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Environmental Sciences
A Student's Companion



November 2008 | 456 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Unique in the reference literature, this Companion provides students with an introduction to all the major concepts and contemporary issues in the environmental sciences. The text is divided into six sections (Environmental Sciences, Environments, Paradigms and Concepts, Processes and Dynamic, Scales and Techniques, Environmental Issues), with over 200 entries alphabetically organized and authored by key names in the environmental science disciplines.

Entries are concise, informative, richly visual and fully referenced and cross referenced. They introduce key concepts and processes that are included in the index, cite relevant websites, and reflect the latest thinking.

 
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
 
Introduction
 
Anthropology
 
Archaeology
 
Atmospheric sciences
 
Biogeography
 
Biology
 
Cartography
 
Climatology
 
Earth system science
 
Ecology
 
Ecosystem
 
Environmental chemistry
 
Environmental sciences
 
Genetics
 
Geoarchaeology
 
Geochemistry
 
Geology
 
Geomorphology
 
Glacial geomorphology
 
Glaciology
 
Human ecology
 
Human Geography
 
Hydrology
 
Landscape architecture
 
Limnology
 
Meteorology
 
Microclimate
 
Oceanography
 
Palaeoecology
 
Palaeogeography
 
Pedology
 
Physical geography
 
Physiology
 
Seismology
 
Soil science
 
ENVIRONMENTS
 
Introduction
 
Antarctic environment
 
Anthropogenic impact, Noosphere
 
Arctic environments
 
Arid zones/Deserts
 
Atmosphere
 
Biomes
 
Biosphere
 
Climate classfication
 
Climate zones
 
Coasts
 
Cryosphere
 
Deltas
 
Earth spheres
 
Earth structure
 
Estuarine environments
 
Fluvial environments
 
Fossil fuels
 
Glacial environments
 
Glaciers
 
Hydrosphere
 
Karst
 
Lithosphere
 
Periglacial environments
 
Permafrost
 
Soil profiles
 
Stratigraphy
 
Temperate environments
 
Tropical environments
 
Troposphere
 
Urban environments
 
Vegetation and its classification
 
PARADIGMS/CONCEPTS
 
Introduction
 
Biocomplexity
 
Biodiversity/functional biodiversity
 
Biogeochemical cycles
 
Biomass
 
Catastrophism
 
Catastrophe theory
 
Chaos theory
 
Cultures
 
Cycles
 
Diaspora
 
Environment
 
Environmentalism
 
Epistemology
 
Equifinality
 
Equilbrium
 
Ergodicity
 
Estuarine dependent or related species
 
Evolution
 
Gaia hypothesis
 
General circulation models
 
Greenhouse effect
 
Habitat of coastal and marine fishes
 
Hazards
 
Holism
 
Landscape
 
Landsystems approach
 
Modernism
 
Natural resources
 
Nature
 
Ocean circulation
 
Paradigms
 
Perception
 
Philosophy of science
 
Place, sense of
 
Postmodernism
 
Process-form relationships
 
Pulsing
 
Reductionism
 
Self-design
 
Systems: Thoery, approach and analysis
 
Thresholds
 
Uniformitarianism
 
PROCESSES AND DYNAMICS
 
Introduction
 
Acid rain
 
Albedo
 
Animal behaviour
 
Carbon cycle
 
Drainage basins
 
Earthquakes
 
Earth surface processes
 
El Nino southern oscillation
 
Energetics
 
Energy
 
Energy flux
 
Energy and mass balance
 
Environmental change
 
Erosion rates
 
Floods
 
Geochemical cycles
 
Hydrological cycle
 
Lakes
 
Minerals
 
Natural production mechanisms of marine Fisheries
 
Nitrogen cycle
 
Plate tectonics
 
Power and Energy
 
Precipitation
 
Productivity
 
Radiation balance of the Earth
 
River systems
 
Rock types
 
Soil Management
 
Solar radiation
 
Tectonics
 
Volcanoes and Volcanism
 
Weathering
 
Wetlands
 
SCALES AND TECHNIQUES
 
Introduction
 
Aesthetics
 
Biological oxygen demand
 
Climate modeling
 
Cost benefit analysis
 
Dating techniques, Radiometric and Isotopic dating
 
Ecosystem approach
 
Ecotechnology
 
Expert systems
 
Field studies and surveying in Geology
 
Fossil record
 
Fossils and Palaeontology
 
GIS
 
Global circulation models (GCM's)
 
Geologic time
 
Glaciations
 
GPS
 
Holocene
 
Ice cores
 
Isotopic dating
 
Land evaluation
 
Landscape ecology
 
Modeling
 
Pleistocene
 
Quaternary
 
Radiometric dating
 
Remote sensing
 
Rock classification
 
Sea level change
 
Timescales, Geologic
 
UN programmes
 
Vegetation and its classification
 
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
 
Introduction
 
Agenda 21
 
Climate change
 
Climate forcing and feedbacks
 
Climate sensitivity
 
Coastal management
 
Conservation of natural resources
 
Deforestation
 
Desertification
 
Disasters
 
Ecological engineering
 
Ecological integrity
 
Ecosystem-based management
 
Energy scarcity
 
Environmental ethics
 
Environmental impact assessment
 
Environmental law
 
Environmental management
 
Environmental perception
 
Environmental policy
 
Environmental values
 
Fire
 
Fishery management
 
Genetic modification (GM)
 
Geothermal energy
 
Global change
 
Global conventions and treaties
 
Global dimming
 
Global warming
 
Human impacts on environment
 
Integrated basin management
 
Integrated coastal and marine management
 
Limits to growth
 
Ozone depletion
 
Pollution of air and water
 
Population growth
 
Recycling
 
Renewable energy
 
Resource depletion
 
Restoration of ecosystems
 
Risk-based management
 
Risk assessment
 
Sensitivity
 
Sustainability
 
Sustainable development
 
Thermohaline circulation
 
Waste management
 
Water resources
 
Zoos, Botanical Gardens and museums

… an essential storehouse of knowledge for understanding the world around us and the sciences that investigate it. No educated person would think of trying to live a productive life without knowing the multiplication table, and no twenty-first century citizen should try to live an environmentally responsible life without the knowledge in this classic work
- Professor William L. Graf
University of South Carolina


Environmental science students embarking on their courses in this fast changing area will find this book to be an essential companion, for it provides a wide-ranging, up-to-date summary of all the crucial issues and concepts of which they will need to be aware
- Professor Andrew Goudie
University of Oxford


...a key text that should be on the introductory reading list for any undergraduate environmental science and/or physical geography student. It would be of particular benefit to students starting their studies in environmental science who have no background in the subject, including post-graduate students embarking on a masters' course. I shall certainly recommend that my students purchase a copy
Book Review
Progress in Physical Geography


A nice layout. Excellent summary and reference point for a range of important topics - a starting point for students with key readings that students can use as basis to develop their ideas / understanding of concepts.

Professor Iseult Lynch
Schl of Geog, Earth & Env'l Sciences, Birmingham University
June 30, 2016

This book appears to be glorified glossary. It provides concise descriptions of numerous topics, but did not go into sufficient details for it to be of use in my course. I had hoped for a more practical approach.

Laura Cunningham
Dept of Geography, Portsmouth University
July 1, 2016

Excellent book to be used as background reading to get a feel for the subject area. The book is a very easy to read overview of what can be a complicated area (especially for new learners).

Miss Jayne Maltby
Adult Education, Hull City Council
September 12, 2013

A fantastic compendium that offers a solid introduction to a huge range of topics within the field of environmental science.

Mr Graham Harvey
School of sport, health and outdoor education, University of Wales, Trinity St David
January 9, 2012

Recommended as background reading to get a feel for the area of study. The book is a very easy to read overview of what can be a complicated area (especially for students with no previous experience of environmental sciences).

Dr Paul Stevens
Psychology , Bournemouth University
December 16, 2011

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