About the Book

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.

Table of Contents:
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