Global Environmental Change

Description

Now in its second edition. This text has been extensively revised and rewritten to reflect the growth in environmental research during the last decade. Human-induced environmental change is occurring at such a rapid rate that, inevitably, the fundamental processes involved in biogeochemical cycling are being altered. Global Environmental Change considers alterations to the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and other elements as a result of industrial/technological development and agriculture, which have significantly altered the natural environment. The book adopts a temporal and spatial approach to environmental change, beginning with the natural environmental change of the Quaternery period and continuing with the culturally-induced change since the inception of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Cover Title Page Dedication Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Nature, culture and environmental change 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The development of ideas about environmental change 1.3 Modern concepts: environmental systems and Gaia 1.4 Agents and processes of environmental change 1.5 People/environment relationships 1.6 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 2 Quaternary geology and climatic change 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Quaternary subdivisions based on the terrestrial record 2.3 The record of climatic change from the oceans 2.4 The record of climatic change from ice cores 2.5 Tree rings, historical and meteorological records 2.6 Causes of climate change 2.7 Environmental change in high latitudes 2.8 Environmental change in middle latitudes 2.9 Environmental change in low latitudes 2.10 Sea-level changes 2.11 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 3 Environmental change in the late- and post-glacial periods 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The interglacial cycle 3.3 Climatic change during the late-glacial period 3.4 Regional expression of changes during the late-glacial period 3.5 Faunal changes during the late-glacial period 3.6 Climatic change during the early Holocene 3.7 Regional expression of changes during the early Holocene 3.8 Climatic change during the later Holocene 3.9 Regional expression of changes during the later Holocene 3.10 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 4 Prehistoric communities as agents of environmental change 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The evolution of modern humans 4.3 The relationship between environment and Palaeolithic groups 4.4 The relationship between environment and Mesolithic groups 4.5 Domestication of plants and animals: the beginnings of agriculture 4.5.1 Centres of plant domestication: the Near East 4.5.2 Centres of the Far East 4.5.3 The sub-Saharan centre 4.5.4 Centres of the Americas 4.5.5 The domestication of animals 4.6 The Neolithic period 4.7 The Bronze Age 4.8 The Iron Age 4.9 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 5 Environmental change in the historic period 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The impact of the Greeks and Romans 5.3 The Middle Ages (ca. 400-1400) 5.4 The period 1400-1750 5.5 Immediate consequences of industrialisation, 1750-1914 5.6 Rural changes after 1750 5.7 Changes in Africa following European settlement 5.8 Changes in the Americas following European settlement 5.9 Changes in Australia and New Zealand following European settlement 5.10 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 6 Environmental change due to post-1700 industrialisation 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Changes where mineral extraction occurs 6.3 Changes distant from the source of mineral extraction 6.4 Reclamation of mine-damaged land 6.5 Changes due to fossil-fuel use: global warming 6.5.1 Greenhouse gases: sources and sinks 6.5.2 The potential impact of global warming 6.6 Changes due to fossil-fuel use: acidification 6.7 Ozone and lead problems 6.8 Changes caused by disposal of waste materials 6.9 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 7 The environmental impact of agriculture in the developed world 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Landscape change: loss of habitats and biodiversity 7.3 Soil degradation, erosion and conservation 7.4 Desertification 7.5 Water quality: cultural eutrophication 7.6 Soil and water quality: salinisation 7.7 The impact of crop-protection agents 7.8 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 8 The environmental impact of agriculture in the developing world 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Landscape change: loss of natural habitats and biodiversity 8.3 Soil degradation, erosion and conservation 8.4 Desertification 8.5 Soils: salinisation, alkalinisation and waterlogging 8.6 The impact of agriculture on water quality 8.7 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 9 Other agents of change: forestry, recreation and tourism, biotechnology 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Forestry and afforestation in the developed world 9.3 Forestry and afforestation in the developing world 9.4 The impact of recreational activities 9.5 The impact of tourism 9.6 The environmental implications of biotechnology 9.6.1 Agriculture 9.6.2 Other applications 9.7 Conclusion Further reading Chapter 10 Conclusion and prospect 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Environmental factors: a series of perspectives 10.2.1 The Quaternary period 10.2.2 The impact of industrialisation 10.2.3 The impact of agriculture 10.2.4 The implications of social and political factors 10.3 Environmental factors: their future impacts 10.3.1 The future of the climate 10.3.2 The future effects of industrialisation 10.3.3 The future effects of agriculture 10.3.4 The future effects of social and political factors 10.4 Envoi Further reading References Index