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An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergence of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It
by Al GoreOur climate crisis may appear to be happening slowly but in fact it is happening very quickly, and has become a true planetary emergency.
An Indomitable Beast: The Remarkable Journey of the Jaguar
by Alan RabinowitzThe jaguar is one of the most mysterious and least-known big cats of the world. The largest cat in the Americas, it has survived an onslaught of environmental and human threats partly because of an evolutionary history unique among wild felines, but also because of a power and indomitable spirit so strong, the jaguar has shaped indigenous cultures and the beliefs of early civilizations on two continents. In An Indomitable Beast: The Remarkable Journey of the Jaguar, big-cat expert Alan Rabinowitz shares his own personal journey to conserve a species that, despite its past resilience, is now on a slide toward extinction if something is not done to preserve the pathways it prowls through an ever-changing, ever-shifting landscape dominated by humans. Rabinowitz reveals how he learned from newly available genetic data that the jaguar was a single species connected genetically throughout its entire range from Mexico to Argentina, making it unique among all other large carnivores in the world. In a mix of personal discovery and scientific inquiry, he sweeps his readers deep into the realm of the jaguar, offering fascinating accounts from the field. Enhanced with maps, tables, and color plates, An Indomitable Beast brings important new research to life for scientists, anthropologists, and animal lovers alike. This book is not only about jaguars, but also about tenacity and survival. From the jaguar we can learn better strategies for saving other species and also how to save ourselves when faced with immediate and long-term catastrophic changes to our environment.
An Integrated Framework for Energy-Economy-Emissions Modeling: A Case Study of India (SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science)
by Tejal KanitkarThis book combines three different energy-economy-emissions modeling methodologies into one Integrated Modeling Framework (IMF) in an attempt to fill gaps in current modeling research as it applies to developing countries. Through the analysis of existing mathematical models, including large macro-economic models and technology-explicit energy models, the work proposes planning methodologies for developing countries that face challenges on their economy and infrastructure due to climate change. The three modeling methodologies discussed in the chapters are a decomposition analysis of trends in emissions intensity of GDP, linear programming techniques to determine optimum energy supply pathways given various resource and emissions constraints, and an input-output analysis to evaluate the impact of energy policies on income and equity. After a brief introduction to the history of the development of energy studies and the linkages between energy, economic, and environmental systems, the book delves into the component methodologies of the IMF and their intended outcomes. The decomposition analysis is intended to gauge the energy intensity of GDP and the structural composition of the economy to provide a basis on which scenarios are constructed in the following two methodologies. The linear programs are meant to develop a methodology to determine energy options under a variety of scenarios that capture the technical and economic characteristics of the power sector of developing countries. Lastly, the input-output analysis aims to build a methodology through which energy policy decisions can be understood and quantified to ensure the best possible impacts on developing economies and societies. Those who will be interested in this book include policy makers, academics, and students and professionals working on energy studies and energy-economy modeling.
An International Legal Framework for Geoengineering: Managing the Risks of an Emerging Technology (Routledge Research in International Environmental Law)
by Haomiao DuGeoengineering provides new possibilities for humans to deal with dangerous climate change and its effects but at the same time creates new risks to the planet. This book responds to the challenges geoengineering poses to International Law by identifying and developing the rules and principles that are aimed at controlling the risks to the environment and human health arising from geoengineering activities, without neglecting the contribution that geoengineering could make in preventing dangerous climate change and its impacts. It argues first that the employment of geoengineering should not cause significant environmental harm to the areas beyond the jurisdiction of the state of origin or the global commons, and the risk of causing such harm should be minimized or controlled. Second, the potential of geoengineering in contributing to preventing dangerous climate change should not be downplayed.
An International Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility: EXPLORING A RUSSIAN SITE AS A PROTOTYPE
by National Research Council of the National AcademiesAs part of a long-standing collaboration on nuclear nonproliferation, the National Academy of Sciences and the Russian Academy of Sciences held a joint workshop in Moscow in 2003 on the scientific aspects of an international radioactive disposal site in Russia. The passage of Russian laws permitting the importation and storage of high-level radioactive material (primarily spent nuclear fuel from reactors) has engendered interest from a number of foreign governments, including the U.S., in exploring the possibility of transferring material to Russia on a temporary or permanent basis. The workshop focused on the environmental aspects of the general location and characteristics of a possible storage site, transportation to and within the site, containers for transportation and storage, inventory and accountability, audits and inspections, and handling technologies.
An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy (Routledge Textbooks in Environmental and Agricultural Economics)
by Elissaios Papyrakis Felix R. FitzRoyThe 2nd edition of An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy explains the key scientific, economic and policy issues related to climate change in a completely up-to-date introduction for anyone interested, and students at all levels in various related courses, including environmental economics, international development, geography, politics and international relations. FitzRoy and Papyrakis highlight how economists and policymakers often misunderstand the science of climate change, underestimate the growing threat to future civilization and survival and exaggerate the costs of radical measures needed to stabilize the climate. In contrast, they show how direct and indirect costs of fossil fuels – particularly the huge health costs of local pollution – actually exceed the investment needed for transition to an almost zero carbon economy in two or three decades using available technology.
An Introduction to Coastal Processes and Geomorphology
by Robin Davidson-ArnottWritten for undergraduate students studying coastal geomorphology, this is the complete guide to the processes at work on our coastlines and the features we see in coastal systems across the world. Accessible to students from a range of disciplines, the quantitative approach of this book helps to build a solid understanding of wave and current processes that shape coastlines. The resulting processes of erosion, transport and deposition and the features they create are clearly explained, with over 400 illustrations and photographs. From sandy beaches to coral reefs, the major coastal features are related to contemporary processes and to sea-level changes over the past 25,000 years. Key equations describing or predicting measurements from instruments used to map these processes are all presented in this wide-ranging overview. Davidson-Arnott completes this teaching package with online material that brings the subject to life, including videos of coastal processes and virtual field trips.
An Introduction to Environment, Society and Sustainability
by Paul Sutton Helen HazenThis timely and innovative book delves into the complex interplay of human activities and natural limits in generating today’s sustainability challenges. By contrasting the pressures of growing populations with ecological footprints associated with consumption, the volume navigates the contested terrain where human societies generate environmental impacts.Adorned with illustrative figures, examples and case studies throughout, this book presents insightful analysis of ecological, economic, technological, and social justice responses to the challenges faced by human civilization, including land degradation, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources. Many of these issues are wicked problems, characterized by incomplete information, multiple stakeholders, and contested approaches to addressing them. In simple terms, sustainability issues are an interplay between population growth and rising consumption, which are placing impossible demands on finite resources. Potential solutions to the crisis are split between green growth approaches that emphasize technology and institutional capacity to guide economic growth in more sustainable ways, and degrowth approaches that call for a fundamental rethinking of the way we structure society and generate value. This book emerged from a student seminar where undergraduate and graduate students highlighted sustainability topics of concern, helped consider their framing, and then assisted with co-writing several of the chapters. The volume encourages readers to consider structural questions that underpin sustainability dilemmas, and begins with four theoretical frameworks for understanding sustainability issues: ideas from the natural sciences, the population/consumption debate, economic frameworks, and ethical approaches. It then uses a systems approach to apply these theoretical ideas to complex global systems such as the atmosphere, oceans, and agriculture.This volume will be of pivotal interest to students, scholars and academics in the fields of environmental studies, environment and society, human geography and environmental geography, as well as those with an interest in these areas more generally.
An Introduction to Firearms: Your Guide to Selection, Use, Safety, and Self-Defense
by James Morgan AyresLearn everything you need to know to own and shoot firearms responsibly in this newly updated guide.Owning a firearm is a big responsibility. There's more to it than just walking into a gun shop and walking out with a gun. In addition to knowing state laws and regulations, you'll need to have the confidence to choose the right firearm for your needs and then learn to use it safely and effectively.An Introduction to Firearms goes beyond the basics, introducing you to the many uses of the gun, such as hunting, sporting competition, and self-defense, and includes resources for additional information on legal aspects of gun ownership, safety considerations, and gun manufacturers.Chapters of interest include coverage on: Where to Buy and Where to Shoot Hunting with Your Gun Care and Cleaning of Your Gun Gun Cabinets, Cases, and Safes Kids and Guns Defensive Shooting Skills Federal and State Gun Laws An Introduction to Firearms is the best guide available to you to ensure you have the right gun, whether you intend to use it for big game or self-defense. It's your right to own a firearm and your duty to use it responsibly.
An Introduction to Heritage Breeds: Saving and Raising Rare-Breed Livestock and Poultry
by Alison Martin D. Phillip Sponenberg DVM Jeannette BerangerDeveloped for the particular needs of the working farm, heritage breeds have proved invaluable to small-scale agricultural production for centuries. This comprehensive guide explains why conserving heritage breeds remains important and how they often can be a better choice for the modern farmer than conventional animals. With profiles of heritage poultry, sheep, cattle, and more, you’ll learn how to select and successfully raise the breed that is right for your specific needs. Enjoy the benefits of resilient livestock while preserving genetic diversity for future generations.
An Introduction to Severe Storms and Hazardous Weather
by Jeffrey B. HalversonThis book presents a deep and encompassing survey of severe weather in all its forms. An Introduction to Severe Storms and Hazardous Weather is an exciting new textbook that allows students to learn the principles of atmospheric science through the drama, exhilaration, and even tragedy of severe weather.Balancing breadth and depth, Jeffrey B. Halverson adeptly combines a short, accessible introduction to the basic principles of meteorology with detailed coverage on large- and small-scale weather hazards. He draws on specific up-to-date case studies from North America to illustrate the cause of meteorological events including hurricanes, heavy snow and ice, floods, and tornadoes. Unlike existing books on the market, Halverson delves deep into the societal impacts of these events, drawing on examples from agriculture, utility infrastructure, and commercial aviation. Each chapter also features high-quality, customized color artwork by Thomas D. Rabenhorst that helps to enhance and embed learning.Thorough in its scope, and written with an impeccable focus on the science, this book will be an essential resource for introductory undergraduate courses in severe weather, natural hazards, and extreme meteorology. It is also an excellent supplemental textbook for courses on meteorology and atmospheric science.
An Introduction to Soil Mechanics (Theory and Applications of Transport in Porous Media #30)
by Arnold VerruijtThis textbook offers a superb introduction to theoretical and practical soil mechanics. Special attention is given to the risks of failure in civil engineering, and themes covered include stresses in soils, groundwater flow, consolidation, testing of soils, and stability of slopes. Readers will learn the major principles and methods of soil mechanics, and the most important methods of determining soil parameters both in the laboratory and in situ. The basic principles of applied mechanics, that are frequently used, are offered in the appendices. The author's considerable experience of teaching soil mechanics is evident in the many features of the book: it is packed with supportive color illustrations, helpful examples and references. Exercises with answers enable students to self-test their understanding and encourage them to explore further through additional online material. Numerous simple computer programs are provided online as Electronic Supplementary Material. As a soil mechanics textbook, this volume is ideally suited to supporting undergraduate civil engineering students.
An Introduction to Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Personal Perspectives
by Martin MulliganAn Introduction to Sustainability provides students with a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and ideas which are encompassed within the growing field of sustainability. The fully updated second edition, including new figures and images, teases out the diverse but intersecting domains of sustainability and emphasises strategies for action. Aimed at those studying the subject for the first time, it is unique in giving students from different disciplinary backgrounds a coherent framework and set of core principles for applying broad sustainability principles within their own personal and professional lives. These include: working to improve equality within and across generations; moving from consumerism to quality of life goals; and respecting diversity in both nature and culture. Areas of emerging importance such as the economics of prosperity and wellbeing stand alongside core topics including: · Energy and society · Consumption and consumerism · Risk and resilience · Waste, water and land. Key challenges and applications are explored through international case studies, and each chapter includes a thematic essay drawing on diverse literature to provide an integrated introduction to fundamental issues. Housed on the Routledge Sustainability Hub, the book’s companion website contains a range of features to engage students with the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability. Together these resources provide a wealth of material for learning, teaching and researching the topic of sustainability. This textbook is an essential companion to any sustainability course.
An Introduction to Sustainable Aquaculture
by Daniel Peñalosa Martinell Vergara-Solana, Francisco J Araneda Padilla, Marcelo E Fernando Aranceta GarzaThis new textbook provides an accessible introduction to sustainable aquaculture through its relationship with three key pillars: the environment, the economy, and society.As the demand for seafood keeps increasing, aquaculture is considered one of the most promising and sustainable ways to satisfy this demand with nutritious and high-quality food. It is important to understand, therefore, the wider role and impact aquaculture has on the environment, the economy, and society. The book begins by providing a foundational introduction to aquaculture and sustainability, discussing the complex and interdependent relationship that exists between the two. The core text of the book is divided into four parts which focus on the environment, economics, social impacts, and governance and technologies. Chapters examine key issues surrounding climate change, food security, new technologies, bioeconomics and risk analysis, international cooperation, employment, and animal welfare, with the book concluding with a chapter examining the future directions and challenges for the aquaculture industry. The book draws on global case studies and each chapter is accompanied by recommended reading and chapter review questions to support student learning.This book will serve as an essential guide for students of aquaculture, fisheries management, and sustainable food, as well as practitioners and policymakers engaged in sustainable fishery development.
An Introduction to the Amphibians of Ecuador: Diversity, Conservation, and Cultural History
by William E. Duellman Luis A. ColomaAn Introduction to the Amphibians of Ecuador is the first of four volumes, which are comprehensive, well-illustrated, and authoritative works, making them invaluable to biologists, conservationists, and others. This initial volume delves into the cultural history of amphibians, encompassing ethnobatrachology and folklore, while summarizing the amphibian iconography found in Ecuadorian archaeology. Moreover, it covers topics such as bioprospecting, sustainable management, and biotrade activities. The history and present state of amphibian biology research are also addressed. Furthermore, it explores in comprehensive detail the rich amphibian diversity of Ecuador, providing a thorough review of biogeography, amphibian declines, and conservation.Subsequent volumes list the characteristics of each species, define each taxon, and compare them to similar other species. Natural history and reproductive behavior, where known, are described, as are data on vocalizations, larvae, and ontogenetic changes. Amphibian distributions are illustrated with physiographic maps with dots. Each volume addresses the declines, extinctions, and conservation status of each species and provides notations of their occurrence in reserves.KEY FEATURES Summarizes the ethnozoological aspects of amphibians Provides a thorough history of research Introduction to three volumes providing accounts for each of the 3 orders, 19 families, 78 genera, and over 650 species from Ecuador
An Introduction to the Blue Humanities
by Steve MentzAn Introduction to the Blue Humanities is the first textbook to explore the many ways humans engage with water, utilizing literary, cultural, historical, and theoretical connections and ecologies to introduce students to the history and theory of water-centric thinking. Comprised of multinational texts and materials, each chapter will provide readers with a range of primary and secondary sources, offering a fresh look at the major oceanic regions, saltwater and freshwater geographies, and the physical properties of water that characterize the Blue Humanities. Each chapter engages with carefully chosen primary texts, including frequently taught works such as Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Homer’s Odyssey, and Luis Vaz de Camões’s Lusíads, to provide the perfect pedagogy for students to develop an understanding of the Blue Humanities chapter by chapter. Readers will gain insight into new trends in intellectual culture and the enduring history of humans thinking with and about water, ranging across the many coastlines of the World Ocean to Pacific clouds, Mediterranean lakes, Caribbean swamps, Arctic glaciers, Southern Ocean rainstorms, Atlantic groundwater, and Indian Ocean rivers. Providing new avenues for future thinking and investigation of the Blue Humanities, this volume will be ideal for both undergraduate and graduate courses engaging with the environmental humanities and oceanic literature.
An Introduction to the Global Circulation of the Atmosphere
by David RandallThis is a graduate-level textbook on the global circulation of the Earth's atmosphere--the large-scale system of winds by which energy is transported around the planet, from the tropical latitudes to the poles. Written by David Randall, one of the world's foremost experts on the subject, it is the most comprehensive textbook on the topic. Intended for Earth science students who have completed some graduate-level coursework in atmospheric dynamics, the book will help students build on that foundation, preparing them for research in the field.The book describes the many phenomena of the circulation and explains them in terms of current ideas from fluid dynamics and thermodynamics, with frequent use of isentropic coordinates and using the methods of vector calculus. It emphasizes the key roles of water vapor and clouds, includes detailed coverage of energy flows and transformations, and pays close attention to scale interactions. The book also describes the major historical contributions of key scientists, giving a human dimension to the narrative, and it closes with a discussion of how the global circulation is evolving as the Earth's climate changes.The most comprehensive graduate-level textbook on the subjectWritten by one of the world's leading expertsConnects global circulation and climate phenomenaAddresses energy, moisture, and angular-momentum balance; the hydrologic cycle; and atmospheric turbulence and convectionEmphasizes the energy cycle of the atmosphere; the role of moist processes; and circulation as an unpredictable, chaotic processHelps prepare students for researchAn online illustration package is available to professors
An Introduction to the Green Economy: Science, Systems and Sustainability
by Adrian C. Newton Elena CantarelloThe green economy is widely seen as a potential solution to current global economic and environmental crises, and a potential mechanism by which sustainable development might be achieved in practice. Considerable investments are now being made into the development of green technology, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency, recycling of materials and green infrastructure. This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the green economy, using a strongly interdisciplinary approach based on environmental science, rather than treating it as a sub-set of economics. The scientific principles of sustainability are presented, which provide the foundations of the green economy, with a particular focus on systems-based approaches. Examples of real-world case studies are used to illustrate how the green economy can be achieved in practice. In this way, the authors provide a thorough overview of both the principles and practice of the green economy, drawing from a wide range of disciplines including ecology, geography, social science, psychology, sustainability science, environmental science, law and economics. The emphasis is on presenting results of the latest research, derived from leading scientific journals. Rather than focusing on a single definition of what constitutes a ‘green economy’, the book introduces readers to the diversity of opinion that exists, and engages them in what is an active, on-going debate. This reflects the fact that many aspects of the green economy, and sustainable development more generally, are currently contested. In particular, the book will help readers to strengthen their ability to critically evaluate the evidence for and against the views presented, and to actively contribute to the future development of the green economy.
An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens
by Charlotte GuillainGrab your very own VIP access pass and explore the incredible Botanic Gardens.Have you ever wondered what goes on at the Botanic Gardens? It's not all planting and pruning. In fact, the team have a planet-saving mission on their hands – and you can help. Step off the path and follow the Garden crew who will show you behind the scenes of the Botanic Gardens with your very own access-all-areas invitation.Find out how scientists research plants that can cure diseases, watch workers wading in the waterlily pond, and discover the secrets of seeds. Find out why samples of rare and endangered plants are stored in the Herbarium and leave no leaf unturned in the tropical glasshouse. Discover insect-eating plants, zombie fungus, plants pretending to be pebbles, and more.As you turn the pages you'll learn about the importance of insects, the impact of climate change and how plants grow. With beautiful, lush illustrations, you'll discover more wonderful details each time you return to the gardens.Three large gatefolds open up to reveal even more information.
An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding
by Eoghan DaltunAn Post Irish Book Award Winner'An inspiring vision' Manchán Magan'The stories are absorbing, the writing charismatic and the ideas thought-provoking' Irish IndependentOn the Beara peninsula in West Cork, a temperate rainforest flourishes. It is the life work of Eoghan Daltun, who had a vision to rewild a 73-acre farm he bought, moving there from Dublin with his family in 2009. An Irish Atlantic Rainforest charts that remarkable journey. Part memoir, part environmental treatise, as a wild forest bursts into life before our eyes, we're invited to consider the burning issues of our time: climate breakdown, ecological collapse, and why our very survival as a species requires that we urgently and radically transform our relationship with nature. Powerfully descriptive, lovingly told, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest presents an enduring picture of the regenerative force of nature, and how one Irishman let it happen.
An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding
by Eoghan DaltunAn Post Irish Book Award Winner'An inspiring vision' Manchán Magan'The stories are absorbing, the writing charismatic and the ideas thought-provoking' Irish IndependentOn the Beara peninsula in West Cork, a temperate rainforest flourishes. It is the life work of Eoghan Daltun, who had a vision to rewild a 73-acre farm he bought, moving there from Dublin with his family in 2009. An Irish Atlantic Rainforest charts that remarkable journey. Part memoir, part environmental treatise, as a wild forest bursts into life before our eyes, we're invited to consider the burning issues of our time: climate breakdown, ecological collapse, and why our very survival as a species requires that we urgently and radically transform our relationship with nature. Powerfully descriptive, lovingly told, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest presents an enduring picture of the regenerative force of nature, and how one Irishman let it happen.
An Island Called California
by Elna BakkerBakker’s classic of ecological science now includes three new chapters on Southern California which make the book more useful than ever. Striking new photographs illustrate the diversity of life, climate, and geological formation.
An Island of My Own
by Andrea SpaldingShort-listed for the 1999 Silver Birch Award and for the 2001 Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award Fifteen-year-old Rowan, the daughter of foreign correspondents in Africa, finds herself beached for a summer with her cousins near Tofino, British Columbia. Desperate for a summer project, she camps on a neighbouring island to monitor the progress of an endangered group of sea otters, further threatened by the development plans of a real estate agent trying to sell the property for tourism.
An Occasionally Happy Family
by Cliff BurkeGordon Korman meets The Great Outdoors in this funny and moving debut about a boy who goes on a disastrous family vacation (sweltering heat! bear chases!) that ends with a terrible surprise: his dad's new girlfriend.There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn&’t help that this will be the first vacation they&’re taking since Mom passed away. Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo&’s dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend. Theo tries to squash down the pain in his chest. But when it becomes clear that this is an auditioning-to-be-his-stepmom girlfriend, Theo must find a way to face his grief and talk to his dad before his family is forever changed.
An Ocklawaha River Odyssey: Paddling Through Natural History (Natural History)
by Elizabeth RandallPhotojournalists Bob and Liz Randall spent two years exploring Florida's ancient and enchanting Ocklawaha River. Their journey provides an inside look at the rich recreational resources of the river, its wildlife and the people, past and present, who contributed to its history and welfare. Along the way, they met artists, environmentalists, captains, law enforcement officials, conservationists, filmmakers, historians and local descendants whose lives are inextricably intertwined with the prehistoric river. From its subterranean and aquatic past to the Seminole Indian Wars, the steamboat era and political struggles, many voices are integral to the river's survival and to one of the longest environmental conflicts in Florida history.