Principles of environmental science : inquiry and applications

Includes index.

Understanding our environment. Understanding our environment ; Science as a way of knowing ; Thinking about thinking ; A brief history of conservation and environmentalism ; Current environmental conditions ; Human dimensions of environmental science --
Principles of ecology : matter, energy, and life. Principles of matter and energy ; The building blocks of earth and life ; Sunlight : energy for life ; Energy and matter in the environment ; Biogeochemical cycles and life processes --
Populations, communities, and species interaction. Who lives where, and why? ; Species interactions ; Population dynamics ; Community properties ; Communities in transition --
Human populations. Population growth ; Limits to growth : some opposing views ; Human demography ; Population growth : opposing factors ; Demographic transition ; Family planning and fertility control ; The future of human population --
Biomes and biodiversity. Biomes ; Biodiversity ; How do we benefit from biodiversity? ; What threatens biodiversity? ; Human-caused reductions in biodiversity ; Protecting biodiversity --
Environmental conservation : forests, grasslands, parks, and nature preserves. World forests ; Rangelands ; Parks and nature preserves ; World parks and preserves ; Wilderness areas ; Wildlife refuges --
Food and agriculture. Nutrition and food supplies ; Major food sources ; Soil : a renewable resource ; Ways we use and abuse soil ; Other agricultural resources ; New crops and genetic engineering ; Sustainable agriculture --
Environmental health and toxicology. Types of environmental health hazards ; Movement, distribution, and fate of toxins ; Mechanisms for minimizing toxic effects ; Measuring toxicity ; Risk assessment and acceptance ; Establishing public policy --
Air : climate and pollution. The atmosphere and climate ; Climate change ; Climate and air pollution ; Interactions between climate processes and air pollution ; Effects of air pollution ; Air pollution control ; Clean air legislation ; Current conditions and future prospects --
Water : resources and pollution. Water resources ; Major water compartments ; Water availability and use ; Freshwater shortages ; Water management and conservation ; Water pollution ; Water quality today ; Pollution control ; Water legislation --
Environmental geology and earth resources. A dynamic planet ; Minerals and rocks ; Economic geology and mineralogy ; Environmental effects of resource extraction ; Conserving geologic resources ; Geologic hazards --
Energy. Energy sources and uses ; Fossil fuels ; Nuclear power ; Energy conservation ; Solar energy ; Fuel cells ; Biomass ; Energy from the earth's forces ; What's our energy future? --
Solid and hazardous waste. Waste ; Waste-disposal methods ; Shrinking the waste stream ; Hazardous and toxic wastes --
Sustainability and human development. Sustainability and resources ; Cost-benefit analysis and natural resource accounting ; Trade and development ; Green business and green design ; Urban development and sustainable cities ; Urban problems in developing countries --
Environmental science and policy. Making decisions in an uncertain world ; Environmental education ; Environmental policy ; Environmental law ; International treaties and conventions ; Dispute resolution and community-based planning ; Citizen participation ; Collective action.

Emphasizes how science can help us find solutions for important environmental issues. While not attempting to describe every possible environmental dilemma or scientific field of study, this text focuses on the major topics we face and how scientists search for answers to questions about them.