Environmental science : physical principles and applications

Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: A Physical Approach to Environmental Problems What are Environmental Problems -- Pollution The Economic and Social Context Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum The Greenhouse Effect Transport of Pollutants The Carbon Cycle 2. Weather and Climate Energy Transport The Atmsophere, Vertical Structure and Motion Horizontal Motion of Air The Oceans 3. Climate Change Natural Changes of Climate Human induced changes Consequences of Climate Change Reactions to Climate Change 4. Conventional Energy Physics of Heat Heat and Power: Thermodynamics Converting Heat into Power: Problems and a Solutionsa 5. Carbonfree Energies Renewable energies Nuclear Power 6. Making up the Balance Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources Defining the task 7. Transport of Pollutants Basic Concepts Dispersion in the Air Dispersion in Surface Waters Dispersion by Groundwater 8. Noise Physics of Sound Human hearing Reducing Sound Levels 9. Environmental Spectroscopy Basic Spectrospcopy The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy Solar UV, Ozone and Life 10. Geophysical Methods Radioactive Clocks Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors Magnetic Surveys Seismic Probing 11. Science and Society Finite Resources of Energy Pollution and Health Effects Environmental Policy Thinijhng about the Environment and Human Life The Responsibility of the Scientist Appendices References Index

Aimed at a first course in environmental physics, environmental science, environmental analysis, or environmental monitoring. This text can be used by first year students and above, and takes a scientific approach as opposed to a social or political one.