Environmental Physics

Environmental Physics provides a comprehensive introduction to this increasingly important area of applied physics. Covering both atmospheric and soil physics, the reader is introduced to the physics that is needed to understand, analyse and prevent environmental problems. Whilst the rigor and methodology has been maintained in the Second Edition there has been a greater integration of physics with the natural environment throughout the text. More student exercises have been added to each chapter and more information has been provided to help the reader solve them. Some of the more challenging mathematics has been removed, and greater emphasis has been placed on the interpretation of spectra.

FEATURES

Carefully structured, topics are gradually introduced within each chapter, each of which conclude with student exercises and references.

Thoroughly updated throughout, with more modern examples and applications, and less abstract mathematicsMore student exercises along with increased help for solving them.

Greater emphasis on the interpretation of spectra.

CONTENTS: |Introduction: The Essentials of Environmental Physics; Elementary Spectroscopy; The Global Climate; Energy for Human Use; Transport of Pollutants; Noise; Environmental Spectroscopy: Some Examples; The Context of Society; Gauss, Delta and Error Functions; Vector Differentiations; Physical and Numerical Constants.

Environmental Physics, Second Edition presents a broad discussion of the physics which is used to analyse, prevent or reduce environmental problems. Both experimental and theoretical techniques are covered, including environmental spectroscopy, the generation of energy for human use, the transport of pollutants and the study of noise. Importantly, the final chapter places these issues firmly in the context of human society. New features:
* excursions on special topics such as the Grätzel solar cell, co-generation of heat and power, chaos, self-organized criticality
* greater emphasis on the interpretation of spectra
* more student exercises and more information to help the reader solve them
* a manual with worked-out exercises is available for instructors.
Environmental Physics, Second Edition is a highly topical and timely textbook which will be invaluable to all students of environmental physics or environmental science, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Environmental scientists who need to know how physical methods can be used to help their work, will also find this book extremely useful. The front cover shows an example of atmospheric monitoring by satellite. The data visualize the total ozone concentration from ground level upwards measured by the GOME equipment of the European Space Agency, on 7 October 1995 and prepared by Ankie Piters. Reproduced by courtesy of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute .