Environmental science : the way the world works / Bernard J. Nebel, Richard T. Wright.

Table of Content

I Introduction: Sustainability stewardship, and sound science
1.1 The global environmental picture
1.2 Three unifying themes

PART ONE ECOSYSTEM AND HOW THEY WORK
2. Ecosystem: Units of sustainability
2.1 What are ecosystem:
2.2 The structure of ecosystems
2.3 Global Biomes
2.4 Implications for humans

3. Ecosystems: How they work........
3.1 Matter, energy and life
3.2 Principles of ecosystem function
3.3 Implications for humans

4. Ecosystems: Populations and succession
4.1 Population dynamics
4.2 Mechanics of population equilibrium
4.3 Disturbance and succession
4.4 Implication for humans

5. Ecosystems and Evolutionary change
5.1 Selection by the environment
5.2 Selections of traits and genes
5.3 Changes in species and ecosystems
5.4 Plate tectonics
5.5 Evolution in perspective

PART TWO THE HUMAN POPULATION
6 The human population demographics
6.1 The population explosion and its cause
6.2 Different worlds
6.3 Environmental and social impacts
6.4 Dynamic of population growth

7. Addressing the population problem
7.1 Reasoning the demographic transition
7.2 Development
7.3 A new direction for development-social modernization
7.4 The Cairo conference

PART THREE RENEWAL RESOURCES
8. Soil and the soil ecosystem
8.1 Plants and soil
8.2 Soil degradation
8.3 Addressing soil degradation

9. Water: Hydrology Cycle and Human Use
9.1 Water- A vital resource
9.2 The hydrology cycle
9.3 Human impacts on the hydrology cycle
9.4 Sources and uses of fresh water
9.5. Overdrawing water resources
Etc.

10 The Production and distribution of food
10.1 Crops and animals: major patterns of food production
10.2 Food distribution and trade
10.3 Hunger, malnutrition and famine
10.4 Building sustainability into the food arena

11. Wild Species: Biodiversity and protection
11.1 Value of wild species
11. 2 Saving wild species
1. 3 Biodiversity

12. Ecosystems as resources
12.1 Biological systems in a global
12.2 Conservation and preservation
12.3 Biomes and ecosystems under pressure
12.4 Public and private lands in the united states

PART FOUR ENERGY
13 Energy from fossil fuels
13.1 Energy sources and uses
13.2 The exploitation of crude oil
13.3 Alternatives fossils fuels
13.4 Sustainable energy options

14. Nuclear Power: Promise and problems
14.1 Nuclear power: dream or delusion
14.2 How nuclear power works
14.3 The hazards and cost of nuclear power
14.4 More advanced reactors
14.5 The future of nuclear power

15. Renewal Energy
15 1 Principles of solar energy
15.2 Putting solar energy to work
15.3 Indirect solar energy
15.4 Additional renewable energy options
15.5 Policy for a sustainable energy future

PART FIVE
16 Environmental hazards and human health
16.1 Links between human health and the Environment
16.2 Pathways of risk
16.3 Risk Analysis
etc.

17 Pest and Pest control
17.1 The need for Pest control
17.2 Promises and problems of the chemical approach
17.3 Alternative Pest control Methods
17.4 Socioeconomic issues in pest management
etc.

18 Water: Pollution and preservation
18.1 Water pollution
18.2 Eutrophication
18.3 Sewage Management and treatment
18.4 Public policy
etc.

19. Municipal solid water disposal and recovery
19.1 The Solid waste problem
19.2 Solutions
19.3 Public policy and waste management
etc.

20. Hazards chemicals: Pollution and preservation
20.1 The nature of chemical hazards HAZMATs
20.2 A history of Mismanagement
20.3 Cleaning up the Mess
20.4 Management of New Wastes
etc.

21. The atmosphere: Climate, climate change, and Ozone depletion
21.1 Atmosphere and weather
21.2 Climate
21.3 Global climate change
21.4 Depletion of the Ozone layer
etc.

22. Atmosphere pollution
22.1 Air polluton essentials
22.2 Major air pollutants and their impact
22.3 Pollutant sources
22.4 Acid depposition
etc.

PART SIX Towards a sustainable future
23. Economics, public policy, and the environment
23.1 Economics and public policy
23.2 Resources and the wealth of nations
23.3 Pollution and Public policy
etc.

24. Sustainable Communities and lifestyles
24.1 Urban sprawl
24.2 Urban blight
24.3 Moving toward sustainable communities
24.4 Epilogue

sk

Includes Index: p 651 - 663

Includes bibliographical references (p. 615-628) and index.