Research Catalog
The earth's biosphere : evolution, dynamics, and change
- Title
- The earth's biosphere : evolution, dynamics, and change / Vaclav Smil.
- Author
- Smil, Vaclav.
- Publication
- Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press, ©2002.
Items in the Library & Off-site
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1 Item
| Status | Format | Access | Call Number | Item Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Use in library | QH343.4 .S655 2002 | Off-site |
Details
- Description
- viii, 346 pages : illustrations, maps; 24 cm
- Summary
- "In his latest book, Vaclav Smil tells the story of the Earth's biosphere from its origins to its long-term future. He explains the workings of its parts and what is known about their interactions. He examines the biosphere's physics, chemistry, biology, geology, oceanography, energy, climatology, and ecology, as well as the changes caused by human activity. He provides both the basics of the story and surprising asides illustrating critical but often neglected aspects of biospheric complexity."--Jacket.
- Subject
- Bibliography (note)
- Includes bibliographical references (p. [289]-328) and indexes.
- Contents
- 1. Evolution of the idea : from Vernadsky to a science of the global environment -- 2. Life in the universe : attributes, constraints, and probabilities -- 3. Life's diversity and resilience : metabolisms, species, catastrophes -- 4. Energizing the biosphere : solar radiation and the Earth's heat -- 5. Water and material flows : biospheric cycles -- 6. The biosphere's extent : the moveable boundaries -- 7. The biosphere's mass and productivity : quantifying life's presence and performance -- 8. The biosphere's dynamics and organization : fundamental rules and grand patterns -- 9. Civilization and the biosphere : the Earth transformed by human action -- 10. Epilogue.
- ISBN
- 0262194724
- 9780262194723
- 0262692988
- 9780262692984
- LCCN
- 2001058705
- 9780262692984
- OCLC
- ocm48544425
- 48544425
- SCSB-1263005
- Owning Institutions
- Princeton University Library