Reviews (1)

the result of a year-long project in critical thinking
Cronan has done it again! This volume of essays critically examines the concept of wilderness, nature, and humanity's role in the modern world. Though the individual essays are somewhat uneven, the main theme of the book is clearly communicated, especially in Cronan's introductory piece. That is, that the concept of wilderness needs careful rethinking, particularly with our world nearing 10 billion persons. ... Read more

Book Description

Riki Ott, PhD exposes the profound legacy of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and how readers can help reshape our global energy future.

The author chronicles the long-lasting environmental harm to Prince William Sound, Alaska, and investigates the health problems suffered by many cleanup workers. Exxon's spill provided a portal to understanding a startling truth: oil is much more toxic than we previously thought. Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$ frames the larger story of discovery of the truly toxic nature of oil. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great book for college courses
Dr. Ott's book will serve as an excellent supplement to course syllabi around the country. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a perfect educational tool for a variety of departments - public health, environmental studies, ecology, and sociology to name a few. Ott's ability to combine rigourous science with an accessbile writing style offers an engaging expose of oil's effects on humans and nature.Perhaps just as important, the book also presents students and teachers with an inspiring model of how one scientist's passion and determination can uncover truths of global importance.

Highly recommended for teachers and students.

People Need to Know
People need to know what happened in the Valdez cleanup and thankfully the injured and sick found a voice in Dr. Ott.She translates the multi-layered wrong doing hidden beneath corporate and political bureaucracy that lead to so many workers becoming sick in the Valdez clean up.She also translates the science and toxicology behind "what went wrong" in a way that average people can comprehend.

A good read!
Dr. Ott , like the lone pedestrian facing a tank about to run him over, faces the giant Exxon.In Sound Truth and Corporate Myth$, Ott reveals the far reaching effects of the Valdez oil spill on human health, wildlife populations, and the environment.Worker safety and environmental laws based on antiquated science need to be revamped, the industry needs to be held fully accountable and finally we need to take a look at ourselves and the role we can play in reducing the toxicity of our environment.This journey with Dr. Ott, through the initial devastation and lingering after effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, tells the incredible magnitude of the disaster. Through her first hand account we are transported to Prince William Sound, and hear the silencing of the birds, see the slick lapping the shore and smell the inescapable fumes.We also learn that drilling is no longer necessary when looking for oil in Alaska, just scrap away some rocks and a little sand and there on the beaches you'll find it.

Urgent action required
Dr. Ott's book is not only an exceptionally good read but her message must reach our Senators and Representatives now and action must be taken.Dependence on oil is NOT the way of the future.It is highly toxic not only to the environment but to human health as well.We need to start now, to conserve our oil reserves and develop alternative energy sources or the chances are, that our retirement years will be the setting for a major economic shift toward the worst.

If President Bush would like to enter the history books as a man of incredible foresight, he'd better pick up this banner and start leading us in that direction now.

Alaska Resident Says Book Rocks
As a lifelong resident of the area affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, I was ecstatic when this crusader, Dr. Ott, accurately portrayed the spill. Not only does Dr. Ott expose Exxon's myths and public deceptions, but she does justice to the thousands of residents affected by the spill.

This book personalizes the disaster by adding a human dimension without compromising fact. If you believe that Prince William Sound has recovered from the effects of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Dr. Ott's book will show you how Exxon has deceived us all.

Overall, a groundbreaking worthwhile read!! ... Read more

Book Description

The interactions between environmental change and human societies have a long, complex history spanning many millennia, but these have changed fundamentally in the last century. Human activities are now so pervasive and profound that they are altering the Earth in ways which threaten the very life support system upon which humans depend. This book describes what is known about the Earth System and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth System and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth System science in support of global sustainability. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive text is intended to provide upper level undergraduate students with an investigation of heterogeneous natural systems in the environment. The links between and within the various environmental components -- air, water, soil -- are emphasized. There has been insufficient material of this type in existence that supplies both the depth of chemistry needed to explain natural processes and the breadth of material that would present a well rounded introduction to such systems. While the text focuses on basic knowledge and general principles, examples are taken from around the world.

This book describes the chemistry of natural environmental systems, their composition and the processes and reactions that operate within and between the various components. Without focusing specifically on pollution, we also discuss ways in which these systems respond to peturbations, either those that are natural or those that are caused by humans. Background material from subjects such as atmospheric science, limnology, and social science is provided in order to establish a setting for a description of relevant chemistry. Emphasis is on general principles that can be applied in a variety of circumstances. At the same time, these principles are illustrated with examples taken from around the world. Because issues of the environment related to every society, care has been taken to relate the subject material to situations in urban and rural areas in both highly industrialized and low-income countries. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Finally someone gets it right
I've been looking for this book. Other environmental chemistry textbooks cover too many topics: environmental analysis, ecotoxicology, and environmental engineering are common. This one gets it just right: the chemistry of the air, water and soil (including common pollutants) at the level of a undergraduate sophomore- or junior-level course. The text is challenging enough for chemistry majors but not too intimidating for the biology majors interested in the field.

My only quibbles: not much about environmental modeling of the chemical composition of important systems, still not quite advanced enough (but better than current general textbooks on the topic), and it's missing some important topics (groundwater attenuation, for example). Still, I'll be adopting this book for the course I teach. ... Read more

Book Description

A sound understanding of the global carbon cycle requires anappreciation of the various physico-chemical and biological processesthat determine the production, distribution, deposition anddiagenesis of organic matter in the natural environment. This book isa comprehensive interdisciplinary synthesis of this information,coupled with an organic facies approach based on data from bothmicroscopy and bulk organic geochemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Bravo for Sound Science and Policy
Joe Romm's marvelous new book, The Hype About Hydrogen, is "must read" for policy makers, environmentalists, researchers, activists, investors, and all citizens who want a sound and honest appraisal of the possibility of a future "hydrogen economy". Dr. Romm's broad expertise in energy-related R&D is evident throughout this long-overdue and objective look at the seriousness of its technical challenges. For several years, a handful of insightful scientists around the world have been trying to get their voices heard regarding the serious issues that seem likely to prevent a hydrogen economy from becoming a reality for at least 40 years. Sadly, even the professional scientific journals and institutions, apparently fearful that the truth might jeopardize funding of pet projects, have hesitated to give audience to the daunting scientific objections to a hydrogen economy.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a detailed study, The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs, early in 2004 that was the first step by a distinguished body toward an objective look at the hydrogen economy. On the heels of this study especially, it seems irresponsible for Energy Secretary Abraham to continue to actively promulgate the fantasy that hydrogen will solve our energy problems.

Joe's book, like the NAS study, points out in a clear, and scientifically sound manner why (1) hydrogen fuel cells are not likely to become cost competitive in vehicles, (2) hydrogen fuel will likely always be too expensive, (3) FC vehicles do not help reduce greenhouse gases, (4) the hydrogen infrastructure hurdle is immense, and (5) we must begin now taking meaningful steps to reduce CO2 emissions.

Our planet is facing the serious dual challenges of global warming and the end of cheap oil. Dr. Romm puts the issues of fuel cell manufacturing cost, hydrogen fuel cost, competition, infrastructure cost, and global warming in easy-to-understand language. My only criticisms are that I wish he would have included more on (1) the challenges of hydrogen production by nuclear energy and (2) promising next-generation biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol, bio-methanol, mixed-higher-alcohols from biomass, and biodiesel from high-oil algae. A recent paper, "Fuels for Tomorrow's Vehicles", nicely complements The Hype About Hydrogen in this regard. The Institute for Lifecycle Environmental Assessment has also recently released a scholarly work that, like The Hype About Hydrogen, looks fairly at the putative hydrogen economy and comes to similar conclusions.

A Pretentious and Disingenuous Piece of Trash
Romm, a skilled but disingenuous academic, makes hay with his has-been political credentials in an effort to sway public sentiment away from desperately needed government hydrogen funding and toward his dead end pet projects. Carefully ignoring important information counter to his argument, he builds a case against the clean air and energy security promise of hydrogen energy that has outraged the core of the hydrogen community.

In "Responses to Joe Romm's Seven Points on the Hydrogen Economy", C. E. "Sandy" Thomas, long time leader of high level studies on hydrogen safety and efficiency, and now President of H2Gen Innovations, tears apart Romm's thesis thread by thread. This freely distributed white paper can be found at the web sites of EV World and the International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Based Commerce.

A few of Sandy's key observations:

"Joe says that it took PV and wind 20 years for a 10X drop in price, therefore the 100X drop that he portrays for FCVs would take many decades. He concludes that a major breakthrough in fuel cell technology is required. Christine Sloane of GM reports that they are within a factor of 10 now (if mass produced) in the range of a few hundred $/kW without any breakthrough."

"Hydrogen produced by the H2Gen's HGM natural gas reformer at the fueling station or fleet operator's garage would cost less per mile than taxed gasoline. We estimate that the life-cycle costs of owning and operating a hydrogen FCV would be $2,290 less than owning and operating a conventional gasoline car..."

"Joe Romm claims that a storage breakthrough is required before FCVs will be practical. The Ford Motor Company designed (but did not build) a FCV in 1994-95 that would have achieved 280 miles range using 5,000 psi hydrogen tanks based on a slightly modified Ford Contour, and 380 miles range with PNGV body parameters. Storage improvements would be welcomed, but no storage breakthrough is required."

"The NRC report does state in one chapter that "the cost of generating hydrogen with any of the distributed technologies...would greatly exceed the gasoline costs." [p. 5-7]. However, they neglect the increased fuel economy of the FCV that will reduce the costs per mile, the only figure of merit of importance to the driver. ...Conclusion: Data provided in the NRC report show that the cost of hydrogen per mile driven will be between 27% to 52% lower than the cost of gasoline at $1.80/gallon in a conventional car, and between 3% more to 32% less than the cost of gasoline used in a hybrid electric vehicle."

"We have no debate with Joe's admiration of the gasoline hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) such as the Prius. In the short term, everyone should be encouraged to purchase HEVs to cut oil imports and pollution. It is not a question of either HEVs or FCVs; we can do both. In the long term, however, the gasoline HEV is a dead-end road for both GHGs and oil import reductions. ...gasoline HEVs will temporarily reduce GHGs and oil imports, but that advantage is wiped out within a decade or so by increased vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Hence we have to move to hydrogen to assure a long-term solution to GHGs and oil imports. These charts assume that all hydrogen is made from natural gas initially, gradually transitioning to hydrogen from renewables, such that 50% of all hydrogen comes from renewables by 2050."

Don't be fooled into thinking Romm is an expert. There is a lot of jealousy over the money going into hydrogen R&D. The ethanol lobby is a prime example. Ask yourself what Romm's cheerleaders have to gain before swallowing his line. Romm is wrong. This propaganda text is a example of educated sophistry at its worst.

Richard D. Masters
International Clearinghouse for Hydrogen Based Commerce

Hydrogen is no quick fix
This book gives the reader a very good idea of the daunting technical, economic and environmental issues to be tackled in the transition to the hydrogen economy. Clearly, we need to take some tough measures to contain global warming until a hydrogen economy is ready.

Explaining why hydrogen isn't the quick fix touted
Can hydrogen solve our energy and environmental problems? Some claim emission-free hydrogen fuel sells will solve the environmental crisis: author Joseph J. Romm says otherwise, explaining why hydrogen isn't the quick fix touted, and arguing that hydrogen's promise will not be realized until the long term. Politics and economics blends with social and environmental analysis to provide a scientific and social survey of hydrogen in The Hype About Hydrogen: Fact And Fiction In The Race To Save The Climate.

The real deal on the future of the hydrogen economy
Having read Jeremy Rifkin's interesting, but rose-colored and somewhat tangential take on the future of the hydrogen fuel cell: The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the World-Wide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth (2002), I was pleased to read something from a full-time energy professional.

Joseph Romm, author of this sobering volume, worked in the Department of Energy in the Clinton administration and has been involved intimately with hydrogen research and development for many years. His main point is that we must eventually have a hydrogen economy based on the hydrogen fuel cell, but that we must not expect this to happen without some major technological breakthroughs. His book is a warning that the global warming clock is ticking and ticking, and that we need to do something now if we hope to avoid a possible catastrophe.

The really scary thing about global warming is that we may pass over the point of no return without knowing it. Furthermore, a full-blown, runaway greenhouse effect would make nuclear winter look like a walk in the park. Look what happened to Venus, where on any spring day (or winter day for that matter) the surface is hot enough to melt lead. Could that happen here? The real and direct answer to that question is: we don't know.

Romm is not painting any such dire scenarios in this book, but he does state most clearly that "the primary reason why we should pursue fuel cells and a hydrogen economy is to help respond to global warming." (p. 188) He adds, "global warming is the most intractable and potentially catastrophic environmental problem facing...the planet this century." (p. 152) Romm identifies carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere as the primary cause of global warming.

What to do and how to do it? Because Romm addresses these questions in such compelling detail, this is the book I believe that will be--if it hasn't already been--read by high-ranking government officials and the CEOs of energy corporations throughout the world. I hope that Sen. John Kerry and President George W. Bush will read it. What they will find is that it will require a closely co-ordinated effort on the part of both government and the private sector to bring about a cost-effective hydrogen technology. This technology will include the building of an infrastructure for making and distributing hydrogen that will cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Romm makes it clear that none of this will happen until hydrogen becomes competitive with fossil fuels in terms of cost and efficiency. Right now hydrogen is most cheaply made from fossil fuels themselves, a process that does not reduce green house gases, and furthermore is much more expensive, no matter what currently-available technology is used, than gasoline itself, and will remain so for many years, probably decades, to come.

Ultimately the goal is to manufacture hydrogen from water using renewable resources such as biomass, wind, sun, downward running water, evaporation, ocean currents, etc. to split the water molecule into its component elements. Romm's immediate future scenario has us obtaining hydrogen from natural gas while using our renewable energy resources to produce electricity in an effort to begin to slow the belching of carbon dioxide into the air.

Romm believes that oil production will probably peak in the first half of this century. He adds that "Some believe this will occur by 2010." (p. 16) Given this, it is obvious that we will have to come up with some sort of fuel to replace oil. Since only "a limited number of fuels are plausible alternatives for gasoline" (p. 16), and since the one with the most going for it is hydrogen, it will be hydrogen. But transporting hydrogen the way we transport gasoline will be more expensive, perhaps prohibitively expensive since it has to be condensed and/or made into a very cold liquid under pressure. One might think we could transport water instead and make hydrogen at hydrogen stations, but the most efficient conversion methods require large scale operations at high temperatures.

There are several other very challenging problems to be faced, not the least of which is what Romm identifies as "the chicken or the egg" conundrum. That is, automakers will not make hydrogen fuel cell cars until the hydrogen infrastructure is in place, and the infrastructure will not appear until there are a sufficient number of fuel cell cars on the road.

While I think Romm maintains a cautious level of optimism in the face of these difficulties, he does on occasion let his pessimism show: "If the actions of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden and record levels of oil imports couldn't induce lawmakers, automakers, and the general public to embrace EXISTING vehicle energy efficiency technologies...I cannot imagine what fearful events must happen before the nation will be motivated to embrace hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which will cost much more to buy...to fuel, and require massive government subsidies to pay for the infrastructure." (p. 162)

If you want to know where we really are vis-vis the so-called hydrogen economy, read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The selection of air pollution control apparatus can be a daunting task even for experienced pollution control professionals. The Air Pollution Control Equipment Selection Guide eases the burden by providing extensive information on the best equipment available for any air pollution control problem. Instead of endorsing one technology over another, the author provides general information so that you can decide on the proper technology to use for any given application.The book offers ample introductory information including a helpful "Air Pollution 101" chapter that reviews the basics of air pollution control. The text is divided into sections that are organized by the primary technology employed, i.e., Quenching, Cooling, Particulate Removal, Gas Absorption, etc. This structure enables you to jump from section to section and quickly compare technologies. Each section defines the type of gas cleaning device, the basic physical forces used in it, its common sizes, and its most common uses.Many air pollution control problems are not solved with one type of device, but through using a variety of designs synergistically. To make this task easier, the author includes sections on each of these devices and notes where they are commonly used in concert with other equipment. Wherever possible, the text includes current photographs or drawings of typical equipment within that device type. Written in an easy to read style, Air Pollution Control Equipment Selection Guide serves as a technologically accurate reference that will facilitate the selection of air pollution control equipment for any operation. ... Read more

Book Description

Freshwater algae are among the most diverse and ubiquitous organisms on earth.They occupy an enormous range of ecological conditions from lakes and rivers to acidic peat swamps, inland saline lakes, snow and ice, damp soils, wetlands, desert soils, wastewater treatment plants, and are symbionts in and on many plants, fungi, and animals.In North America, the variety of freshwater habitats colonized by algae is very rich, and offers an enormous and fascinating range of environments for their study.They form the base of most aquatic food webs and are critical to studies of ecosystem health.Algal ecologists and taxonomists play an important role in the understanding of aquatic ecosystems: their biodiversity, productivity, interactions with other organisms, and water quality.This book provides in one volume a practical and comprehensive guide to the genera of freshwater algae known from North America.The format combines the necessary ecological, taxonomic and methodological information for all scientists working in aquatic environments, whether their specialty is in environmental monitoring and water quality assessment, biological composition, ecology, evolution, or molecular biology.

Key Features
* The first complete accounting of North America's freshwater algal genera in more than 50 years
* Includes a guide to the current literature on species identification in each group of algae
* High-quality photographs and drawings of more than 770 genera
* A clear, easy-to-use introductory key to the diagnostic chapters
* Synthetic chapters on freshwater habitats, use of algae in environmental assessment, and control of nuisance algae
* Contributions from 27 experts in all areas of freshwater algae
* Extensive literature citations
* Companion volume of Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates 2nd edition, edited by Throp and Covich ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Much Needed Updating of Smith
It has been over 50 years since the last edition (1950) of Smith's "Freshwater Algae of the United States" and much has changed in our knowledge of the classification of the "Algae". These are now known to contain several quite different organisms from Euglena to Chara and from diatoms to desmids and Spirogyra. The flora is huge and often poorly known. Thus it was with some enthusiasm that I welcomed the publication of this massive tome. A much-needed updating of Smith's classic book and more, it contains numerous black and white photos and drawings, plus extensive bibliographies for each chapter. I also much appreciate the keys, having been involved in writing several for spider genera. The only down side is the rather high price, which is quite a bit more than its companion volume on freshwater invertebrates.

I don't fault this book for lack of color because that might have easily made it even more expensive. If you want to see color photos of algae, and indeed very good ones, try "Freshwater Algae: Their Microscopic World Explored" by Hilda Canter-Lund and her husband J. W. Lund.

Despite the cost, I recommend this book as essential for anyone trying to understand the North American freshwater algal flora.

Review
One thing I look for in a book are color photos from "the wild". I didn't see any of that, but there's plenty of information to go through and lots of references for further study. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated and Expanded Edition

Winner of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order 1992, Named New Options Best Political Book


Economist Herman Daly and theologian John Cobb, Jr., demonstrate how conventional economics and a growth-oriented industrial economy have led us to the brink of environmental disaster, and show the possibility of a different future. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Ethical, Humanitarian, Communitarian, Sustainable

Dr. Herman E. Daly may well be a future Nobel Prize winner ...he is especially well-regarded in Norway and Sweden, where he has received prizes one step short of the Nobel. He is the author, co-author, or primary contributing editor of many books that fully integrate the disciplines of economics and ecology. I bought the three most recent for the purpose of selecting one to give out at my annual Global Information Forum. I ended up choosing this book to give away to hundreds, in part because it is available in paperback and is not a more expensive "trade" publication; and in part because it is strong in laying out specific ecological policy areas in the context of a strong theological or ethical perspective.

Of the three books I reviewed, (the newest "Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications", the oldest, updated, "Valuing the Earth: Economics, Ecology, Ethics") the first, the text-book, is assuredly the most up-to-date and the most detailed. If you are buying only one book for yourself, that is the one that I recommend, because these are important issues and a detailed understanding is required with the level of detail that this book provided. It should, ideally, be read with "Valuing the Earth" first (see my separate review of that book, from the 1970's updated with 1990's material and new contributions), then this book ("For the Common Good"), and finally the text book as a capstone. But if you buy only one, buy the text book.

This is a second-edition work, updated from the 1984 first edition. I like it very much in part because it comes across as less academic and more common-sense in nature. Part One does a lovely job of tearing apart the fallacy of misplaced concreteness with respect to economics, the market, measuring economic success, the reduction of the human to a "good" that can be traded without regard to humanity and ethics and community, and land. Part Two gently introduces the reader to the many distinguished thought-leaders and practitioners who have gradually matured the discipline of economics to embrace humanity, community, and sustainability as non-negotiable realities that cannot be ignored.

Part Three, a major factor in my choosing this book over the others for broad pro-bono distribution, addresses the specifics of policies one element at a time: free trade versus community; population; land use; agriculture; industry; labor; income policies and taxes; from world domination to national security as an objective. Finally, Part Four, without being corny or preachy, describes the religious or ethical vision (I still think the Golden Rule works as a one-sentence definition of common interest).

An afterword on debt in relation to money and wealth is particularly timely as the American public foolishly allows the White House carpetbaggers to run up a $7 trillion deficit that our great-grandchilden will never be able to pay off if we continue is these evil and irresponsible directions, all in sharp opposition to the sensible and ethical constructs in this book.

Of the three books, none of which really duplicate one another in any negative way, albeit with overlaps, this is the second that I recommend for purchase, after the textbook.

Great ideas, will they work?
The opening criticisms of how economics is taught in today's university structure along with the inappropriate credence given this largely theoretical topic's conclusions are well-presented and well-received. Similarly, the general theme of the recommendations is presented very nicely. Basically, we must focus on more local goods, more self-sufficiency in communities. The authors take the time and care to address such technicalities as what exactly they mean by communities. In general their care is a strength of the book, though perhaps more of the details could have been put in appendices or footnotes rather than disturbing the flow of the text. My main complaint is that no EXAMPLES are given--real-life attempts, either successful or failed, at some of their recommendations. Without examples, all their suggestions seem unsubstantiated. A lengthy but decent read, with a nice underlying philosophy.

Humane and incisive
Because of the large number of issues and sometimes conflicting solutions proposed, this is a difficult book to classify. Key, however, is the authors' profound refusal to subordinate the common good of the community to the god of the free market. This does not mean the elimination of markets where they have proven effective and non-destructive. It does mean keeping their operation within strict limits, so that people can regain a sense of community and a sustainable environment. Much of the book is taken up with showing the limits of market theory and practice, and in that sense should be studied by all with an interest in America's secular religion. Proposed solutions are decidedly non-ideological and largely eclectic. Both the left and the right should find points of agreement. All in all, this is an invaluable guide to many of the planet's most pressing problems and should be required reading for college undergraduates.

Thought-Provoking in Every Way
To dismiss this book as leftist ranting or environmental hysteria is simply wrong -- and I would bet that the reviewers offering these opinions did not read the whole book. This book offers a stunning combination of ecological economics and philospohical critique. It is this dual focus that helps it avoid the dryness of most economics books and the abstractness of most environmental treatises. At bottom, Daly and Cobb are pushing for more human and manageable SCALE: meaningful work in more localized economies. Only by creating these smaller units, where entire processes can be grasped and influenced, can people change the way they think and live. The book crescendos with a discussion of the human prospect itself -- whether or not our species is on an inherently self-destructive trajectory, thanks to our very powers of ingenuity and adaptabilty. This is a book that should produce a profound change in the reader; but only if it is read slowly, carefully, and thoughtfully.

Excellent critique Global-Capitalism -- good/bad solutions.
Agrarian Localist that I am, with roots in the cultural and political Right -- Daly was refreshing and often challenging from the 'New and Improved Left. He brilliantly and repeatedly shows the 'fallacy of misplaced concreteness'-- that is the dubious use of logical abstractions which supposedly lead to good conclusions. NOT! In logic, it is similar to 'the undistributed middle'-- or in laymen's terms -- there is yet far too much we simply don't know to conclude 'this'. Those pegging him a traditional UN Internationalists look like blind Libertarians who are simply dead wrong, and didn't read carefully. Daly is a modest Decentralists/Federalists' in calling for a 'return to the Local'. His call is for a federalism with far more attention to Local and Regional markets and development than we've had in this country since Lincoln. Yet Daly still uncomfortablly allows for some heiarchialism at national and international levels. Suprisingly, he uncritically buys all the status-quo environmental hysteria as 'Fact', indeed 'wild facts' he calls them. Thus, you have a mixd book -- full of brilliant and insightful critique -- and sullied by a good bit of carried-over authoritarian leftism. David E. Rockett ... Read more

Book Description

Quantitative Solutions in Hydrogeology and Groundwater Modeling addresses and solves a variety of questions and problems from hydrogeological practice. It includes major aspects of quantitative groundwater evaluation, from basic laboratory determination of hydrogeological parameters to complex analytical calculations and modeling for engineering purposes. No other book offers the carefully selected examples and clear, elegantly explained solutions, and no other book presents topics in logical order from simple to complex. Unlike other texts on the subject, which offer idealized, simplified examples, this book offers detailed coverage of situations that occur in real life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Book
The author has made a great effort of presenting the subject matter in an easy to understand and read format.The text covers basic laboratory determination of hydrogeological paratmers to complex calculations and modeling.This book is great because there have been times when I have been working on a problem (effective poristy, density and saturation) and have been able to find an example of it in this book.The text covers one dimensional steady state flow, transient flow, flow nets etc.. Cooper Jacob method, drawdown, well efficiency and numeric groundwater flow modeling.I highly recommend this book.Full of alot of great information and examples/problem sets. ... Read more

Book Description

Develop a better understanding of what causes environmental problems and how to solve them! Today, engineers and scientists must work on more complex environmental problems than ever before. To find solutions to these problems requires an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry, biology, and physical processes. This text will provide you with a clear explanation of these fundamentals that are necessary for solving both small town and global environmental problems. With Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, you'll develop a better understanding of the key concepts required for design, operation, analysis, and modeling of both natural and engineered systems. You'll also be able to make connections among the different specialty areas of environmental engineering emphasized throughout the text. And you'll quickly learn how to solve complex environmental problems and incorporate environmental concerns into your specialty. Key Features
* Covers the fundamentals of chemical, physical, and biological processes, and various units of concentration as applied to environmental engineering.
* Includes applications related to drinking water and wastewater treatment, air quality engineering and science, groundwater transport and remediation, surface water quality, hazardous solid waste management, and ecosystems.
* Developed by a team of authors who specialize in a diverse set of environmental areas. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book for those just starting to learn about the field!
This book teaches the fundamentals of Environmental Engineering in a way that everybody can understand.It's well written and well layed out.Great examples help to clarify and expand on points made in the text.Thefigures and tables also improve on the students learning ability as theyprogress through the book.All in all an excellent book for the beginningEnvironmental Engineer as well as a handy companion for the Engineeralready out in the field.Dr. Mihelcic is an excellent author along withall the other professors who helped out. ... Read more

Book Description

Raymond S. Bradley provides his readers with a comprehensive and up-to-date review of all of the important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, dating and paleoclimate modeling. Two comprehensive chapters on dating methods provide the foundation for all paleoclimatic studies and are followed by up-to-date coverage of ice core research, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating, tree rings and historical records. New methods using alkenones in marine sediments and coral studies are also described. Paleoclimatology, Second Edition, is an essential textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying climatology, paleoclimatology and paleooceanography worldwide, as well as a valuable reference for lecturers and researchers, appealing to archaeologists and scientists interested in environmental change.

* Contains two up-to-date chapters on dating methods
* Consists of the latest coverage of ice core research, marine sediment and coral studies, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, tree rings, and historical records
* Describes the newest methods using alkenones in marine sediments and long continental pollen records
* Addresses all important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction
* Includes an extensive chapter on the use of models in paleoclimatology
* Extensive and up-to-date bibliography
* Illustrated with numerous comprehensive figure captions ... Read more

Book Description

Soils would not exist without the complex and heterogeneous activities of microorganisms. For the third volume of Soil Biology, an international board of renowned scientists shed light on the significant role of these organisms. The following key topics are covered: Microorganisms in bioerosion, humification, mineralization and soil aggregation; Microbial energetics and microbes in biogeochemical processes such as carbon and nitrogen cycles and phosphorus bio-availability; Interactions in the mycorrhizosphere, e.g. between mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria; Impact of microbes on plant nutrient cycling and the possible effects of transgenic rhizospheres on soil fungi; Functions of microbes in specific soil compartments such as soil surface or toxic metal polluted soils; Regulation of microbial activities in functional domains that are influenced by biotic or abiotic factors; Use of marker genes and isotopes as examples for modern techniques in soil microbiology.

Book Description

The focus of this text is to address key questions with regard to the transition to hydrogen fuel to satisfy the world's rapidly growing need for alternative fuel options. The initiatives set forth in this text will mold the research, development and education efforts that will change the practice of fuel consumption in the near future.

*Presentations by the world's leaders in government, industry and academia
* Real-world solutions for the world's current fuel crisis.
*Endorsed by the University of California Transportation Center and Transportation Research Board ... Read more

Book Description

Hardbound. In this book, major emphasis is placed on the effects of processing and food components upon the flavor of foods and beverages. Topics discussed include: roasting of peanuts; extrusion of cooking poultry; spray drying of natural flavor materials; cooking rates of foods; gamma radiation of packaging films; stir-frying of sautéd flavors; emulsification properties of egg yolk and lupin proteins; the interaction of flavor compounds with flour, starch, and polysaccharides; factors affecting development of flavor in whisky, wines, fermented products, alcohol precursors, and model food systems; applications of enzymes for production of flavor in fish, lobster and pork; and the development and application of analytical methods for isolation and identification of volatile compounds and flavors from a variety of food products.

Information presented in this book will be useful to chemists, scientists, and technologists working in flavor chemistry ... Read more

Book Description

This second edition of the widely acclaimed Geophysical Fluid Dynamics by Joseph Pedlosky offers the reader a high-level, unified treatment of the theory of the dynamics of large-scale motions of the oceans and atmosphere. Revised and updated, it includes expanded discussions of * the fundamentals of geostrophic turbulence * the theory of wave-mean flow interaction * thermocline theory * finite amplitude barocline instability.

From the reviews:

"The author has done a masterful job in presenting the theory with the necessary mathematical foundation, while keeping the physical aspects in clear view...it is an outstanding introduction to a complex and important subject." - GEOPHYSICS ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Intuition First
All the math in the world would be useless in any applied subject without physical intuition about the phenomena and a clear passage between the intuition and the math. Pedlosky's book has it all - intuition and math. I have loved studying it as my first step in the direction of geophysics from a career in pure mathematics. The book is clear, easy to read, interesting, fascinating. Thank you Pedlosky for a magnificent textbook.

GFD Bible
If you trully want to understand geophysical fluid dynamics (ocean/atmosphere) you can not avoid this great book. I strongly suggest it, specially if you are a graduate student going through a GFD course. Years from now you will still go back to Pedlosky to clarify your doubts.

Highly recommended for oceanographers and meteorologists.
Boy, I wish this book had been out when I was in grad school! (Physical oceanography). This is an essential work for the shelf of anyone interested in dynamic meteorology or oceanography. Well organized, thorough, and easy to follow (at least for the intended audience.) ... Read more

Book Description

This 23rd edition of Annual Editions: Environment 04/05 is a compilation of current articles from the best of the public press. The selections explore the global environment, the world's population, energy, the biosphere, natural resources, and pollution. A listing of related Web sites is included and access to the student support site Dushkin Online (www.dushkin.com/online). ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of one of the hottest areas of chemical research. The treatment of fundamental kinetics and photochemistry will be highly useful to chemistry students and their instructors at the graduate level, as well as postdoctoral fellows entering this new, exciting, and well-funded field with a Ph.D. in a related discipline (e.g., analytical, organic, or physical chemistry, chemical physics, etc.). Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere provides postgraduate researchers and teachers with a uniquely detailed, comprehensive, and authoritative resource. The text bridges the "gap" between the fundamental chemistry of the earth's atmosphere and "real world" examples of its application to the development of sound scientific risk assessments and associated risk management control strategies for both tropospheric and stratospheric pollutants.

Key Features
*Serves as a graduate textbook and "must have"reference for all atmospheric scientists
* Provides more than 5000 references to the literature through the end of 1998
* Presents tables of new actinic flux data for the troposphere and stratospher (0-40km)
* Summarizes kinetic and photochemical date for the troposphere and stratosphere
*Features problems at the end of most chapters to enhance the book's use in teaching
* Includes applications of the OZIPR box model with comprehensive chemistry for student use ... Read more

Reviews (1)

New Horizons
The scope and technical detail of this seminal work covering the cutting edge in Atmospheric chemistry is beyond remarkable. Just the number of references is mind boggling. The book presents the material in a very readable and understandable style. The authors have kept the reader in mind. They also add surprising levity on occasion and show a keen grasp of areas outside chemistry. I know of no other work in this field that is more current, comprehensive, and helpful. If only other scientific works were as thorough and readable. ... Read more