Textbook

Visualizing Environmental Science, 2nd Edition

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The first edition of Visualizing Environmental Science offered students a valuable opportunity to identify and connect the central issues of environmental science through a visual approach. This second edition remains true to that vision, but the visuals have been refined and expanded using insights from research on student learning. Visualizing Environmental Science 2e is designed to help students acquire the skills they need to become better learners. Created in collaboration with the National Geographic Society and our Wiley Visualizing Consulting Editor, Professor Jan Plass of New York University, Visualizing Environmental Science 2e integrates rich visuals and media with text to direct student’s attention to important information. This approach reduces the cognitive load of complex processes, organizes related pieces of information, and integrates information into clear representations. Beautifully illustrated, Visualizing Environmental Science 2e shows your students what the discipline is all about—its main concepts and applications—while also instilling an appreciation and excitement about the richness of the subject.

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Table of Contents

Foreword.

Preface.

1. The Environmental Challenges We Face.

Introduction: A World in Crisis.

Human Impacts on the Environment.

Sustainability and Earth� ™s Capacity to Support Humans.

Environmental Science.

How We Handle Environmental Problems.

Case Study: The New Orleans Disaster.

2. Environmental Sustainability and Human Values.

Introduction: The Global Commons.

Human Use of the Earth.

Human Values and Environmental Problems.

Environmental Justice.

An Overall Plan for Sustainable Living.

Case Study: Jakarta, Indonesia.

3. Environmental History, Politics, and Economics.

Introduction: Old Growth Forest of the Pacific Northwest.

Conservation and Preservation of Resources.

Environmental History.

Environmental Legislation.

Environmental Economics.

Case Study: Environmental Problems in Central and Eastern Europe.

4. Risk Analysis and Environmental Health Hazards.

Introduction: Pesticides and Children.

A Perspective on Risks.

Environmental Health Hazards.

Movement and Fate of Toxicants.

How We Determine the Health Effects of Pollutants.

The Precautionary Principle.

Case Study: Endocrine Disrupters.

5. How Ecosystems Work.

Introduction: Lake Victoria� ™s Ecological Imbalance.

What is Ecology?

The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems.

The Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems.

Ecological Niches.

Interactions Among Organisms.

Case Study: Global Climate Change: Is There an Imbalance in the Carbon Cycle?

6. Ecosystems and Evolution.

Introduction: The Florida Everglades.

Earth� ™s Major Biomes.

Aquatic Ecosystems.

Population Responses to Changing Conditions Over Time: Evolution.

Community Responses to Changing Conditions over Time: Succession.

Case Study: Wildfires.

7. Human Population Change and the Environment.

Introduction: Slowing Population Growth in China.

Population Ecology.

Human Population Patterns.

Demographics of Countries.

Stabilizing World Population.

Population and Urbanization.

Case Study: Urban Planning in Curitiba, Brazil.

8. Air and Air Population.

Introduction: Long-Distance Transport of Air Pollution.

The Atmosphere.

Types and Sources of Air Pollution.

Effects of Air Pollution.

Controlling Air Pollutants.

Indoor Air Pollution.

Case Study: Curbing Air Pollution in Chattanooga.

9. Global Atmospheric Changes.

Introduction: Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels.

The Atmosphere and Climate.

Global Climate Change.

Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere.

Acid Deposition.

Case Study: International Implications of Global Climate Change.

10. Freshwater Resources and Water Pollution.

Introduction: The Missouri River: A Battle Over Water Rights.

The Importance of Water.

Water-Resource Problems.

Water Management.

Water Pollution.

Improving Water Quality.

Case Study: Water Pollution in the Great Lakes.

11. The Ocean and Fisheries.

Introduction: Depleting Bluefin Tuna Stocks.

The Global Ocean.

Major Ocean Life Zones.

Human Impacts on the Ocean.

Addressing Ocean Problems.

Case Study: Humans and the Antarctic Food Web.

12. Mineral and Soil Resources.

Introduction: Copper Basin, Tennessee.

Plate Tectonics and The Rock Cycle.

Economic Geology: Useful Minerals.

Environmental Implications of Mineral Use.

Soil Properties and Processes.

Soil Problems and Conservation.

Case Study: Industrial Ecosystems.

13. Land Resources.

Introduction: Korup National Park.

Land Use in the United States.

Forests.

Rangelands.

National Parks and Wilderness Areas.

Conservation of Land Resources.

Case Study: The Tongas Debate Over Clear-Cutting.

14. Agriculture and Food Resources.

Introduction: Maintaining Grain Stockpiles for Food Security.

World Food Problems.

The Principle Types of Agriculture.

Challenges of Agriculture.

Solutions to Agriculture Problems.

Controlling Agriculture Pests.

Case Study: DDT and the American Bald Eagle.

15. Biological Resources.

Introduction: Disappearing Frogs.

Species Richness and Biological Diversity.

Endangered and Extinct Species.

Conservation Biology.

Conservation Policies and Laws.

Case Study: Reintroducing the California Condor.

16. Solid and Hazardous Waste.

Introduction: Reusing and Recycling Old Automobiles.

Solid Waste.

Reducing Solid Waste.

Hazardous Waste.

Managing Hazardous Waste.

Case Study: High-Tech Waste.

17. Nonrenewable Energy Resources.

Introduction: Addiction to Oil.

Energy Consumption.

Coal.

Oil and Natural Gas.

Nuclear Energy.

Case Study: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

18. Renewable Energy Resources.

Introduction: Cleaner Cars, Cleaner Fuels.

Direct Solar Energy.

Indirect Solar Energy.

Other Renewable Energy Sources.

Energy Solutions: Conservation and Efficiency.

Case Study: Green Architecture.

Glossary.

Credits.

Index.

New To This Edition

The visuals have been refined and expanded using insights from research on student learning.
New key theme, “From Global to Local/Local to Global” is integrated throughout the second edition to reinforce the integrated theme that environmental science covers issues from the local to the global scale. An icon highlights key content within the text, as well as end-of-chapter Critical Thinking Questions.
Visualizing Environmental Science 2e is organized around the premise that humans created the world’s environmental dilemmas and now must address these issues as we use Earth’s resources and seek to avoid the future disasters so often predicted in the media.

Hallmark Features

Chapter Introductions illustrate certain concepts in the chapter with concise stories about some of today’s most pressing environmental issues. These narratives are featured alongside striking accompanying photographs. The chapter openers also include illustrated Chapter Outlines that use thumbnails of illustrations from the chapter to refer visually to the content.
Visualizing features are specially designed multi-part visual spreads that focus on a key concept or topic in the chapter, exploring it in detail or in broader context using a combination of photos and figures.
Process Diagrams present a multi-step figure or a combination of figures that describes and depicts a complex process, helping students to observe, follow, and understand the process.
What a Scientist Sees features highlight a concept or phenomenon, using photos and figures that would stand out to a professional in the field, and helping students to develop observational skills.
EnviroDiscovery features provide additional topical material about relevant environmental issues.
The illustrated Case Studies that cap off the text sections of each chapter offer a wide variety of in-depth examinations that address important issues in the field of environmental science.