Environmental Science: Physical Principles and Applications

by Egbert Boeker; Rienk van Grondelle

• ISBN13: 9780471495765
• ISBN10: 047149576X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

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. Mathematics is kept to a minimum, although some background (school) knowledge of science is assumed. Courses would be taught in physics, environmental science and physical science departments. Comprehensively covering the field, this book brings together the latest developments, theories, research and concerns, from both the scientific and social sides. Placing the environment firmly at the centre of the scientific agenda, it provides all the background needed by readers to fully understand this important and often 'hype-driven' subject. Whilst mathematics is introduced where necessary, it is carefully explained and kept simple, with derivations generally being avoided. Wherever possible, topics of current concern and relevance are included, and many examples, features and appetisers or mini-case studies are included, frequently drawn from publications such as New Scientist, Nature, Science, Physics Today and Scientific American. The book starts with a general overview of the subject, and then moves on to cover climate, energy, pollutants, noise, measurements and social aspects.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xv
Introduction: A Physics Approach to Environmental Problems	1	(30)
What are Environmental Problems - Pollution	2	(5)
Pollution	2	(3)
Standards	5	(2)
The Economic and Social Context	7	(3)
Environment as a resource	7	(1)
Environment for enjoyment	8	(1)
Political choices	8	(2)
Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum	10	(8)
The Solar spectrum	10	(3)
Black body radiation	13	(3)
Photosynthesis: capturing and storing solar energy	16	(1)
Harnessing solar power by technology	17	(1)
The Greenhouse Effect	18	(3)
Human induced changes	20	(1)
Natural changes	20	(1)
Transport of Pollutants	21	(2)
The Gauss function	21	(2)
The Carbon Cycle	23	(8)
The oceans	24	(2)
The land	26	(1)
The final steady state	27	(1)
Conclusion	28	(1)
Exercises	28	(3)
Weather and Climate	31	(32)
Energy Transport	32	(4)
The energy transport to the poles	34	(2)
The Atmosphere, Vertical Structure and Motion	36	(10)
Vertical structure of the atmosphere	36	(6)
Vertical motion of (humid) air	42	(4)
Horizontal Motion of Air	46	(8)
Newton's Equations of Motion	47	(7)
Origin of pressure differences	54	(1)
The Oceans	54	(9)
The big oceans	55	(4)
El Nino and NAO	59	(2)
Exercises	61	(2)
Climate Change	63	(34)
Natural Changes of Climate	63	(7)
The orientation of the earth (Milankovitch effect)	65	(3)
The changing sun	68	(1)
Catastrophes	69	(1)
Human induced changes	70	(15)
The global radiation balance in more detail	70	(6)
Infrared absorption by greenhouse gases	76	(5)
Time delays in climate change	81	(4)
Consequences of Climate Change	85	(6)
The IS92a IPCC model	85	(2)
Sea level rise	87	(1)
Agriculture	88	(1)
Extreme weather conditions	88	(1)
Health	89	(1)
Surprises	90	(1)
Conclusion	90	(1)
Reactions to Climate Change	91	(6)
Criticisms of the IPCC analyses	91	(1)
Improved and continued modelling	92	(2)
Countermeasures	94	(1)
Adapting to change	94	(1)
Exercises	95	(2)
Conventional Energy	97	(54)
Physics of Heat	99	(9)
Heat transport	99	(9)
Heat and Power: Thermodynamics	108	(23)
Mechanical work	109	(2)
Heat	111	(1)
First law - conservation of energy	112	(1)
Entropy	113	(2)
The second law - no `perpetual motion'	115	(1)
Heat engines	115	(1)
Refrigerator	116	(2)
Examples of heat engines	118	(5)
Internal combustion	123	(1)
Exergy and energy	124	(3)
Useful thermodynamic functions	127	(4)
Converting Heat into Power: Problems and `Solutions'	131	(20)
Use of fossil fuels	131	(8)
Electricity production	139	(10)
Exercises	149	(2)
Carbonfree Energies	151	(36)
Renewable energies	151	(22)
Solar energy	152	(9)
Wind energy	161	(5)
Hydropower	166	(1)
Bio-energy	167	(6)
Nuclear Power	173	(14)
Half life	173	(1)
Binding energy	174	(1)
Fission	175	(1)
Nuclear Power Stations	176	(4)
Radiation and Health	180	(2)
Safety and Accidents	182	(3)
Exercises	185	(2)
Making up the Balance	187	(14)
Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources	187	(5)
Greenhouse gases	187	(1)
Pollution	188	(2)
Resources	190	(2)
Defining the task	192	(9)
Comfort	192	(4)
Building	196	(3)
Exercises	199	(2)
Transport of Pollutants	201	(32)
Basic Concepts	202	(10)
Diffusion	202	(8)
Sorption	210	(1)
Biological aspects	211	(1)
Reynolds number	211	(1)
Dispersion in the Air	212	(7)
Turbulent diffusion: real plumes and Gaussian plumes	213	(6)
Deposition	219	(1)
Dispersion in Surface Waters	219	(3)
Calamity: a poisonous discharge into a river	221	(1)
Dispersion by Groundwater	222	(11)
The surface layer	223	(4)
Darcy's equations	227	(2)
Sources and sinks	229	(1)
Cleaning of groundwater	229	(1)
Exercises	230	(3)
Noise	233	(20)
Physics of Sound	234	(8)
Sound waves	234	(5)
Sound pressure level	239	(3)
Acoustic intensity	242	(1)
Human hearing	242	(4)
dBA correction	243	(2)
Regulations	245	(1)
Reducing Sound Levels	246	(7)
Noise reduction	246	(5)
Exercises	251	(2)
Environmental Spectroscopy	253	(28)
Basic Spectroscopy	254	(5)
The electromagnetic spectrum	255	(2)
Transition between states: absorption and emission	257	(2)
The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level	259	(3)
How the solar spectrum changes when travelling to the earth	260	(2)
Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy	262	(8)
General overview of spectroscopic methods	262	(2)
Some examples	264	(6)
Solar UV, Ozone and Life	270	(11)
Solar UV and biological molecules	272	(1)
The ozone filter	273	(4)
Lidar as a technique to measure stratospheric ozone	277	(2)
Ozone in the troposphere	279	(1)
Exercises	280	(1)
Geophysical Methods	281	(24)
Radioactive Clocks	281	(5)
Radioactivity	281	(5)
Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors	286	(7)
Fractionation	287	(1)
The 13C effect	288	(2)
Water with heavy isotopes: 18O and 2H (or D)	290	(3)
Magnetic Surveys	293	(5)
Earth's magnetic field	294	(2)
Magnetic susceptibility	296	(2)
Seismic Probing	298	(7)
Seismic waves	299	(1)
Analysis of the underground by refraction	300	(2)
Exercises	302	(3)
Science and Society	305	(30)
Finite Resources of Energy	306	(4)
Scarce resources	306	(4)
Pollution and Health Effects	310	(4)
Acceptable dose	313	(1)
Accidents	314	(1)
Environmental Policy	314	(9)
Sustainable development	317	(2)
Climate change	319	(4)
Thinking about the Environment and Human Life	323	(5)
The central position of man	324	(1)
The feasibility of environmental management	324	(4)
The Responsibility of the Scientist	328	(7)
The nature of science	329	(1)
The control of science	330	(1)
A new social contract between science and society	331	(2)
Exercises and essay questions	333	(2)
Appendix A: Numerical and Physical Data	335	(2)
Appendix B: Simple Vector Algebra	337	(6)
Adding or subtracting of vectors	337	(1)
Multiplication of vectors	338	(2)
Vector differentiation	340	(3)
Appendix C: Miscellaneous Sources and Websites	343	(2)
Websites	343	(1)
Journals	344	(1)
Appendix D Experiments in a Students' Lab	345	(2)
Determine the hydraulic conductivity	345	(1)
Determine the thermal conductivity of sand	345	(1)
Heat transfer by radiation and convection	345	(1)
Laser Doppler Anemometry	346	(1)
Radon in the Environment	346	(1)
Remote Sensing	346	(1)
References	347
Index