Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community PDF Author: H. Barth
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400934513
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 620

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Book Description
PH. BOURDEAU Directorate-General Science. Research and Development. Commission of the European Communities. Brussels. Belgium We are living on a unique planet, the only one in the solar system where life exists. The very existence of life has modified the physical and chemical environment of the earth, its atmosphere and oceans, in a way that makes life sustainable. This system with its complex cybernetic mechanisms has been named GAIA by Lovelock. Man has always interfered with it on a more or less limited scale. This interference is now reaching global proportions such as climate modifications resulting from CO and trace gas 2 accumulation in the atmosphere or the destruction of stratospheric ozone, not to speak of global radioactive contamination. GAIA will probably prevail as a living system but it probably does not give much importance to man's survival as such, and it is man that has to take care of his own survival. In the ecosystem of Planet Earth, soils are the thin interface between lithosphere and atmosphere which constitutes the essential substrate for the terrestrial biosphere, the productivity of which far exceeds that of the oceans, even though the latter cover a much larger area than the continents. Soils themselves are complex systems. They develop through weathering of minerals, are colonised by living organisms which in turn modify their substrate making it suitable for other organisms. This induces a primary ecological succession which eventually reaches a climax, in equilibrium between climate, soil and the biological communities.

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community PDF Author: H. Barth
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400934513
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 620

Get Book Here

Book Description
PH. BOURDEAU Directorate-General Science. Research and Development. Commission of the European Communities. Brussels. Belgium We are living on a unique planet, the only one in the solar system where life exists. The very existence of life has modified the physical and chemical environment of the earth, its atmosphere and oceans, in a way that makes life sustainable. This system with its complex cybernetic mechanisms has been named GAIA by Lovelock. Man has always interfered with it on a more or less limited scale. This interference is now reaching global proportions such as climate modifications resulting from CO and trace gas 2 accumulation in the atmosphere or the destruction of stratospheric ozone, not to speak of global radioactive contamination. GAIA will probably prevail as a living system but it probably does not give much importance to man's survival as such, and it is man that has to take care of his own survival. In the ecosystem of Planet Earth, soils are the thin interface between lithosphere and atmosphere which constitutes the essential substrate for the terrestrial biosphere, the productivity of which far exceeds that of the oceans, even though the latter cover a much larger area than the continents. Soils themselves are complex systems. They develop through weathering of minerals, are colonised by living organisms which in turn modify their substrate making it suitable for other organisms. This induces a primary ecological succession which eventually reaches a climax, in equilibrium between climate, soil and the biological communities.

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community PDF Author: H. Barth
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9789401080453
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 630

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Book Description
PH. BOURDEAU Directorate-General Science. Research and Development. Commission of the European Communities. Brussels. Belgium We are living on a unique planet, the only one in the solar system where life exists. The very existence of life has modified the physical and chemical environment of the earth, its atmosphere and oceans, in a way that makes life sustainable. This system with its complex cybernetic mechanisms has been named GAIA by Lovelock. Man has always interfered with it on a more or less limited scale. This interference is now reaching global proportions such as climate modifications resulting from CO and trace gas 2 accumulation in the atmosphere or the destruction of stratospheric ozone, not to speak of global radioactive contamination. GAIA will probably prevail as a living system but it probably does not give much importance to man's survival as such, and it is man that has to take care of his own survival. In the ecosystem of Planet Earth, soils are the thin interface between lithosphere and atmosphere which constitutes the essential substrate for the terrestrial biosphere, the productivity of which far exceeds that of the oceans, even though the latter cover a much larger area than the continents. Soils themselves are complex systems. They develop through weathering of minerals, are colonised by living organisms which in turn modify their substrate making it suitable for other organisms. This induces a primary ecological succession which eventually reaches a climax, in equilibrium between climate, soil and the biological communities.

Soil Erosion in Europe

Soil Erosion in Europe PDF Author: John Boardman
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470859113
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 878

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Book Description
Provides a unique and comprehensive assessment of soil erosion throughout Europe, an important aspect to control and manage if landscapes are to be sustained for the future. Written in two parts, Soil Erosion in Europe primarily focuses on current issues, area specific soil erosion rates, on and off-site impacts, government responses, soil conservation measures, and soil erosion risk maps. The first part overviews the erosion processes and the problems encountered within each European country, whilst the second section takes a cross-cutting theme approach. Based on an EU-funded project that has been running for four years with erosion scientists from 19 countries Reviews contemporary erosion processes and rates on arable and rangeland in Europe Looks at current issues, such as socio-economic drivers, controlling factors specific to the country and changes in land use

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community

Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


The European Community (EC)

The European Community (EC) PDF Author: Mary E. Lassanyi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Europe
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description


Climate and Land Degradation

Climate and Land Degradation PDF Author: Mannava VK Sivakumar
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3540724389
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 629

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Book Description
Based on an International Workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania, this book presents state-of-the-art papers, real world applications, and innovative techniques for combating land degradation. It offers recommendations for effectively using weather and climate information for sustainable land management practices.

Legal and Institutional Frameworks for Sustainable Soils

Legal and Institutional Frameworks for Sustainable Soils PDF Author: Ian Hannam
Publisher: IUCN
ISBN: 283170653X
Category : Crops and soils
Languages : en
Pages : 104

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Book Description
The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development placed a responsibility on States to protect the local, regional and global environment, especially problems shared by the whole community such as soil degradation. The knowledge of the severe degradation situation of the world's soils and of the poor state of the soil legislation led the IUCN to pass a Soil Resolution at its World Congress in October 2000 for the IUCN Environmental Law Program to develop legal guidelines, explanatory material and investigate a global legal instrument for the sustainable use of soils, while paying particular attention to the ecological needs of soil and their ecological functions for the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance of human life. This book discusses an ecological-based rationale for new international, national and regional legislation and institutional frameworks for sustainable soil, and a basis for the preparation of the instruments.

Chemical Exposure Predictions

Chemical Exposure Predictions PDF Author: Davide Calamari
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780873718523
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Book Description
Chemical Exposure Predictions discusses the challenges of analyzing biological and geological cycles of various chemical substances and evaluating their potential exposure "from the cradle to the grave." The book examines physico-chemical properties, the possibilities for predicting degradation, and partition coefficients and kinetics of distribution phenomena. It also covers how to validate predictions and presents examples of hazard assessment. Chemical Exposure Predictions will be an indispensable reference for environmental chemists, environmental toxicologists, ecotoxicologists, occupational health specialists, regulatory personnel, and environmental consultants.

Contaminants in Terrestrial Environments

Contaminants in Terrestrial Environments PDF Author: Otto Fränzle
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642773664
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 457

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Book Description
Defining ecology as a system-theory oriented synthesis of both earth and life sciences, the book aims at a novel co- herent understanding of chemicalimpact on the lower at- mosphere and characteristic types of terrestrial ecosystems. To this end comprehensive flux-analytical and hierarchical modelling approaches were developed and consulted, which in- clude a thorough consideration of the specific physical and geographic boundary conditions of the processes involved. The first part is devoted to fundamentals of environmental chemistry and ecology, while the second deals with the com- plex atmospheric pathways of anthropogenic chemicals. In the last part, the manifold interactions of these compounds or their metabolites with the soil-vegetation complex of eco- systems are described. Chapters on pollutant impact on mate- rials and a review of chemical fate modelling are included. Thus scientists and practitioners facing ecological projects may expect to obtain a deeper insight into landscape ecology from the impact point of view owing to the concise presenta- tion of complex mechanisms and the generalized modelling ap- proach.

Trace Elements in Terrestrial Environments

Trace Elements in Terrestrial Environments PDF Author: Domy C. Adriano
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 0387215107
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 888

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Book Description
A comprehensive reference handbook on the important aspects of trace elements in the land environment. Each chapter addresses a particular element and gives a general introduction to their role in the environment, where they come from, and their biogeochemical cycles. In addition to a complete updating of each of the element chapters, this new edition has new chapters devoted to aluminum and iron, soil contamination, remediation and trace elements in aquatic ecosystems. In short, an essential resource for environmental scientists and chemists, regulators and policy makers.