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Examines the arguments for and against recycling and argues that purely economic approaches to recycling are incomplete and noneconomic values need to be considered as well.

Die Ostsee als groesstes Brackwassermeer der Welt ist zunehmend gefahrdet; die Verschmutzung durch Abwasser und Abfalle nimmt standig zu, ein Durchmischen und Abfliessen aber findet kaum statt. Um dieses noch junge Meer als Lebensraum zu erhalten, ist eine umfassende Analyse und ein standiges UEberwachen der oekologischen Parameter noetig. Renommierte Forscher der grossen Ostseeinstitute beschreiben in der Meereskunde der Ostsee alle wesentlichen Aspekte, die das OEkosystem Ostsee ausmachen, wie...

Landscapes of Promise is the first comprehensive environmental history of the early years of a state that has long been associated with environmental protection. Covering the period from early human habitation to the end of World War II, William Robbins shows that the reality of Oregon's environmental history involves far more than a discussion of timber cutting and land-use planning. Robbins demonstrates that ecological change is not only a creation of modern industrial society. Native America...

This textbook is for the standard, one-semester, junior-senior course that often goes by the title "Elementary Partial Differential Equations" or "Boundary Value Problems". The audience consists of students in mathematics, engineering, and the sciences. The topics include derivations of some of the standard models of mathematical physics and methods for solving those equations on unbounded and bounded domains, and applications of PDE's to biology. The text differs from other texts in its brevity...

Exploring the broad implications of evolutionary theorist Lynn Margulis's work, this collection brings together specialists across a range of disciplines, from paleontology, molecular biology, evolutionary theory, and geobiology to developmental systems theory, archaeology, history of science, cultural science studies, and literature and science. Addressing the multiple themes that animated Margulis's science, the essays within take up, variously, astrobiology and the origin of life, ecology and...

Palynology is important in basic as well as in manifold applied sciences, as e.g. biology, medicine, forensics, earth history, climatology and food production. This volume is the first fully illustrated handbook of palynological principles and glossary terms, exclusively using LM and EM micrographs of superior quality. A comprehensive General Chapter on pollen morphology, anatomy, pollen development etc. based on the present knowledge in palynology introduces the reader in the world of pollen. T...

An unfortunate by-product of industrialization is the contamination of soil and water resources with toxic metals, which becomes an environmental concern when the concentration in soils begins to affect human health. Current remediation methods applicable to contaminated soils are expensive and environmentally invasive since they are based primarily on civil-engineering techniques. This book represents an overview of efforts in exploiting biological and chemical processes to reduce the inherent...

The 'wind vector' - wind speed and direction - is a main meteorological quantity and relevant for air-sea exchange processes. This book explores the use of several airborne microwave instruments, some of which are part of standard aircraft equipment, in determining the local wind vector over water. This is worthwhile as local wind information is usually only available at measurements sites like weather stations and airports, and global wind information from satellites has very coarse resolution...

This book presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on bamboo. It starts with an introduction to the plant's biology, its taxonomy, habitat, morphology and growth. The cultivation of bamboo is discussed in terms of silviculture, pests and diseases, and harvesting techniques. The book is completed by a comprehensive presentation of the properties of bamboo, its utilization and its preservation. Bamboo is the fastest-growing and most versatile plant on Earth. For centuries it has played an indispe...

Science fiction is filled with spacecraft. On Earth, actual rockets explode over Texas while others make their way to Mars. But what are spacecraft, and just what can they teach us about imagination, ecology, democracy, and the nature of objects? Why do certain spacecraft stand out in popular culture? If ever there were a spacecraft that could be detached from its context, sold as toys, turned into Disney rides, parodied, and flit around in everyone’s head—the Millennium Falcon would be it. Spr...

This volume addresses the problem of designing efficient signalling and provides a link between the areas of communication theory and modem design for amplitude constrained linear optical intensity channel. It provides practical guidelines for the design of signalling sets for wireless optical intensity channels.

This book emerges from the recognition that energy, environment and ecosystems are dynamically and inextricably connected. The energy environment system must be addressed in its totality, so that we can devise sustainable solutions that incorporate both economic growth and environmental conservation. No single clean energy source will sustain long-term energy security, and fossil fuels will remain prominent in the mix of energy sources for several decades to come. Energy solutions, therefore, mu...

The volume Middle East and North Africa: Climate, Culture and Conflicts focuses on the intricate interrelationships between nature, culture and society in this ecologically, historically and politically fragile region. As such, it debates ideas of eco-theology from Muslim and Jewish perspectives, followed by mythological interpretations and geo-archeological resp. historical analyses of the interrelationships and impacts of climate and other environmental factors on the development of ancient ci...

This book explores a collection of natural surfaces, their scientific characteristics and their unique engineering potential - demonstrating that engineering applications can be found in unexpected places. The surfaces covered range from botanical ones, like rice and lotus leaves, to insect surfaces, like butterfly and dragonfly wings. The variety of surfaces and numerous engineering potentials described show how biomimicry can be utilized to solve countless real-world problems.

The importance of Marcus Elieser Bloch's famous book, published 1795, has not lost its value for modern ichthyology. While Linnaeus, 1758, listed approximately 400 species, Bloch's work contains descriptions and scientifically and aesthetically admirable illustrations of about 500 species. of these 267 were presented as new to science or needing new names. Many of his suggested names are still valid and in general use. Moreover, he introduced 19 new generic names, many of which were accepted. Th...

A combination of broad disciplinary coverage and scientific excellence, the Encyclopedia of Forest Sciences will be an indispensable addition to the library of anyone interested in forests, forestry and forest sciences. Packed with valuable insights from experts all over the world, this remarkable set not only summarizes recent advances in forest science techniques, but also thoroughly covers the basic information vital to comprehensive understanding of the important elements of forestry. The...