Air Pollution in the Ural Mountains

Air Pollution in the Ural Mountains
Author: Igor Linkov
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 443
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 940115208X

Mankind has created pollution, and has suffered its consequences since time immemorial. This has intesified greatly since the industrial revolution. One of the main problems in society, and a major function of government is how to cope with this pollution. 80 years ago the maxim used to be "the solution to pollution is dilution"; to dilute any pollted water supply in a large river, or to build a tall chimney stack to dilute air pollutants into the air so that concentrations of pollutants are always low. Since 1950 western countries have gone further and made major attempts to reduce the emissions of the most important pollutants. The discussion of what is an important pollutant has changed. To S02 and heavy metals such as cadmium or arsenic we now add fine particles and even (when we discuss global climate change) C02. The experience and practice of the western countries was only partly followed in the USSR (although the switch from use of coal to natural gas in major cities around 1970 was very important). Since the collapse of the USSR it has become fashionable both in the west and inside Russia to blame all society's ills on pollution. The statistics do not bear out that conclusion, but pollution remains an important issue which can be reduced without significant detriment to other societal values.

The Particulate Air Pollution Controversy

The Particulate Air Pollution Controversy
Author: Robert F. Phalen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 135
Release: 2007-05-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0306482088

Small invisible particles in the urban air, especially those produced by human activities, have recently stimulated intense scrutiny, debate, regulation, and legal proceedings. The stakes are high, both with respect to health impacts and economic costs, and the methods used previously to resolve similar issues are no longer adequate. Everyone on earth inhales thousands to millions of particles in each breath, so if urban particulate air pollution—particulate matter (PM)—is significantly hazardous, the negative impact on health could be staggering. Yet the activities that generate PM, such as farming, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and generating electricity, are themselves essential to human health and welfare. Scientists, regulators, legislators, activists, judges, lawyers, journalists, and representatives of the business community are actively involved in addressing the question of what should be done. This complex issue presents opportunities for critically assessing the relevant knowledge and for adopting more rigorous approaches to this and similar problems. What is the PM controversy, and why is it a good case study for how science and public policy might better interface? The PM controversy is the sum of the frequently heated debates related to the potential health risks from urban PM.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment

The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment
Author: Philippus Wester
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 638
Release: 2019-01-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319922882

This open access volume is the first comprehensive assessment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. It comprises important scientific research on the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable mountain development and will serve as a basis for evidence-based decision-making to safeguard the environment and advance people’s well-being. The compiled content is based on the collective knowledge of over 300 leading researchers, experts and policymakers, brought together by the Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Programme (HIMAP) under the coordination of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). This assessment was conducted between 2013 and 2017 as the first of a series of monitoring and assessment reports, under the guidance of the HIMAP Steering Committee: Eklabya Sharma (ICIMOD), Atiq Raman (Bangladesh), Yuba Raj Khatiwada (Nepal), Linxiu Zhang (China), Surendra Pratap Singh (India), Tandong Yao (China) and David Molden (ICIMOD and Chair of the HIMAP SC). This First HKH Assessment Report consists of 16 chapters, which comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the HKH region, increase the understanding of various drivers of change and their impacts, address critical data gaps and develop a set of evidence-based and actionable policy solutions and recommendations. These are linked to nine mountain priorities for the mountains and people of the HKH consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals. This book is a must-read for policy makers, academics and students interested in this important region and an essentially important resource for contributors to global assessments such as the IPCC reports.

Impacts of Point Polluters on Terrestrial Biota

Impacts of Point Polluters on Terrestrial Biota
Author: Mikhail Kozlov
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 477
Release: 2009-07-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9048124670

The adverse consequences of pollution impact on terrestrial ecosystems have been under careful investigation since the beginning of the twentieth century. Several thousand case studies have documented the biotic effects occurring in contaminated areas. However, after more than a century of research, ecologists are still far from understanding the effects of pollution on biota. Only a few generalisations have been made on the basis of extensive monitoring programs and numerous expe- ments with industrial contaminants. The need to reveal general patterns in the responses of terrestrial biota to ind- trial pollution and to identify the sources of variation in these responses became obvious more than a decade ago. At about that time, our team initiated a quanti- tive research synthesis of the biotic effects caused by industrial pollution, based on 1 a meta-analysis of published data. All meta-analyses conducted so far (covering diversity and abundance of soil microfungi, diversity of vascular plants, diversity and abundance of terrestrial arthropods, and plant growth and reproduction) c- sistently showed high heterogeneity in the responses of terrestrial biota to industrial pollution. At the same time, they demonstrated an unexpected shortage of infor- tion suitable for meta-analyses, as well as a considerable influence of methodology of primary studies on the outcome of the research syntheses. To overcome the identified problems, we designed a comparative study, the results of which are reported in this book.

Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in Environment

Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in Environment
Author: Marina Marinova
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401009937

This volume entitled "Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in Environment" contains the Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) "Monitoring of Natural and Man-Made Radionuclides and Heavy Metal Waste in Environment" that was held at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JlNR), Dubna, Russia from 3 October to 6 October, 2000. Originally, it was planned to held the ARW in 1999, the year when NATO was celebrating its 50th anniversary. Few days before opening it had to be postponed because of problems in issuing visa for all the colleagues who intended to participate. The ARW was organized and conducted by the co-directors Prof. Vladimir P. Perelygin, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia and Dr. Peter Vater, Philipps Universitat, Marburg, Germany. The JlNR was chosen as the host institute of ARW because of the lack of contact and real co-operation between the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries specialists in ecology and their Western well experienced colleagues. The selection of this location and supplementary funds provided by Russian Foundation on Basic Research, Moscow, Russia, and the JINR, Dubna., Russia made it possible to attain a rather large number of participants and observers from FSU countries. The JlNR provided to all the participants of the workshop an effective car/minibus transportation Moscow-Dubna-Moscow and a rather good accommodation in Dubna.

Global Atmospheric Change and its Impact on Regional Air Quality

Global Atmospheric Change and its Impact on Regional Air Quality
Author: Ian Barnes
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401000824

The NATO ARW in Irkutsk was an excellent occasion for the coming together of Eastern and Western scientists who are involved in tropospheric science; the workshop has greatly contributed to the scientific and social understanding among the participants from the many different countries. Many new personal contacts were made which will help to strengthen future collaborations. In particular, the Lake Baikal area and the Limnological Institute offer splendid opportunities for environmental research which, in part, is already on going. For most participants it was the first time to see the impressive nature of the Lake Baikal region. Hopefully, there will be a chance for a follow-up event in Siberia where researchers from the East and West can again meet and engage in fruitful scientific dialogue. The book contains extended abstracts of the lectures and the poster presentations presented at the NATO ARW "Global Atmospheric Change and its Impact on Regional Air Quality" Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Russian Federation, August 21-27, 2001. The ARW was composed of 22 oral presentations by key lecturers and 6 additional shorter oral presentations from participants. In a special poster session the 36 poster contributions were presented and discussed. Unfortunately not all contributors submitted extended abstracts, however, to compensate two contributions have been added from 2 participants who were originally invited but were unable to attend.

Environmental Resilience and Transformation in times of COVID-19

Environmental Resilience and Transformation in times of COVID-19
Author: A.L. Ramanathan
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 438
Release: 2021-05-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0323858031

Environmental Resilience and Transformation in Times of COVID-19: Climate Change Effects on Environmental Functionality is a timely reference to better understand environmental changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns. The book is organized into five themes: (1) environmental modifications, degradation, and human health risks; (2) water resources—planning, management, and governance; (3) air quality—monitoring, fate, transport, and drivers of socioenvironmental change; (4) marine and lacustrine environment; and (5) sustainable development goals and environmental justice. These themes provide an insight into the impact of COVID-19 on the environment and vice versa, which will help improve environmental management and planning, as well as influence future policies. Featuring many case studies from around the globe, this book offers a crucial examination of the intersectionality between climate, sustainability, the environment, and public health for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in environmental science. - Features global case studies to illustrate themes and address issues to support environmental management - Offers fundamental and practical understanding of ways to improve and validate predictive abilities and tools in addition to response - Examines climate-related trends in the spread of the pandemic - Presents different ways forward in order to achieve global goals with a specific focus on SDGs

Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Change

Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Change
Author: Sarah Metcalfe
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2014-05-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1134657374

Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Change is an introduction to the major pollutants causing concern today, a description of their sources and how their emissions and concentrations have changed through time. Approaching atmospheric change in the context of its effects on the natural environment, people and the global climate system, Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Change examines: ·Atmospheric pollution at global, continental and local scales ·The development of policy at national and international levels ·The uses of computer models to help us understand and forecast the behaviour of pollutants and their impacts ·The success (or otherwise) of policies designed to reduce air pollution and the prospects for the future. With extensive references to useful web sites and further reading, Atmospheric Pollution and Environmental Change will be of great benefit to senior undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Mountains

Mountains
Author: James Fargo Balliett
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2016-07-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 131549700X

Always awe-inspiring, mountainous areas contain hundreds of millions of years of history, stretching back to the earliest continental landforms. This book shows how mountains are characterized by their distinctive geological, ecological, and biological conditions. Often, they are so large that they create their own weather patterns. They also store nearly one-third of the world’s freshwater—in the form of ice and snow—on their slopes. Despite their daunting size and often formidable climates, mountains are affected by growing local populations, as well as distant influences, such as air pollution and global climate change. Three detailed case studies are presented. The first shows how global warming in East Africa is harming Mount Kenya’s regional population, which relies on mountain runoff to irrigate farms for subsistence crops. The second examines the fragile ecology of the South Island Mountain in New Zealand’s Southern Alps and how development threatens the region’s endemic plant and animal species. The third discusses the impact of mountain use over time in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, where management efforts have been used to limit the growing footprint of millions of annual visitors and alpine trekkers.

Recent Advances in Lichenology

Recent Advances in Lichenology
Author: Dalip Kumar Upreti
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2014-12-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 8132221818

This book discusses in detail molecular, mycobiont culture, biomonitoring and bioprospection of lichens, providing insights into advances in different fields of lichenology by applying modern techniques and approaches and examining how their application has enhanced or changed classical approaches. It offers a valuable resource, especially for beginners, students and researchers from different academic backgrounds interested in the study of lichens. In recent years, the introduction of modern analytical techniques and approaches has significantly improved our understanding of the environment, including lichens. Lichens are unique organisms which possess untapped potential as effective and reliable bioindicators, sources of therapeutic phytochemicals, and as excellent extremophiles. The unique and peculiar characteristics of lichens underline the need for a multidimensional approach to explore their potential in various fields of environment science, botany and chemistry. Modern techniques, especially molecular techniques, have greatly enriched the field of lichen taxonomy and its position in the plant kingdom, revealing little-known species and exploring their evolutionary history, while multivariate analysis and GIS approaches have established lichens as an ideal and reliable tool for monitoring air pollution. Advanced culture techniques have expanded the pharmacological applications of lichens, which was formerly restricted due to their small biomass. The advent of sophisticated analytical instrumentation has now facilitated the isolation and characterization of lichens’ bioactive constituents, even in lower concentrations, as well as the estimation of their stress responses at different levels of pollution. As lichen diversity is adversely affected by increasing air pollution, there is a pressing need to develop effective management practices to conserve, restore and document lichen diversity.