Environment: Science, Issues, Solutions

Cover
Inside Front Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Dedication
About the Authors
Why I Wrote this Book
Brief Contents
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction
	Science
		1.1 Environment is everything
		1.2 Science uses a formal method to gather evidence about how nature works
		1.3 Scientific evidence can reduce uncertainty about natural phenomena
		1.4 The integrity of science depends on following a strict code of ethical conduct
	Issues
		1.5 Human impact and environmental awareness began long ago
		1.6 Human impact on the environment has become a global issue
	Solutions
		1.7 Environmental ethics extends moral responsibilities to the environment
		1.8 Sustainability as a pragmatic solution to environmental woes
		1.9 Environmental science provides a comprehensive framework for addressing environmental issues
Chapter 2 Ecosystems and Economic Systems
	Science
		2.1 Ecosystems and economic systems are built on matter
		2.2 Energy makes matter move
		2.3 Energy flows through ecosystems, while matter recycles
		2.4 Economic systems and their currencies take several forms
	Issues
		2.5 Energy fuels, and limits, the economy
		2.6 How we represent economic systems can have environmental consequences
		2.7 Unregulated use of resources can lead to a “Tragedy of the Commons”
	Solutions
		2.8 Economics should include environmental costs and benefits
		2.9 Property rights can lead to environmental preservation
		2.10 Alternative paths to sustainability: Tragedy of the Commons revisited
Chapter 3 Conservation of Endangered Species
	Science
		3.1 Genetic diversity is essential to the evolution and survival of populations
		3.2 Distribution and abundance are key indicators of population security
		3.3 Populations change
		3.4 The life history of a species influences its capacity to recover from disturbance
		3.5 Species interactions define biological communities
	Issues
		3.6 Habitat destruction and alteration are the most serious threats to biodiversity
		3.7 Invasive species threaten native species
		3.8 Plant and wildlife trafficking are growing dangers to species
		3.9 Pest and predator control have pushed species to the brink of extinction
	Solutions
		3.10 National laws and international treaties protect endangered species
		3.11 Banning of a toxin and captive breeding brought peregrine falcons back from the brink of extinction
		3.12 Population ecology provides a conceptual foundation for wolf restoration
		3.13 Restoration of North American gray wolves has required working through conflict
		3.14 Wild populations are sources of significant economic benefits
Chapter 4 Species and Ecosystem Science
	Science
		4.1 Species and ecosystem diversity are key elements of biodiversity
		4.2 Geographic patterns and processes influence biodiversity
		4.3 Some species influence biodiversity much more than others
		4.4 Ecological succession affects community composition and diversity
		4.5 Global species richness results from a balance between speciation and extinction
	Issues
		4.6 Habitat fragmentation reduces biodiversity
		4.7 Valuable services of ecosystems are threatened
		4.8 Many invasive species harm ecosystems
	Solutions
		4.9 The number of protected areas has grown rapidly
		4.10 Nongovernmental conservation complements governmental programs
		4.11 Sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem services requires active management
		4.12 Integrating conservation with local communities can help sustain protected areas
Chapter 5 Human Populations
	Science
		5.1 Human population density varies significantly across Earth
		5.2 The global population will grow into the middle of this century
		5.3 The age structure of a population gives clues to its growth or decline
	Issues
		5.4 Fertility ranges greatly among countries and regions
		5.5 Development varies widely among countries
		5.6 Population growth and development generally increase environmental impact
		5.7 Developmental differences between populations create migration pressures
	Solutions
		5.8 Most nations have national policies aimed at managing population growth
		5.9 Human development is associated with lower fertility and reduced emigration
		5.10 The challenge: Achieve high development and sustainable resource use
Chapter 6 Sustaining Water Supplies
	Science
		6.1 The hydrologic cycle moves water around Earth
		6.2 The El Niño Southern Oscillation causes periods of dry years and wet years
	Issues
		6.3 Access to adequate water supplies as a human right
		6.4 Humans already use most of the world’s accessible freshwater supplies
		6.5 Groundwater is being depleted faster than it is replenished
		6.6 Managing water for human use threatens aquatic biodiversity
	Solutions
		6.7 Water conservation can increase water use efficiency substantially
		6.8 Reclamation and recycling are saving water throughout the world
		6.9 Desalination taps Earth’s largest reservoir of water
		6.10 Conservation and restoration can protect aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
Chapter 7 Sustaining Terrestrial Resources
	Science
		7.1 Climate, biodiversity, and nutrients influence terrestrial primary production
		7.2 Agriculture, forestry, and grazing systems are built on the natural biomes
		7.3 Soil structure and fertility result from dynamic processes
	Issues
		7.4 Industrial agriculture, which increased production, came with environmental impacts
		7.5 Common farming, grazing, and forestry practices deplete soils
		7.6 Deforestation and some forestry management practices deplete soils and increase flooding danger
		7.7 Irrigation can damage soils
		7.8 Intensive agriculture can cause pollution and promote pesticide resistance
		7.9 Genetically modified crops are sources of controversy and agricultural potential
	Solutions
		7.10 Investing in local farmers, while increasing genetic and crop diversity, may be a sustainable approach to feeding our growing population
		7.11 Sustainable farming, forestry, and ranching practices can reduce soil losses and improve soil fertility
		7.12 Sustainable irrigation requires careful management of water and salts
		7.13 Integrated approaches to pest control can reduce pesticide pollution and evolution of pesticide resistance
Chapter 8 Sustaining Aquatic Resources
	Science
		8.1 Commercial fish populations are heavily harvested and actively managed
		8.2 Nutrient availability influences primary production in marine environments
		8.3 El Niño and other large-scale climatic systems affect fisheries
	Issues
		8.4 Tragedy of the Commons: Intensive harvesting has resulted in overexploitation of many commercially important marine populations
		8.5 Dams and river regulation have decimated migratory fish populations
		8.6 Aquaculture can pollute aquatic environments and threaten wild fish populations
	Solutions
		8.7 Saving global fish stocks requires careful management and strong incentives
		8.8 Biodiversity contributes to the productivity and stability of fisheries
		8.9 River restoration may be a key to restoring decimated salmon populations
		8.10 Aquaculture can provide high-quality protein with low environmental impact
Chapter 9 Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Energy
	Science
		9.1 Fossil fuels provide energy in chemical form
		9.2 Power plants and vehicles burn fossil fuels to generate electricity and movement
		9.3 Nuclear energy is released by atomic fission and fusion
	Issues
		9.4 Global energy use grows as energy shortages loom
		9.5 Fossil fuel extraction and use can harm the environment
		9.6 Nuclear power development comes with environmental costs
	Solutions
		9.7 New laws and technology are cleaning up the oil industry
		9.8 Ecosystem restoration can mitigate the environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction
		9.9 Advances in nuclear power plant operation and design are aimed at improving safety
Chapter 10 Renewable Energy
	Science
		10.1 Solar energy can be used as a heat source and to generate electricity
		10.2 Wind, water, and geothermal energy add to the renewable energy portfolio
		10.3 Biomass fuels represent stored chemical energy
	Issues
		10.4 Solar power remains costly and can damage the environment
		10.5 Wind turbines and transmission lines kill birds and bats
		10.6 Hydroelectric development can have multiple environmental and social impacts
		10.7 Biofuel development can reduce food supplies and harm the environment
	Solutions
		10.8 Smart solutions to issues associated with solar power are under development
		10.9 Less damaging wind-generation strategies are under development
		10.10 Downsizing can mitigate the impacts of hydroelectric development
		10.11 Less damaging, more efficient biofuels are under development as alternatives to oil-based fuels
Chapter 11 Environmental Health, Risk, and Toxicology
	Science
		11.1 Chemical hazards include toxic substances and pollutants
		11.2 Bacteria, viruses, and parasites are spread through the environment
	Issues
		11.3 Toxic substances move through the environment and can accumulate in large concentrations
		11.4 Exposure to endocrine disruptors can affect the health of humans and other organisms
		11.5 Misuse and overuse have promoted resistance to antibiotics and insecticides
		11.6 Infectious diseases spill over from wild species and continue evolving to evade our defenses
	Solutions
		11.7 We assess risk both qualitatively and quantitatively
		11.8 Risk management involves reducing environmental hazards and controlling disease
Chapter 12 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
	Science
		12.1 The “waste” generated by economic systems does not occur in ecosystems
		12.2 Waste has diverse sources and properties and varies with level of economic development
	Issues
		12.3 Municipal solid waste management is a growing problem
		12.4 Hazardous waste generation is increasing and is often handled unsafely
		12.5 New forms of hazardous waste are on the rise
		12.6 Safe nuclear waste disposal requires long-term security
	Solutions
		12.7 Modern waste management emphasizes reduced disposal
		12.8 Food waste and other biodegradable trash can be reduced and repurposed
		12.9 Recycling and demanufacturing are critical to reducing waste
		12.10 Safe and secure long-term disposal is the last resort
Chapter 13 Air, Water, and Soil Pollution
	Science
		13.1 Industry releases pollutants
		13.2 Humans produce a wide variety of pollutants
		13.3 Atmospheric and aquatic transport eventually move pollutants around the planet
	Issues
		13.4 Air pollution exacts major health-related and economic tolls
		13.5 Acid rain is a major source of damage to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
		13.6 Persistent pollutants enter the human food chain
		13.7 Organic matter and nutrient pollution can disrupt local and distant ecosystems
	Solutions
		13.8 Environmental regulation and international treaties have played important roles in reducing pollution in North America
		13.9 Control measures have reduced emissions of pollutants and acid rain
		13.10 New technologies can reduce indoor air pollution
		13.11 Soils and sediments contaminated by hazardous wastes can be cleaned using a variety of techniques
		13.12 There are many effective ways to reduce organic and nutrient pollution
Chapter 14 Global Climate Change
	Science
		14.1 The atmosphere exerts key controls on planetary temperatures
		14.2 Scientists began building the basis for understanding the greenhouse effect more than 200 years ago
		14.3 Global temperatures and atmospheric CO 2 concentrations have varied cyclically
		14.4 Atmospheric CO 2 appears to be the thermostat controlling global temperatures
	Issues
		14.5 Precise measurements reveal that fossil fuel burning is the main cause of increased atmospheric CO 2 levels
		14.6 As CO 2 levels have risen in modern times, global temperatures have increased significantly
		14.7 Rising temperatures have been accompanied by diverse changes in the Earth system
		14.8 Climate change can lead to a wide range of societal costs
	Solutions
		14.9 Developing a road map to reduce carbon emissions
		14.10 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions provides new economic opportunities
		14.11 Restoring and enhancing carbon sinks could help balance the carbon budget
Appendix A: Basic Chemistry
Appendix B: The Rock Cycle: Product of a Dynamic Planet
Glossary
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Index
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Inside Back Cover
Back Cover