand why some households are more vulnerable than others. Examining key natural events and incorporating strategies to create a safer world, this revised edition is an important resource for those involved in the fields of environment and development studies.
At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters
by Piers Blaikie Terry Cannon Ian Davis Ben WisnerThe term 'natural disaster' is often used to refer to natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes or floods. However, the phrase 'natural disaster' suggests an uncritical acceptance of a deeply engrained ideological and cultural myth. At Risk questions this myth and argues that extreme natural events are not disasters until a vulnerable group of people is exposed. The updated new edition confronts a further ten years of ever more expensive and deadly disasters and discusses disaster not as an aberration, but as a signal failure of mainstream 'development'. Two analytical models are provided as tools for understanding vulnerability. One links remote and distant 'root causes' to 'unsafe conditions' in a 'progression of vulnerability'. The other uses the concepts of 'access' and 'livelihood' to understand why some households are more vulnerable than others. Examining key natural events and incorporating strategies to create a safer world, this revised edition is an important resource for those involved in the fields of environment and development studies.
At Risk of Deprivation: The Multidimensional Well-Being Impacts of Climate Migration and Immobility in Peru (Studien zur Migrations- und Integrationspolitik)
by Jonas BergmannThis open access book examines how and why various forms of climate (im)mobilities can impact people's objective and subjective well-being. Worsening climate impacts are forcing subsistence farmers worldwide to decide between staying or leaving their homes. This mixed methods study analyzes cases of climate-related migration, displacement, relocation, and immobility in Peru's coastal, highland, and rainforest regions. The results reveal that numerous farmers experienced profound and often negative well-being impacts, regardless of whether they stayed or migrated. The higher the structural constraints, such as weak governance, and the more damaging the climate impacts were, the higher the risk of well-being declines. Additionally, the affected individuals often had limited agency and ability to mitigate losses. These findings challenge the notion of "migration as adaptation" and emphasize the importance of safeguarding the human rights and security of those affected while addressing loss and damage. Without significant investments in such efforts, climate impacts could sharply diminish the well-being of numerous subsistence farmers worldwide—irrespective of whether they stay or migrate.