Product Description

This accessible new textbook provides a thorough introduction to all aspects of groundwater systems and their management. Using straightforward language and analogies to everyday experiences, it explains the origins, nature, and behavior of subsurface water without resorting to complicated mathematics.

Groundwater in the Environment draws on case studies and cutting–edge research from around the world, giving a unique insight into groundwater occurring in a wide range of different climate zones and geological settings. This book:

• provides a robust, practical introduction to groundwater quality, and a succinct summary of modern remedial technologies for polluted groundwaters
  
• explores how groundwater fits into the wider natural environment, especially in relation to freshwater ecosystems
  
• considers the vulnerability of groundwater systems and the effects of pollution, climate change, land–use change, and overexploitation
  
• examines human dependence on water and the effect that this has on groundwater systems
  
• presents vivid examples of geohazards associated with ground waters
  
• explains the whys and wherefores of groundwater modeling
  
• examines competing philosophies of groundwater management, making the case for approaches which take social, economic and ecological issues into account.

Goundwater in the Environment provides an up–to–date, essential introduction for undergraduate students of environmental sciences, geography and geology. It will also be invaluable to professionals working in various fields of natural resource management who need accessible information on groundwater but who are reluctant to read conventional texts full of mathematical notation. For practicing hydrogeologists and engineers without formal training in freshwater ecology, this book provides a `crash course′ in the new frontiers of groundwater management.

Artwork from the book is available to instructors online at www.blackwellpublishing.com/younger and by request on CD–ROM.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #256074 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
"What a pleasure this book is! If you teach introductory hydrogeology to students of any discipline, then this book, by Paul Younger, is the one to recommend to your students as precourse or supplementary reading. If they read it, you will not need to give any lectures explaining the context, concepts, or issues...Put it at the top of your courses’ reading lists!" (David Lerner Groundwater Protection and Restoration Group, University of Sheffield, Groundwater Vol. 45, No. 3 2007)

From the Author
I'd like to think that 'Groundwater for Beginners' would be a suitable alternative title for this book. If you want to understand groundwater, aquifers and all that stuff without having to learn advanced mathematics first, then I've written this book for you. The focus is on conceptual understanding and appreciation of the occurrence and nature of groundwater in the real world. Once you have a grip on that, you can always cross the mathematical pain barrier and proceed with other higher-level texts if you want to - but you'll get a long way in decision-making on the basis of a sound conceptual understanding in any case. This book is also the first mainstream groundwater textbook to properly cover the links between aquifers and freshwater ecosystems - including those found within aquifers themselves. I hope I've also managed to bring a truly international perspective to the writing of this book - far too many existing books in the English language speak only about the USA or UK. Whilst neglecting neither of these two great countries, I have treied hard to make sure perpectives from developing countries and non-Anglophone cultures are also represented in the many examples I've used to enliven the text. Finally, having myself fallen asleep over too many books, I've tried to keep the prose as lively as possible, without belittling the serious content.

From the Inside Flap
This book provides a simple, yet rigorous and thorough, introduction to groundwater systems, without resorting to mathematical notation. Einstein argued that "the whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking". Accordingly, this book uses simple language and analogies to everyday experiences to explain the origins, nature and behaviour of subsurface water. It then goes on to explain how groundwater fits into the wider natural environment: how it feeds rivers and lakes, and the freshwater ecosystems which they host. Human dependence on aquifer resources is thoroughly explained, as well as the mortal dangers which groundwater processes can sometimes pose. The fragility of groundwater systems to pollution, climate change and over-exploitation is explored in depth. Even the principles and practice of advanced mathematical modelling of groundwater flow and reactive solute transport are set forth without recourse to the Greek alphabet! The book closes with an exposition of the competing philosophies of groundwater management, explaining how laissez-faire approaches are gradually being superseded by evaluations of the social, economic and ecological sustainability of alternative exploitation options for aquifers. Although written primarily to address the needs of undergraduate students in environmental sciences, geography and geology, the book will also be found useful by professionals working in various fields of natural resource management (e.g. ecologists, foresters, agriculturalists, surveyors, planners and environmental regulators) who often come across groundwater in their work, but are reluctant to read conventional texts replete with daunting equations. For practicing hydrogeologists and engineers who never received any formal training in freshwater ecology, or on issues such as climate change, this book provides a rapid ‘crash course’ in the new frontiers of groundwater management.