Soils form a unique and irreplaceable essential resource for all terrestrial organisms, including man. Soils form not only the very thin outer skin of the earth's crust that is exploited by plant roots for anchorage and supply of water and nutrients. Soils are complex natural bodies formed under the influence of plants, microorganisms and soil animals, water and air from their parent material, i.e. solid rock or unconsolidated sediments. Physically, chemically and mineralogically they usua...

Book presents scientific information that hobbyists can use to set up and maintain successful planted freshwater aquaria. Book contains practical tips using a question-and-answer format in boxes scattered throughout the text. Although the author prefers “low-tech” methods, she lays out the science that underlies all methods. The author shows that hobbyists can create thriving planted freshwater tanks WITHOUT CO2 injection, fertilizers, expensive lighting, and other high-tech gadgets.

The new revised edition of a classic Earth science textThis newly revised edition of Global Environment discusses the major elements of the geochemical cycles and global fluxes found in the atmosphere, land, lakes, rivers, biota, and oceans, as well as the human effects on these fluxes. Retaining the strengths of the original edition while incorporating the latest discoveries, this textbook takes an integrated, multidisciplinary, and global approach to geo...

This textbook is aimed at the majority of students, who need to quickly acquire a concise overview of soil science. Many current soil science textbooks still cater for a traditional student market where students embark on three years study in a narrow discipline. The growth in modular degree schemes has meant that soil science is now often taught as self-standing unit as part of broad based degree program. Students pursuing this type of course are increasingly reluctant to purchase expensi...

In 1936 a German chemist identified certain organic molecules that he had extracted from ancient rocks and oils as the fossil remains of chlorophyll--presumably from plants that had lived and died millions of years in the past. It was another twenty-five years before this insight was developed and the term "biomarker" coined to describe fossil molecules whose molecular structures could reveal the presence of otherwise elusive organisms and processes. Echoes of Life is the story of...

First published in 1998. This book offers a wealth of information on the rapidly expanding field of solution mining: yhe extraction of materials from the earth by leaching and fluid recovery. This is an introductory text for students and professional engineers that is comprehensive and emphases current practice and theory. Percolation leaching of fragmented ground is covered, as well as true and modified in situ teaching. Solution mining of gold, copper and uranium ores, several slats extr...

Forest soils form the foundation that underpins the existence of all forests. This book encapsulates soil ecology and functioning in northern forests, focusing on the effects of human activity and climate change. The authors introduce the fundamental principles necessary for studying forest soils, and explain the functioning and mutual influence of all parts of a forest soil ecosystem. A chapter is dedicated to each of soil acidity and heavy metal pollution, elevated carbon dioxide, nitrog...

'Chemical Principles of Textile Conservation' provides must-have knowledge for conservators who do not always have a scientific background. This vital book brings together from many sources the material science necessary to understand the properties, deterioration and investigation of textile artefacts. It also aids understanding of the chemical processes during various treatments, such as: cleaning; humidification; drying; disinfestation; disinfection; and the use of adhesives and consoli...

Human activities impact the environment and modify the cycles of important elements such as carbon and nitrogen from local to global scales. In order to maintain long-term and sustainable use of the world's natural resources it is important that we understand how and why ecosystems respond to such changes. This book explains the structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, using examples ranging from the Arctic to the tropics to demonstrate how they react under differing conditions...

Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry focuses on the ocean's role in the biogeochemical cycling of selected elements and the impact of humans on the cycling of these elements. Among the topics covered are the chemical composition of seawater from the perspectives of elemental speciation and the impacts of solutes on water's physical behavior; biogeochemical phenomena which control accumulation and preservation of marine sediments; marine chemistry of radioactive and stable isotopes; and s...

Unmodified, epoxy resins cause certain problems for both the adhesive formulator and end-user. They are often rigid and brittle; hence, impact resistance and peel strength are poor. For decades, Chemist have been vigorously working to minimize these major shortcomings. Based on a popular course sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers and written by an authority in the field, this comprehensive text presents a variety of methods to accomplish what up to now has been a formidable task...

This introductory text explains the fundamentals of the chemistry of the natural environment and the effects of mankind's activities on the earth's chemical systems.Retains an emphasis on describing how natural geochemical processes operate over a variety of scales in time and space, and how the effects of human perturbation can be measured.Topics range from familiar global issues such as atmospheric pollution and its effect on global warming and oz...