Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Books

Book SynopsisThis series covers leading-edge research focusing on the environment, including current research data on the hidden risks and unfulfilled expectations of biochar; clean and green energy development and sustainable development; catchment properties as useful proxies for freshwater biodiversity; resource conservation and environment management; an overview on the development of integrated bioenergy devices for improvement of quality of life of poor people; climatic factors before and after cotton anthesis and its statistical relations nature with cotton production; application, toxicology and environmental effects of nitrobenzene; prediction of California bearing ratio (CBR) for pavement subgrade soils in saturated and unsaturated conditions; and innovative approach of the regional food retail trade.

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Book SynopsisThis book includes six chapters. The first chapter introduces the characteristics and the classification of POPs; the second chapter explains the harm of POPs from the perspective of environmental science; the third chapter introduces in detail the distribution characteristics of POPs in China; the fourth chapter analyses the need for legal governance to prevent and control pollution of POPs in China from the perspective of legislation; the fifth chapter comprehensively reviews the relevant laws, regulations and rules on prevention and control of POPs in China, from the macro level and micro level; and the sixth chapter analyses the problems during the process of legal governance and offers some suggestions from four links, including legislation, enforcement, judicature and law-abiding. The authors hope this research can play a role in the legal governance of POP pollution in China and also hope readers will understand the state of legal governance of POPs in China. The authors ask that they give some valued comments for the environmental protection of China.

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Book SynopsisThe March 2011 accident at Japan''s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant led to a worldwide review of nuclear power programs. NRC licenses and oversees civilian nuclear reactors. The State Department coordinates policy matters with international organisations and treaties, including those dealing with nuclear safety. This book examines the actions nuclear regulatory bodies from selected countries have taken to strengthen nuclear safety; the extent to which these countries have established automated systems to collect and transmit accident data; and steps international organisations have taken to support nuclear regulatory bodies and promote nuclear safety worldwide since the accident.

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Book SynopsisThe Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides payments to agricultural producers to take highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land out of production and install resource conserving practices for 10 or more years. CRP was first authorized in the Food Security Act of 1985 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture''s (USDA''s) Farm Service Agency (FSA) with technical support from other USDA agencies. This book discusses the issues and considerations of the CRP.

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Book SynopsisAccording to the NRC and the USGCRP, changes in the earth''s climate -- including higher temperatures, changes in precipitation, rising sea levels, and increases in the severity and frequency of severe weather events -- are under way and expected to grow more severe over time. These impacts present significant risks to the nation''s energy infrastructure. This book examines what is known about potential impacts of climate change on U.S. energy infrastructure; measures that can reduce climate-related risks and adapt energy infrastructure to climate change; and the role of the federal government in adapting energy infrastructure and adaptation steps selected federal entities have taken.

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Book SynopsisTraditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), also called by other names including Indigenous Knowledge or Native Science, refers to the evolving knowledge acquired by indigenous and local peoples over hundreds or thousands of years through direct contact with the environment. This knowledge is specific to a location and includes the relationships between plants, animals, natural phenomena, landscapes and timing of events that are used for lifeways, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, trapping, agriculture, and forestry. TEK is an accumulating body of knowledge, practice, and belief, evolving by adaptive processes and handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (human and non-human) with one another and with the environment. It encompasses the world view of indigenous people which includes ecology, spirituality, human and animal relationships, and more. This book discusses the practical roles in climate change adaptation and conservation that traditional ecological knowledge provides.

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Book SynopsisAgricultural wastes (AW) can be defined as the residues from the growing and processing of raw agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy products and crops. Agricultural wastes can be in the form of solid, liquid or slurries depending on the nature of agricultural activities. Furthermore, agricultural industry residues and wastes constitute a significant proportion of worldwide agricultural productivity. Although the quantity of wastes produced by the agricultural sector is significantly low compared to wastes generated by other industries, the pollution potential of agricultural wastes is high on a long-term basis. This book discusses the characteristics, types and management options for agricultural wastes.

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Book SynopsisSolar activity causes changes in the magnetic field on the surface of the Earth. If these changes are insignificant, they do not affect life on Earth. However, rapid variations of the geomagnetic field, the so-called magnetic storms, which have the character of shock waves, may adversely affect living organisms (including humans), and the technical systems that people use. The book presents a conceptual design that allows prediction of electrical power system emergency conditions caused by magnetic storms. Finally, the authors'' present a comprehensive analysis of perturbations in the low- and mid-latitude ionosphere during moderate recurrent geomagnetic storms.

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Book SynopsisOffshore wind has been envisaged as making a critical contribution in Europe in satisfying the electricity demand in a low-carbon generation scenario. In fact, offshore environment provides a windier and steadier source compared to onshore wind energy. Offshore wind turbine rotors and generators create value by "farming" the wind, converting its energy into electricity. Costly infrastructure -- the very high towers, deep seabed foundations, buried high voltage insulated cables, on-platform transformers and complete subsea transmission grid -- and expensive at-sea maintenance are required because this electricity is not where it is needed. This book discusses offshore wind technologies and examines the ecological risks and prospects of offshore wind.

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Book SynopsisThis series covers leading-edge research focusing on the environment, including current research data on UHI''s impacts on aquatic environments; the use of the lichen genus rhizocarpon in lichenometric dating with special reference to holocene glacial events; environmental problems, place elites and counter elites in depopulated rural areas; fumonisin in Zambia and neighbouring countries in a changing climate; major features on brazil''s legislative policy in uranium production and related environmental aspects; dissolved 222rn and 226ra in groundwaters of guarani aquifer system and serra geral aquifer at Ribeiro Preto City, São Paulo state, Brazil; ambient air conditions and emergency department visits in Vancouver; evaluation of urban heat island effect using modis remote sensing data of Guangzhou, China; changes in 2-de protein profile of white and red clover leaves in response to waterlogging stress and recovery; and spatial decision support systems integrating ecohydrology in limited water resources regions.

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Book SynopsisPolicymakers at all levels of government are debating a wide range of options for addressing the nation''s faltering economic conditions. One option that is once again receiving attention is accelerated investments in the nation''s public infrastructure -- that is, highways, mass transit, airports, water supply and wastewater, and other facilities -- in order to create jobs while also promoting long-term economic growth. This book examines policy issues associated with using infrastructure as a mechanism to benefit economic recovery. Discussed are state-level driver data and the effect of look-back periods on recidivism prevalence; restraint use and minimum drinking age laws; electronic stability control; mobile device use while driving; the impact of fuel price increases on the aviation industry; aviation safety; and the assessment of potential mariner-training needs.

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Book SynopsisOver the past few years, the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in the environment has attracted great interest regarding the possible harmful effects of many of these pollutants to living organisms. One of the main sources of pharmaceuticals in the environment is the discharge of effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where their removal is often incomplete. Natural wastewater treatment systems such as constructed wetlands constitute a relevant option to conventional methods due to their efficiency, low establishment costs and reduced operation and management requirements. This book discusses processes involved with wastewater treatment as well as management strategies and their impact on the environment.

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Book SynopsisIn recent decades, it has been recognized that environmental pollution causes serious local and global harmful effects, both to human health and ecosystems, and therefore the protection and restoration of the environment is a matter of great importance. Through the joint efforts of mathematicians, geophysicists and environmentalists, diverse methods for solving varied problems of environmental pollution have been developed. In this text, mathematical methods for analyzing the problems of transport and dispersion of relatively passive pollutants, control of air emissions and remediation of polluted aquatic systems are presented in such form that they are easily understood by undergraduate and graduate students. The application of the adjoint method is emphasized as a way to get dual estimates of average concentrations of different substances. This methodology helps to establish simple variational and linear programming formulations in order to calculate optimal solutions of these problems in the sense that they meet the standards of air quality and cause the minimal variations in the industrial processes or in the environment. This text is primarily intended for scientists, engineers and other professionals working in the field of environmental modeling (transport of air and water pollutants, assessment of pollution levels, optimal control of emission rates from point, line and area sources, the optimal location of a new industrial plant, bioremediation of oil-contaminated aquatic zones, etc.). We hope that this book will be useful for undergraduate and graduate students of engineering sciences and earth sciences as well.

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Book SynopsisWritten by seventeen experts in the field of rangeland management, this compilation of essays brings to light the latent issues concerning this subject to readers all over the globe. Though technical approaches can address some issues, social processes ultimately prevent the balancing of these matters. Socio-economic and political institutions are often a stumbling block for improving rangeland management. Human intervention (such as burning and grazing) have been used as rehabilitation efforts to address reverse land degradation problems. It is also hoped that these methods will bring about ecological restoration for more than 30 percent of the world''s land mass and provide living conditions for 1 billion people across every inhabited continent. Multiple-use has become an important factor in the last few decades, especially when discussing global climate change. The extensive bibliography we provide will give researchers, members of academia and policy makers'' contemplative subject matter; they may access multi-lingual literature that give insight into the issues concerning rangeland situations.

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Book SynopsisThe idea and practice of sustainable development has come of age. There is a growing interest in supporting people, communities, society and the earth to adapt to the disturbances and challenges of today and the future. Many new initiatives have emerged to address specific elements of sustainable development. This book discusses the processes, challenges and prospects of sustainable development.

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Book SynopsisThe May 2014 National Climate Assessment indicates that the frequency and/or severity of many weather and climate extremes may increase with climate change. Public and private property insurers can bear a large portion of the financial impact of such weather-related losses. In the public sector, federal insurance includes NFIP, managed by FEMA, and the federal crop insurance program, managed by RMA. This book examines how federal and private exposure to losses has changed since GAO''s 2007 report on the subject, and what is known about how climate change may affect insured and uninsured losses; how public insurers are preparing for climate change, and any challenges they face; and how private insurers are preparing for climate change and any challenges they face.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents and discusses research in the field of earth science, with a focus on the utilisation of biomass for renewable bioenergy development; depressions of superficial deposit; nature and origin of granitic rocks; nature and technology of geothermal energy, clean sustainable energy for the benefit of humanity and environment; kinetic energy metamorphosis of rocks; an improved workflow towards real-time microseismic data processing; a brief overview of the Brazilian legislation and the radioactive wastes geologic repository project; detection of groundwater and soil contamination by hydrocarbons using radon as a tracer; genetic programming applied to chemical and environmental engineering; and a multisided analysis of living matter in an aquatic ecosystem.

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Book SynopsisAlmost all commercial service airports in the United States are owned by local and state governments, or by public entities such as airport authorities or multipurpose port authorities. In 1996, Congress established the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP) to explore the prospect of privatising publicly owned airports and using private capital to improve and develop them. In addition to reducing demand for government funds, privatisation has been promoted as a way to make airports more efficient and financially viable. Privatisation refers to the shifting of governmental functions, responsibilities, and sometimes ownership, in whole or in part, to the private sector. With respect to airports, "privatisation" can take many forms up to and including the transfer of an entire airport to private operation and/or ownership. This book examines the issues and options for Congress with airport privatisation. It describes the experience with the APPP; examines the challenges airport owners and investors face to full airport privatisation; describes the potential effects of airport privatisation; and, discusses reasons why airport privatisation is more prevalent outside of the U.S. and stakeholder views on the APPP.

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Book SynopsisBook & CD. The development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has created new demand for wastewater disposal wells that inject waste fluids into deep geologic strata. An increasing concern in the United States is that injection of these fluids may be responsible for increasing rates of seismic activity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program regulates injection of fluids related to oil and gas production as Class II injection wells for the protection of underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). Because seismic events from injection have the potential to cause endangerment of underground sources of drinking water, the UIC program director should be aware of that potential and be prepared with response options should seismic events become a concern. This purpose of this book is to discuss the relationship between deep-well injections and induced seismicity.

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Book SynopsisAs the U.S. population ages, access to safe and reliable transportation alternatives is critical to helping older adults remain in their homes as long as possible. HHS, DOT, VA, and other federal agencies may provide funds to state and local entities to help older adults access transportation. This book examines the federal programs that provide funding for transportation services for older adults and the extent to which the programs that fund these services are coordinated; and how state and local transportation agencies and aging network organisations in selected states coordinate transportation for older adults and the challenges they face in coordinating or providing these services. The book also addresses the federal programs that provide funding for NEMT services; how federal agencies are coordinating NEMT services; and how NEMT services are coordinated at the state and local levels and the challenges to coordination.

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Book SynopsisThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the aid of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is procuring the next generation of geostationary weather satellites. This book assesses progress on program schedule, cost, and functionality; assesses efforts to identify and address issues discovered during integration and testing; and evaluates the likelihood of a gap in satellite coverage and actions to prevent or mitigate such a gap. This book also evaluates NOAA''s progress on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellite program with respect to cost, schedule, and mitigation of key risks; identifies the benefits and challenges of alternatives for polar satellite gap mitigation; and assesses NOAA''s efforts to establish and implement a comprehensive contingency plan for potential gaps in polar satellite data.

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Book SynopsisWetlands, with a variety of physical characteristics, are found throughout the country. They are known in different regions as swamps, marshes, fens, potholes, playa lakes, or bogs. Although these places can differ greatly, they all have distinctive plant and animal assemblages because of the wetness of the soil. Some wetland areas may be continuously inundated by water, while other areas may not be flooded at all. In coastal areas, flooding may occur daily as tides rise and fall. Recent Congresses have considered numerous policy topics that involve wetlands. Many reflect issues of long-standing interest, such as applying federal regulations on private lands, wetland loss rates, and restoration and creation accomplishments. This book provides an overview of issues with the wetlands; and provides some economic insights on targeting investments to cost effectively restore and protect wetland ecosystems.

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Book SynopsisThe book Microbes in Soil and Their Agricultural Prospects is a collection of advantageous, informative, simulative and holistic viewpoints presenting basic and applied aspects of microbial functioning in soil. This book covers physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of microbiomes pertaining to the production of available nitrogen (nitrogen fixation), phosphorus (P mobilization) and plant-growth promoting hormones for adaptation in agricultural soil. Responses between microbiomes and plants (known as plant-microbe interaction) corresponding to signal molecules and plant reactions to bacterial quorum sensing have been intricately presented as well. This book covers most of the agriculturally important microbes (Bacteria, Frankia, Burkholederia, Cyanobacteria, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Bacteriophages, Trichoderma). It addresses various issues in agricultural practices to make it more understandable for various levels of academia. Analysis of microbial diversity and advances in development of microbial fertilizers have also been incorporated to introduce young researchers with biofertilizer. This expert compilation of data analyzes most of the microorganisms supporting soil fertility and crop productivity that is of significant value for sustainable agronomic practices. It is invaluable not only for experienced scientists, research leaders, and agriculturalists, but also undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers beginning their careers. Each chapter in this book has been a contribution from a qualified teachers or researchers of multiple expertise. The chapters are concentrated on microbial metabolism and its agricultural prospects. Concerted efforts have been made to make a quality compilation and presentation of microbiomes in soil. A lot of common queries and practices have been addressed to make it more interesting as well. Microbes in Soil and Their Agricultural Prospects will certainly serve as an invaluable, suitable and sustainable resource for students, teachers, and various scientists interested in sustainable agricultural practices for production of healthy foods.

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, solid-state lighting (SSL) has emerged as a promising new lighting technology that could fundamentally alter and improve lighting systems and significantly lower energy use and costs. However, SSL''s full performance and energy savings potential is far from realized or assured. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has invested public funds in research and development to support advancements in the performance and energy efficiency of SSL technology, as well as a range of activities intended to increase the likelihood of rapid market uptake of new SSL products. The purpose of this book is to document early challenges and lessons learned in the SSL market development as part of the DOE''s SSL Program efforts to continually evaluate market progress in this area. This book summarizes early actions taken by DOE and others to avoid potential problems anticipated based on lessons learned from the market introduction of compact fluorescent lamps and identifies issues, challenges, and new lessons that have been learned in the early stages of the SSL market introduction. Furthermore, this book reviews efforts to increase market acceptance of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and barriers to that acceptance.

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Book SynopsisThis series covers leading-edge research focusing on the environment, including current research data on the impact of forest canopy structure on simulations of atmosphere-biosphere NOX exchange; numerical simulation of CO2 sequestration in saline aquifer influenced by heterogeneous capillary pressure and wettability; the estimation of riverine nutrient fluxes from an urban watershed in New Jersey; a field survey on the Iberian Peninsula; pollution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in river sediments based on calculation of pollution indices; rainfall patterns and the relation to atmospheric circulation in Northern Patagonia; a case study of a dry deciduous forest in Kratie, Cambodia; a case study on wastewater management in Nepal; methane interactions with an atmospheric moisture; anthanides and actinides in soils of Khibiny-Lovozero Province; safer irrigation technology adoption under uncertainty perception in Ghana; and nano biomaterial for decontamination of carcinogenic metal from waste water.

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Book SynopsisThis series covers leading-edge research focusing on the environment, including current research data on coastal wetlands and their role in human health; electro-kinetic enhanced phytoremediation for the restoration of multi-metal(loid) contaminated soils; French neotropical solanum genus; advances in production of value-added products from sugarcane straw ash; influence of organic load, fill time and cycle length on biohydrogen production in an AnSBBR treating glucose-based wastewater; AnSBBR operated in batch and fed-batch modes applied to biohydrogen production treating lactose-based wastewater; and impact assessment of mining and metallurgical activities on the distribution of trace elements in the Stavnja Valley, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Book SynopsisThe ever-increasing human population and high demand for natural resources have resulted in declining species and ecosystems that justify the exploration of opportunities for sustainable management options. This is particularly validated in areas of the planet that are prone to extreme climatic conditions where unsustainable utilization and management is common practice. Written by young and energetic scientists, this book offers a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates environmental, sanitation and social sciences. It demonstrates the crucial importance of shaping outcomes and development. It demonstrates that the struggle to achieve sustainable natural resources management and its subsequent utilization can be done; it is possible through the combined efforts and commitment of individuals, communities and institutions with complimentary roles. In our view, this book provides a significant contribution towards systematically evaluating and improving measures of policy and management intended to regulate the exploitation of natural resources. The ideas presented in this book provide resource managers and researchers (whether government, community or the private individual) with a systematic means of resource utilization and management.

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Book SynopsisThe authors of this book examine the latest developments in environmental research. Chapters include community and societal perspectives and strategies on learning to co-exist with environmental hazards; an overview of the current knowledge of biomonitoring of environmental heavy metals pollution; important insights on climate variables in water demand modelling which can be useful in conducting a more rigorous climate change impact analysis on urban water demand in other cities and regions; the applications of renewable energy in buildings and other various environments; an evaluation of SRCs as a potential carbon neutral source of biomass for energy and chemicals; a discussion on the distribution of certain chemical elements which in higher contents represent hazards to the environment and cause certain unwanted consequences on human health; and an analysis of dynamic linear modeling of homogenized monthly temperatures which demonstrated a rise in monthly temperature records with a seasonal pattern.

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between human beings and the urban environment is a topic increasing in relevance. Most of the people in the world live in an urban context and, as many scholars assert, the more urbanism is developing, the more specific problems arise, such as insecurity, loneliness and weak social ties. This book explores urban and built environments, focusing on chapters that examine the predictors of life satisfaction from living in an urban environment; contradictions between environmental indicators for a walkable neighbourhood and human behavior; reckless urbanization and pathways of therapeutic planning in an Italian urban sprawl; an evaluation of changes in urban environments using orthophoto maps (i.e., aerial images). This kind of research is very important for sustainable development of urban environments to gain control of the development of construction sites to monitor the keeping of building regulations and the use of building materials. Other chapters explore volatile organic compounds (VOC) based on their detrimental effects on human health and the environment; key factors for the sustainability of built environments; and efficiency of planning and design tools towards eco-friendly, high-density communities.

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Book SynopsisSeveral fiery rail accidents in 2013-2015 in the U.S. and Canada carrying crude oil produced from the Bakken region of North Dakota have raised questions at many levels on the safety of transporting this, and other types of crude oil, by rail. Sandia National Laboratories was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy to investigate the material properties of crude oils, and in particular the so-called "tight oils" like Bakken that comprise the majority of crude oil rail shipments in the U.S. at the current time. The book provides a literature survey of public sources of information on crude oil properties that have some bearing on the likelihood or severity of combustion events that may occur around spills associated with rail transport. The book also contains background information including a review of the notional "tight oil" field operating environment, as well a basic description of crude oils and potential combustion events in rail transport.

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Book SynopsisThe authors of this book examine the latest developments in environmental research. Chapters include numerical simulation of chemical spills and assessment of environmental impacts; some ontological reflections on current environmental justice Research; nudges as an alternative to economic market-based instruments in environmental regulation policies; potentialities of biochars from different biomasses for climate change abatement by carbon capture and soil amelioration; electrospun nanofibers affinity membranes for water hazards remediation; hydrogeochemical and stable isotope monitoring and numerical modelling of groundwater resource in Eastern Georgia to secure stability and quality of water supply; risks and hazards of gully erosion in a cold environment; and wheat rusts in Azerbaijan.

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Book SynopsisRenewable energy is gaining currency around the globe, but China and the United States are central to its development. They are the world''s top-two countries in terms of energy consumption, net oil imports, and carbon emissions, as well as gross domestic product (GDP) and manufacturing. Their large territories harbor some of the best sites to generate renewable energy. If the United States and China cooperateand competeeffectively, renewable energy can contribute to economic growth, energy security, and climate change mitigation. The past two years saw important developments, including a bilateral agreement to phase down hydrofluorocarbon emissions and a joint announcement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. China is often touted for its rapid adoption of renewable energy technologies. Long-term industry plans and new legislation suggest Beijing will maintain this policy direction, in line with its overall expansion of energy production capacity. In the United States, by contrast, renewable energy is a divisive issue. There are disagreements about how, if at all, the government should support alternative energy sources when natural gas is abundant, emissions are declining, and energy demand is slowing. This book assesses recent developments in China''s wind and solar industries and the implications for the United States. It builds on the Commission''s past work on U.S.-China energy issues, including the April 2014 hearing on bilateral clean energy cooperation. The research also draws on Congressional testimonies, academic papers, industry and media reports, and statistical data. The report''s main themes and findings are outlined below.

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Book SynopsisThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides funding to contractors for research and development of new technologies. To incentivise participation in federal research projects and promote the use of federally funded inventions, the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act and other laws and regulations allow contractors receiving federal research and development funds to retain ownership of inventions they create so long as they adhere to certain requirements, including disclosing inventions developed with agency funding. DOE''s ability to protect its interests in these inventions -- including their utilisation and domestic manufacture -- depends on its knowledge of their existence. This book examines DOE funding for contractor research for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 and how DOE ensures that contractors disclose agency funded inventions; the challenges DOE faces in ensuring invention disclosure and actions it is taking to address them; and the challenges DOE faces in protecting its interests in these inventions and the actions it is taking to address them. Furthermore, the authors of this book review the policies and procedures used to determine whether march-in authority should be exercised in the Bayh-Dole Act; how the march-in authority has been used; and what barriers and disincentives have been encountered in exercising the march-in authority.

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Book SynopsisNatural ecosystems provide the basic conditions without which humanity could not survive. Goods and services provided by ecosystems include, for example, provisions of food, fibre and fuel, purification of water and air, cultural and aesthetic benefits, stabilisation and moderation of the Earth''s climate, generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling or maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, and other products. However, the ability of natural ecosystems to continue performing these services is seriously threatened since the diversity of plant species and soil are being seriously deteriorated and, in some cases, destroyed. Various studies worldwide have shown that soils do not support intensive annual plant cultivation without fertiliser applications, and even these may not maintain sustainability. Inappropriate silvicultural operations (or the use of land for intensive agricultural purposes) is one of the main causes of soil degradation, and there is therefore worldwide interest in quantifying the loss of soil quality generated by incorrect agricultural operations or forest management practices. This can only happen if people have the right information, skills, and organisations for understanding and dealing with soil and plant diversity issues. The book shows different studies and research works on the topic of soil management, such us soil degradation, microbiological soil properties, bio-fertiliser soil applications, water dynamics in soil profile, soil erosion and sustainability of soils among others. Transferring information and knowledge within the society is crucial for fighting soil management and soil deterioration. In addition, promoting the sustainable use of soil quality will be of growing importance for maintaining society and biodiversity in the years and decades to come.

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Book SynopsisThe authors of this book examine the latest developments in environmental research. Chapters include nanostructured porous semiconductors as emerging materials in environmental technology; contrasting fish assemblages in free-flowing and impounded tributaries to the upper Delaware River; effects of the absence of adequate regulatory structure on the conservation of peyote; iridium as the new polluting metal linked to vehicular traffic; application of biogas for sustainable energy development from agricultural residues; combustion of oil layer on the surface of water; weathering effects on the structure and thermal behavior of bituminous coal; the use of lignite for the thermal treatment of waste-tyre on a commercial scale; cadmium uptake and distribution in tissues of sea bream with different cadmium exposure histories; mine closure aspects of balanda opencast mine of jagannath area, Mahanadi coal field; and Bogotá''s urban wetlands.

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Book SynopsisThe Amazon forest is one of the world''s most complex, unknown and threatened ecosystems that holds a considerable part of biodiverse species in different groups. This ecosystem needs greater scientific attention so that we can better understand the features of the fauna, flora and microbiota to conserve species before they disappear. Thus, this book addresses issues about resources of the largest rainforest of the world. Microbiota, fauna and flora are investigated differently, providing information of ecological interest, pharmaceutical and/or economic importance. Specialists and scientists that work in Amazonia can access new information about the species that inhabit this region with unprecedented advances on ecological and behavioral aspects of apple snails, meat yield and nutritive potential of crustacean species, tadpole knowledge, mitefaun in agroecosystems, pharmaceutical potential of plant species, computational models for flora cultivation, and reviews of microbiota composition of Amazonia. Scientists will acquire knowledge about aromatic plants from the Amazon and their applications, which include uses in perfumes, fragrances, cosmetics, phytopharmaceuticals, insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, larvicides and others. Regarding the microbiota of different Amazonian environments, the book is intended to present information about applications related to mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic microorganisms.

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Book SynopsisThis book includes research from selected international authors and institutions that consider land use management to be an important aspect in the context of climate change and development. Our team of editors and authors hope to add a valuable contribution to the literature to address global climate change in relation to agricultural-forestry ecosystems and development in vulnerable locations. Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry book chapters include a wide variety of topics on changes in land use practices, carbon sequestration, forest degradation, as well as polices that affect land use and development. It also includes a description of the current state of land use, land-use change and forestry in South Asian countries (Chapter 1); an evaluation of biodiversity and peoples'' willingness to pay (Chapter 2); modelling of carbon sequestration in forests (Chapter 3); trade-off analysis in economic and environmental objectives (Chapter 4); use of radar imagery in detecting forest degradation (Chapter 5); assessment of carbon sequestration in woodlots (Chapter 6); solutions for improved survival of ruminants in arid and semi-arid environments and associated carbon sequestration (Chapter 7); policy interventions for land use changes (Chapter 8); accomplishing land use change from subsistence to commercial farming in Mozambique (Chapter 9); and an international and multi-sectoral approach for partnering to achieve positive agricultural developmental land use change (Chapter 10). Our team of editors, reviewers, and authors are honored to be part of this project; truly an example of international cooperation and articulation within the climate change community. The chapters and authors of Land Use, Land-Use and Forestry were carefully selected through a rigorous peer review process considering publication records, relevant and high quality contributions to this topic, and priming international cooperation. For this book and its contents, the intended audience includes the international climate change community including: contributors to the UNFCCC-IPCC process, policymakers, consultants, project developers, researchers and their institutions. Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry aims to be a valuable addition to multidisciplinary and international cooperation efforts (policies, cultural practices, new technologies, and adaptation measures), to development of land use policies, governmental and nongovernmental agencies worldwide and the general public. The editors of Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry believe the book is an effective tool to help the international community progress in understanding and management of land use changes in addressing climate change through international collaboration and cooperation.

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Book SynopsisLocal atmospheric simulations of real city neighborhoods are important to study for urban climate, thermal and wind comfort, and local air quality, including pollution hot spots such as tunnel heads, near a motorway or a busy crossing. When the wind is weak, the thermal and radiative effects become more important together with flow stratification that can inhibit turbulence and mixing in some conditions. In order to take into account atmospheric radiation and the thermal effects of the buildings in simulations of atmospheric flow and pollutant dispersion in urban areas, a three-dimensional atmospheric thermal-radiative scheme in the atmospheric module of the open-source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model has been developed. The simulation of realistic atmospheric conditions in urban areas made possible by this work can be used for various applications. The author describes the development of this model and presents several results by comparing field data.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides readers with the latest developments in environmental research. Topics covered include an overview of present and future use of biomass as an industrial feedstock for production of fuels, chemicals and other materials; energy sources for the future; sustainable development and management for water resource systems; fuzzy mathematical programming and its potential applications in agricultural planning; a review of eco-friendly products produced from the biodegradation of fishery waste and an identification of the challenges to enhance the reutilization value of fishery wastes; an update on environmental stressors and their effects on oxidative parameters in limpets; the role rhizophere microbes play in maintaining the pathogen population and a comparative study on gamma attentuation coefficients of soil samples by MCNP simulation and XCOM.

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Book SynopsisThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) aims to provide unbiased scientific information to describe and understand the geological processes of the Earth; minimise loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect the nation''s quality of life. The USGS is a scientific agency that is housed within the Department of the Interior. Its primary mission is conducting science; it has no regulatory authority, nor does it manage any significant federal lands. The USGS also collects and stores scientific information that is compiled into long-term continuous data sets. These data sets range from satellite imagery of land and ecosystem features to streamflow data on major rivers and streams. The background of USGS, as well as the activities, funding and Congressional issues are all discussed in this book.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at one of the most serious types of highway accidentscollisions involving vehicles traveling the wrong way on high-speed divided highways. The goal of this investigative project is to identify relevant safety recommendations to prevent wrong-way collisions on such highways and access ramps. The investigations included in the book take a focused view of the driver and highway issues affecting wrong-way collisions. The book addresses the following safety issues concerning wrong-way driving: driver impairment, primarily from alcohol use, with consideration of older driver issues and possible drug involvement; the need to establish, through traffic control devices and highway design, distinctly different views for motorists approaching entrance and exit ramps; monitoring and intervention programs for wrong-way collisions; and in-vehicle driver support systems.

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Book SynopsisPollution status, environmental protection, and renewable energy production in Marine systems are the main targets of this book that represent the contents of the third volume of the Blue Biotechnology Journal, published by Nova Science publishers, New York, USA. The book is divided into 20 Chapters. The first chapter reviews the environmental protection from thermodynamic properties, the performance of refrigeration cycles and air-conditioning. The second chapter represents the pollution status along the Red Sea. During last ten years of twenty century till now, inorganic and organic pollutants has been detected in many sites of the Red Sea. The third chapter covers the adsorption of the anionic dye Direct Red 23 onto new activated carbons developed from Cynara cardunculus: kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. The fourth chapter reports the Mercury as toxic metals levels in surface sediments along Alexandria west coast, Egypt. The fifth chapter investigates the effects of essential and non-essential metals on the human health. Chapter six covers a review of oceanography and topography of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. Chapter seventh reports the marine plankton and genus Ceratium in the west coast of the Red Sea. Chapter eight covers the energy efficiency improvement utilising high Technology: The path forward for renewable energy use in industry, buildings and sustainable development 183. The ninth chapter investigates the bioethanol production from shrimp shell waste Using Marine Alcaligenes feacalis MS7 and Candida albicans ATCC 14053. The tenth chapter covers the comparison of two packages for tidal analysis and prediction: an exemplar case study of Abu-Qir Bay, Alexandria, Egypt. Chapter eleven reports the physico-chemical studies of Suez Canal water from port said to Suez for its evaluation and protection. Chapter twelve covers the morphological structure of bays and sharms as a factor affecting in distribution of marine physics parameters, the Red Sea. Chapter thirteen investigates the suitability of Lake Mariut Drainage System (Qalaa and Umum Drains Waters) for Water Reuse. Chapter fourteen reports the water and nutrient budgets of Lake Burullus, Egypt. Chapter fifteen covers the geological model delineation of sub-marine system channels in west delta deep marine concession, Egypt. Chapter sixteen reports the synthesis and antimicrobial of 5-(4''-bromobenzyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine derivatives. Chapter seventeen recorded the isolation and characterisation of chitinolytic actinomycetes from estuarine origin in South India. Chapter eighteen reports the isolation of extremely halophilic bacterium Bacillus trueperi. RRJS1 optimised with physico-chemical factors and nutritional sources for protease activity. Chapter nineteen investigates the toxicological studies on the Red Sea Pufferfish Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758) and River Nile Pufferfish Tetraodon lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Chapter twenty reports the studies on the various allometric relationships in the intertidal horse mussel Modiolus auriculatus of the Red Sea, Egypt.

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Book SynopsisThe United States and its allies are in a complex nuclear age, with potential adversaries modernising their arsenals, new nuclear technologies emerging, and potential new proliferants -- as well as regional challenges -- raising significant concerns. Nuclear forces provide the ultimate guarantee against major war and coercion, serving both to deter the use of weapons and to support nonproliferation initiatives. This book summarises the findings of a Congressional Advisory Panel on the current health of the nuclear security enterprise, examines the root causes of its governance challenges, and offers recommendations to address the identified problems. Furthermore, the book addresses how the Nuclear Weapons Council (Council) carries out its statutory and regulatory responsibilities and any challenges it faces in doing so and the extent to which the Council''s actions are consistent with key practices for interagency collaboration.

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