Government Institutes
Pages: 416
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978-1-60590-773-4 • Hardback • December 2011 • $101.00 • (£78.00)
978-1-60590-774-1 • eBook • December 2011 • $96.00 • (£74.00)
Frank R. Spellman is author of more than seventy published texts covering many areas of environmental science. He is also a consultant to the U.S. Department of Justice on environmental health issues related to the U.S. military services. He has a BS in management and MBA, MS, and PhD in environmental engineering.
Joni Price-Bayer is a speech language pathologist with Norfolk Public Schools. She has degrees in both English and education and is a professional member of the American Speech-Language Health Association. She coauthored In Defense of Science with Frank R. Spellman.
Preface
Part I What is Nature?
Chapter 1 Introduction
Part II Earth’s Structure
Chapter 2 Composition of Earth
Chapter 3 Reshaping Earth
Part III The Atmosphere: Earth’s Breath
Chapter 4 The Atmosphere
Chapter 5 Atmospheric Water Phenomena
Chapter 6 Atmosphere in Motion
Chapter 7 Weather and Climate
Part IV Water: Earth’s Blood
Chapter 8 Earth’s Water
Chapter 9 All About Water
Chapter 10 Earth’s Oceans and Their Margins
Chapter 11 Running Waters
Chapter 12 Still Waters
Part V Earth’s Life Forms
Chapter 13 Biosphere
Chapter 14 Ecosystems
Chapter 15 The Fundamental Unit of Life
Chapter 16 Biological Diversity
Chapter 17 Animal Groups
Part VI Wilderness
Chapter 18 Land Organism
Glossary
Intended for students and non-scientist general readers, this handbook constitutes a multilayered, conversational presentation of information about nature and how nature is studied. The first chapter asks "What is nature?" and includes a narrative about hiking and observing as well as discussion of US Forest Service Management of fire, and some of the processes of nature. Subsequent chapters focus on the earth's structure, the atmosphere, water, life forms (the biosphere, ecosystems, and animal groups), and wilderness. The substantial number of references and the glossary make this volume a good starting point for student research.
— Book News, Inc.