Environmental Science: Principles and Practices

Environmental Principles and Practices provides the scientific principles, concepts, applications, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, identify and analyze environmental problems both natural and manmade, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions (such as renewable energy sources) for resolving and even preventing them. Frank R. Spellman and Melissa Stoudt introduce the science of the environmental mediums of air, water, soil, and biota to undergraduate students.Interdisciplinary by nature, environmental science embraces a wide array of topics. Environmental Principles and Practices brings these topics together under several major themes, includingHow energy conversions underlie all ecological processesHow the earth's environment functions as an integrated systemHow human activities alter natural systemsHow the role of culture, social, and economic factors is vital to the development of solutionsHow human survival depends on practical ideas of stewardship and sustainabilityEnvironmental Principles and Practices is an ideal resource for students of science in the classroom and at home, in the library and the lab.