Arid zones, deserts Books

Book SynopsisHotter and dryer than most parts of the world, the Middle East could soon see climate change exacerbate food and water shortages, aggravate social inequalities, and drive displacement and political destabilization. And as renewable energy eclipses fossil fuels, oil rich countries in the Middle East will see their wealth diminish. Amidst these imminent risks is a call to action for regional leaders. Could countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates harness the region's immense potential for solar energy and emerge as vanguards of global climate action? The Power of Deserts surveys regional climate models and identifies the potential impact on socioeconomic disparities, population movement, and political instability. Offering more than warning and fear, however, the book highlights a potentially brighter future—a recent shift across the Middle East toward renewable energy. With his deep knowledge of the region and knack for presenting scientific data with clarity, Dan Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of opportunity arising from a looming crisis.Trade Review"The Power of Deserts offers an important argument detailing how the Middle East could be devastated by the impact of climate change—or could generate huge amounts of renewable energy. Dan Rabinowitz skillfully communicates the difficulty these nations will face in adapting to climate change. A provocative work." -- Steven Cohen * the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and author of The Sustainable City *"Only Dan Rabinowitz, who wrote Israel's first book about climate change, has the knowledge, imagination, and optimistic spirit to look at the Middle East and offer this compelling, hopeful vision for the future." -- Alon Tal * Tel Aviv University *"In this timely, compelling book, Dan Rabinowitz deftly explores how climate change amplifies problems of inequality, injustice, and displacement in the Middle East. Rabinowitz's deep knowledge of the region, ability to clearly present complex material, and novel contention that the oil-rich Gulf states may lead the global transition to renewable energy make The Power of Deserts a must-read for anyone interested in these issues." -- Jeannie Sowers * University of New Hampshire, author of Environmental Politics in Egypt: Experts, Activists, and the State *"With his deep knowledge of the region, Dan Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of opportunity arising from a looming crisis." -- Michael Svoboda * Yale Climate Connections *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: The Heat Is On chapter abstractFolk tales, myths, and physical remains in various Middle Eastern cultures indicate the region saw dramatic climate fluctuations in the past. Climate models suggest that current global warming could have far-reaching consequences for the region. Multiplying socioeconomic inequalities, demographic instability, ethnic tensions, and insecurity, climate change is impacting scientific fields, from the Earth sciences and the natural sciences, to history, sociology, and political science. New vocabularies and methodologies are being developed to help theorize and analyze the profound changes that will characterize the imminent post-normal climate era. A determined, sophisticated global environmental movement has long been trying to convince world leaders to save the planet by instigating major cuts in CO2 emissions for decades, to no avail. Could salvation come from oil-rich countries in the Middle East? 1Parched Future chapter abstractAdvances in climate modeling since 2010 enable scaling down global predictions to region- and country-specific forecasts. Using these new methods, researchers predict that temperature hikes in the Middle East will be sharper than projections for other regions and the world at large. Rainfall quantities in key areas in the northern and western section of the region will go down below 200 millimeters per annum, the level necessary for rain-fed agriculture. This will have serious consequences for agriculture in Turkey, Syria, northern Iraq, and the Maghreb, and dire implications for water cycles and animal husbandry across the region. Dwindling water volumes in the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates will seriously endanger regional food production. Egypt and the Gulf countries are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. 2Burning Inequality chapter abstractClimate change involves three types of inequality. First, wealthier communities consume more, are responsible for higher greenhouse gas emissions, and thus carry a heavier responsibility for the advent of climate change. Second, affluent communities are more resilient to climate perils than poor ones. Third, those unwilling to join the struggle against climate change put others in harm's way. These inequalities, while omnipresent, are particularly prevalent in the Middle East, where socioeconomic gaps between and within countries are the widest in the world. The chapter illustrates that oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are among the highest per capita CO2 emitters in the world, while poorer countries hardly contribute to climate change. The chapter reviews regional gaps in resilience and exposure and demonstrates how oil-exporting countries in the region have played an active role in efforts since the 1990s to subvert global climate agreements. 3Climate of Insecurity chapter abstractExerting pressure on water, agriculture, and food supply, climate change is having devastating consequences for arid regions. The chapter distinguishes between security (small s), a condition with concrete personal and familial resonance, and Security (capita S), a more nebulous, less rational term focused on more abstract collectives such as the state or "the realm." The recent climate-related crises in Syria and South Sudan are reviewed. Given that similar drought spells could become the Middle East's new normal, the chapter seeks to isolate the role of climate in such calamities. Analyzing climate-related migration already underway in the region, it traces the emergence of "climate refugees" as a discursive term and critically examines the perils of climate change becoming securitized. Finally, it highlights the need for proactive, forward-looking planning on behalf of vulnerable rural communities that might be forced to relocate as a result of climate change. 4Solar Prospects chapter abstractIdeas for renewable energy hubs in the Middle East have been floated since the 1920s. With costs of solar energy slashed by 90 percent in a single decade, global investment in renewables is rising quickly. Solar plants are now being constructed across the Middle East, even in oil-exporting countries. With abundant solar irradiation, huge tracts of unproductive land, high liquidity, and a good track record of incorporating new technologies into civil infrastructure, the six oil-rich kingdoms by the Arabian Gulf have an immense potential for solar energy. Consistently pledging to transition their own domestic energy sectors to renewables, they are now beginning to actually do so. Should they indeed follow through with this, could they decide to extract less oil and natural gas? More importantly, are they likely to decide that leading a global energy transition to renewables is in their own best interest? 5Will 200 Men Save the Planet? chapter abstractDisconcerting climate predictions, the imminent demise of oil, and their huge potential for solar energy could convince the oil-rich countries of the Gulf to accelerate the global transition to renewables. To avoid economic ruin they could (a) immediately convert their own energy sectors to renewables; (b) invest heavily in renewable technologies and capacity worldwide; then (c) drastically reduce oil and natural gas production. An already struggling oil industry will be forced to surrender, crowning renewables the primary source of global energy. Like carriage makers who became automobile tycoons, the GCC six will have converted their position in the oil market ante to control of the energy universe of tomorrow. The economic lockdown triggered by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, which brought the oil industry to its knees, may leave the GCC with no other option if they wish to withstand the passage to a post-oil era.

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Book SynopsisThe wild beauty of deserts has always been a source of fascination the world over. Mankind and Deserts 3 – the third and final volume – focuses on wind, frequently present in all deserts, either hot or cold. Wind plays a major role in aridity and landscapes bear numerous forms due to its action, erosion, transportation and surface formations, some discreet and others spectacular, such as vast expanses of towering yardangs. Aeolian dynamics lead to dune formation, simple or associated with sand ridges or ergs, as in the Sahara. Mankind has attempted, to varying degrees of success, to cope with sand accumulation; ignoring aeolian dynamics has led many development projects to failure. This is developed by Yann Callot, a Professor at Lyon University who studied aeolian dynamics in the Sahara. Traditional societies have adapted to live in deserts, establishing vibrant civilizations with original ways of living, managing water resources and creating routes for trade, especially for salt. In a changing environment, useful lessons can be drawn from the genius of mankind�s adaptation to such diverse and fragile environments. This is explained by Marc Côte, who was a Professor at Constantine (Algeria) and Aix-en-Provence Universities. From ancient, almost mythical, exploration to modern scientific studies, deserts have come to be better known yet still hold great appeal. This book traces the history of their knowledge while providing a basis for understanding their features and the tools needed for their protection, in an ever-changing world.Table of ContentsForeword ixYvette Dewolf Introduction: Aeolian Dynamics and Processes xiiiYann Callot Chapter 1. Aeolian Landforms in Deserts 1Yann Callot 1.1. Forms and surface states 1 1.2. Ablation forms 2 1.2.1. Desert pavement 2 1.2.2. Coherent rock landforms 5 1.2.3. A mixed ablation shape: hydro-aeolian depressions 15 1.3. Accumulation formations 16 1.3.1. Amorphous accumulations 18 1.3.2. Smaller aeolian formations 21 1.3.3. Sandy accumulations without sharp crests 27 1.3.4. Dunes with sharp crests 28 1.3.5. Combinations of sifs 36 1.3.6. Non-sandy aeolian accumulations 43 1.4. Aeolian systems 47 1.4.1. Initial combinations: arrow, elb and draa 48 1.4.2. Interdune spaces 50 1.4.3. Polygenic formations 52 1.5. Ergs, the most complex aeolian systems 60 1.5.1. Definition 60 1.5.2. The formation of ergs 61 1.5.3. From the stability of forms... to a whole new scale: the Grand Erg Occidental 65 1.6. Conclusion: a new paradigm to explain the organization and orientation of active dunes 70 1.7. Martian dunes, still mobile… 72 1.8. References 75 Chapter 2. Humans and Winds in Deserts 79Yann Callot 2.1. Traditional societies and the wind 80 2.2. The battle against sand encroachment, or the Barrel of the Danaids: the Zouerate railroads (Mauritania) 83 2.3. The Dust Bowl, the first ecological disaster of the 20th century in a developed country 87 2.4. The western Algerian Green Barrier, or an error in management 91 2.4.1. A “barrier” in an unfavorable physical environment 91 2.4.2. Difficult implementation 93 2.4.3. A basic error in understanding aeolian dynamics 98 2.5. References 105 Chapter 3. Living in Deserts 107Marc Côte 3.1. Humans and the desert 108 3.1.1. A “desert civilization” 108 3.1.2. There are deserts and then there are deserts 108 3.1.3. The desert, Islam and oil 110 3.1.4. Antagonistic and complementary civilizations 110 3.2. Bedouin civilizations 113 3.2.1. Nomads 113 3.2.2. The power of the group 114 3.2.3. Astonishing knowledge 114 3.2.4. The fundamentals of pastoralism 115 3.2.5. Nomad territories 117 3.2.6. Collective lands 118 3.2.7. Dromedaries and Bactrian camels 120 3.2.8. A large-scale ecological transformation: desertification 122 3.2.9. Social transformation: sedentarization 123 3.2.10. New forms of pastoralism 123 3.2.11. The new faces of group structure 125 3.3. Hydraulic civilization 126 3.3.1. Oasis life 126 3.3.2. The fundamentals of hydraulic civilizations 126 3.3.3. Water territories 127 3.3.4. Cradles of hydraulic civilizations 127 3.3.5. Hydraulic techniques 129 3.3.6. Collective and individual hydraulic systems 132 3.3.7. Modes of sharing a rare resource 134 3.3.8. The diffusion of techniques 134 3.3.9. Hot deserts and cold deserts 137 3.3.10. Today: from small wells to deep drilling 138 3.4. A salt civilization? 140 3.4.1. Societies in quest of salt 140 3.4.2. Salt territories 141 3.4.3. The logistics of salt 142 3.4.4. An important period in the history of the Sahara 143 3.4.5. A salt civilization? 144 3.5. Urban civilizations in the desert 144 3.5.1. Cities 144 3.5.2. The fundamentals of urban life 145 3.5.3. The city and the road 147 3.5.4. Networks of urban centers 148 3.5.5. Capitals under the sun 149 3.5.6. The city and water 150 3.5.7. The city and the desert today 153 3.6. Conclusion 153 3.7. References 154 List of Authors 157 Index 159

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA must-have for every gardener in California looking for a new way to garden in a changing climate In recent years California has been facing extreme drought, and in 2015 they passed state-wide water restrictions that affect home owners. Unfortunately the drought is only going to get worse, and gardeners who aren’t willing to abandon their beloved pastime entirely are going to have to learn how to garden with the absolute minimum of water. The Drought-Defying California Garden highlights the best 230 plants to grow, shares advice on how to get them established, and offers tips on how to maintain them with the minimum amount of water. All of the plants are native to California—making them uniquely adept at managing the harsh climate—and include perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, and succulents.

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Book SynopsisA design-focused, easy-to-use guide to colorful, eye-catching foliage and flowers for your whole yard, from the ground plane to the canopy, for homeowners and landscapers faced with replacing thirsty gardens in California and other dry regions in the Western US. If readers must reluctantly remove water-guzzling favorites from the garden, they need equally beautiful substitutes! This book is a visual treat that supports the transition to dry gardening by proving that gardeners can have all the gorgeous color and flowers they had in the past using just a fraction of the water. Maureen Gilmer provides chapters on design categories of plants—flowering shrubs, the ground plain, eye-catching accents, ephemeral flowers, perennials for color, animated plants and fine textures, canopy, and edibles—with profiles for each plant plus background info and top picks lists. The Colorful Dry Garden is unique because it features only bold plants that are also heavy bloomers despite heat and limited water. It also features more than just Western native plants by including varieties from the world's driest climates.Trade Review"Compact and easy-to-read, with practical tips for "going dry," a.k.a. transitioning to a drought-resistant yard, along with loads of color photos of flowering shrubs, perennials, ground covers, succulents and grasses."—The Los Angeles Times"[This book] couldn't come at a better time. As we adjust to using less water in every part of our lives, Gilmer's book provides practical guidance to gardeners who want vibrant landscapes in the future while using less of our precious resource, water."—The Oregonian"This book features beautifully illustrated profiles of drought-tolerant plants"—Texas Gardener"Includes guidelines for transitioning yards to an “arid palette,” as well as hundreds of photos and detailed descriptions of flowering plants and trees that provide the punches of color she and other floral fans crave."—Las Vegas Review-Journal "Maureen Gilmer consolidates everything you need to know to get started [in water-wise gardening] based on her 30 years of experience in the field.... The perfect resource for folks who may not be hard-core gardeners but want a beautiful yet unthirsty garden all the same." —Succulents and More

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