The Environment is a lively, comprehensive introduction for environmental study, explaining how the environment functions, how environmental systems relate, and the ways in which people and environment interact. Focusing particularly on the environmental impacts of human activities, the book explains the ways in which an understanding of basic physical principles can help us to use the environment and its resources.
Three particular approaches are adopted throughout:
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a systems approach - highlighting the interactions and interrelationships between the environment's diverse parts
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an interdisciplinary perspective - stepping back from an individual subject focus to examine the complex breadth of the environment's diversity
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a global perspective - incorporating stimulating examples drawn from around the world to illustrate broad global patterns and contrasts.
The Environment explains the principles and applications of the different parts of the Earth's system: the lithosphere, the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and explains the interrelationship across these systems. It explores the present environmental crisis, examines how the planet Earth fits into the wider universe, and explores human-environment interactions, to offer a clear understanding of the diverse and complex environment we live in and new ways of thinking about the way it is changing.
Specific features include:
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Lively, stimulating and accessible text
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Superb illustrations: 4-colour plate sections
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Case studies drawn from around the world, boxed within the text
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Chapter summaries
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Annotated further reading lists
List of Colour Plates
List of Black and White Plates
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I : Introduction
Chapter 1 : Environment in Crisis
Chapter 2 : Population and Environment
Chapter 3 : Environmental Systems
Chapter 4 : Spaceship Earth
Part II : The Lithosphere
Chapter 5 : Structure of the Earth
Chapter 6 : Dynamic Earth
Chapter 7 : Earth Materials
Part III : The Atmosphere
Chapter 8 : The Atmosphere
Chapter 9 : Atmospheric Processes
Chapter 10 : Weather Systems
Chapter 11 : Climate
Part IV : The Hydrosphere
Chapter 12 : The Hydrological Cycle
Chapter 13 : Water Resources
Chapter 14 : Drylands
Chapter 15 : Cold and Ice
Chapter 16 : Oceans and Coasts
Part V : The Biosphere
Chapter 17 : The Biosphere
Chapter 18 : Ecosystems, Succession and Biomes
Chapter 19 : Soil
Part VI : Reflections
Chapter 20 : Retrospect and Prospect
Bibliography
Glossary
Index