Amazon.com
Searching for answers to a "constellation of questions" about civilization and its assumptions, and for hope for the future of humanity, Alison Hawthorne Deming travels the world. Deming's work is an eloquent narrative that follows her ventures along the fringes of the wild, the uneasy boundary between civilization and its press into farther and farther grounds, "a fault line," she writes, "where pressure constantly builds, where the impingement of economic necessity abrades against nature."
Deming begins the book on an Oregon beach, a border that remakes itself each moment, and takes this theme of change to various reaches of the globe--islands in the sea of Cortez, the Bay of Fundy, southern Mexico, South America, and Hawaii. Traveling, for instance, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway in Colorado, Deming converses with urban planners, educators, commerce boosters, and residents about how tourism is altering that stretch of country. Contrasting new ways of thinking with old, Deming arrives at a deep and keen understanding of our present dilemmas.
Deming writes about people and place with a poetic voice that seems to soar toward some fragile resolution, assurance, and peace. Yet there is urgency in her questioning of civilization's course. Ultimately, she asks what many are asking--How are we to live?--and answers with a challenge to see ourselves as citizens, not of a singular place, but of the entire living and physical community we call Earth. --Byron Ricks
Book Description
As the world's population continues to press into what were once uninhabitable territories, we are left with distressingly little space and diminished natural resources. Troubled by tensions that inevitably arise when civilization intrudes upon wild regions, Alison Hawthorne Deming set out to answer questions that had long been on her mind. By what do we measure our progress as a civilization? In the absence of vast frontiers, can we manage our ever-increasing numbers? How can we strike a balance with a natural world that we threaten by our very presence?
To find the answers, she visited and lived in some of the most remote regions of our continent--southern Mexico, the Bay of Fundy, the islands in the Sea of Cortez--the edges of our crowded world. In places where fishing and logging are depleting the sea and land, and farmland has been handed over to developers, Deming sensed the pressures that tourism exerts on communities reluctantly willing to promote their regions' natural beauty. But what she also found was a fragile optimism that a new way of life may be created--one that reconciles the conflicts between the advance of civilization and the need to preserve our shrinking wilderness.
The Edges of the Civilized World is a beautifully written, honest, insightful, and thought-provoking book. With the language of a poet and the eye of a scientist, Alison Hawthorne Deming presents us with the difficult challenge of redefining our traditional notion of cultural progress and thinking of our future in new terms.
Customer Reviews:
stunning writing by a thoughtful writer.......2000-04-12
Alison Deming is both a scientist and a poet. She is kind of like Mulder & Scully wrapped into one. In this book, Deming explores several natural habitats--a small coastal town in Oregon is my personal favorite, since I've actually been to that one--and her relationship to them. How can we involve ourselves in nature without corrupting it? Is it possible? If not, then how do we learn about it? How can we enjoy it? Don't get me wrong though; this is not a prescriptive book on how to effectively enjoy nature without leaving behind unsnipped six-pack holders, but more a thoughtful, lyrical train of thought about our world and our place in it. Wonderful reading.
Book Description
Katrina's arrival on the Gulf Coast was a long time in coming. But it was assured. Since 1965, when Hurricane Betsy struck New Orleans, breached a levee, and flooded part of the city, everyone was waiting and talking about when the Big One would strike and do even more damage. Katrina was that hurricane, predictedand imagined before she struck, but so much worse in her reality.
Holding Back the Sea is about the consequences of ignoring the warning signs that nature provides and the struggle to convince the rest of the country that South Louisiana lay in the path of destruction. The signs were not subtle; there were Hurricanes Andrew in 1992, George and Mitch in 1998, and Ivan in 2004, among others. At one time or another in their journeys north, they all threatened New Orleans. Some had headed right for the city before veering to the east and west, sparing the Big Easy and reinforcing the nickname. But the Big Easy ended -- at least in reputation -- on August 29, 2005, when the Big One came ashore as Katrina.
Customer Reviews:
A great wake-up call.......2006-01-31
Incredibly relevant at this time. Being from Louisiana, I felt it was important for me to read this. And I recommend this as essential reading for anyone affected by Hurricane Katrina. The chapter specifically about New Orleans was so creepy that I re-read it once I was done. The book is written very matter-of-factly and uses so many agency names and acronyms that it sometimes gets bogged down in itself. But it still reads well, and is so well researched, that this is more than compensation. Would love to read a follow-up.
Book Description
Designed as a text for upper-level undergraduate and first-year graduate students, this volume attempts to establish the curriculum for the modern student entering the fledgling field of space physics. The book provides a broad, yet selective, treatment of the subject, covering virtually all aspects of space plasmas in the solar system. There are sections on the sun and solar wind, the magnetized and unmagnetized planets, and the fundamental process of space plasmas including shocks, plasma waves, ULF waves, wave-particle interactions, and auroral processes. In addition to emphasizing analysis, the authors also place importance on underlying phenomenology with extensive attention to observations.
Customer Reviews:
Space Physics? OH YEAH!.......2007-02-24
When I'm in the mood for a little exploration of stellar structure or maybe some light magnetohydrodynamics, this is the first thing I grab off the shelf. It's kept me interested and not at all wanting to gouge my eyeballs out for weeks!
Introduction to Space Physics.......2000-05-02
This is a very comprehensive book. It is excellent if you are beginer who knows basic electricity and magnetism, but have not dealt with space plasmas.
Book Description
A good working knowledge of fluid mechanics and plasma physics is essential for the modern astrophysicist. This graduate textbook provides a clear, pedagogical introduction to these core subjects. Assuming an undergraduate background in physics, this book develops fluid mechanics and plasma physics from first principles. This book is unique because it presents neutral fluids and plasmas in a unified scheme, clearly indicating both their similarities and their differences. Also, both the macroscopic (continuum) and microscopic (particles) theories are developed, establishing the connections between them. Throughout, key examples from astrophysics are used, though no previous knowledge of astronomy is assumed. Exercises are included at the end of chapters to test the reader's understanding. This textbook is aimed primarily at astrophysics graduate students. It will also be of interest to advanced students in physics and applied mathematics seeking a unified view of fluid mechanics and plasma physics, encompassing both the microscopic and macroscopic theories.
Customer Reviews:
From a student of Steve Balbus..........2002-11-24
A clear exposition of all areas of astrophysical fluid dynamics (along with some plasma physics). I'm disappointed not to have found anything from the recent (and exciting) advances in MHD instabilities during the 1990s. The Balbus-Hawley Instability is completely ignored, which is a huge failure; this instability has revolutionized accretion disk theory and angular momentum transport, and has been the groundwork for a surge in numerical simulations of accretion disks. It's a great fundamental book nonetheless.
Useful addition to a fluid dynamics library.......2000-07-23
This book is intended for astrophysicists who want to learn some fluid dynamics and plasma physics. The book does cover traditional topics of plasma physics books--kinetic theory, continuum hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, and plasma theory. There is a definite emphasis on astrophysical topics, although there are tidbits on aerodynamic lift, tokamaks, etc. It is sufficiently interesting to be of at least some interest to general students of fluid dynamics or plasma physics.
The book begins with a sketch of the kinetic theory derivation of the Navier Stokes equations, beginning with the Hamilton equations, and moving through Liouville's theorem, the Boltzmann equation, and taking the BGK approximation. It is only a sketch, not a full scale tutorial on kinetic theory, but I believe something along these lines does belong in any fluid dynamics course taught by a physics department. (Such courses are sadly uncommon.)
The continuum derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations is presented next, and I find it weak. I prefer the systematic, integral-based approaches found in books by, e.g., Panton and Kundu. There is NO discussion of the deformation (a.k.a. strain rate) tensor and the Cauchy-Stokes decomposition. There are brief discussions of some standard flows (e.g, potential flow around a cylinder, viscous Poiseuille flow, aerodynamic lift) and a brief discussion of boundary layers.
The remaining fluid dynamics chapters are on gas dynamics, waves and instabilities, turbulence, and rotation. The turbulence chapter is the best short introduction to Kolmogorov's -5/3 law that I've found; a good preface to reading the chapter on turbulence in other intro books, or even a dedicated turbulence book like Frisch. The remaining 7 chapters of the book are on plasma physics, including magnetohydrodynamics (I'm not an expert here, so I won't comment on them).
The book was favorably reviewed in "Comtemporary Physics" and "Journal of Fluid Mechanics", both reviewers praising the author's "engaging style" but expressing disappointment at the lack of more special topics in astrophysics. As long as a reader does not study this book in isolation, though, I think this would be an excellent supplement to his or her studies. I took this book with me on a vacation and enjoyed the reading.
A great book for the beginers........1999-02-26
This book is really going to help those who are interested in Astrophysical Plasma. I have got this book just at the begining of my research career. "The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas" has made a unique attempt, where theories of neutral fluids and plasmas are developed simultaneously. Mathemetical details is very rare, but it understandable, since the title of this book contains "Introduction".
Book Description
Emphasizing basic plasma theory, with applications to both space and laboratory plasmas, the topics covered in this text include single-particle motions, kinetic theory, magnetohydrodynamics, small amplitude waves in both cold and hot plasmas, nonlinear phenomena and collisional effects. Applications comprise planetary magnetospheres and radiation belts, the confinement and stability of plasmas in fusion devices, the propagation of discontinuities and shock waves in the solar wind, and the analysis of various types of plasma waves and instabilities that can occur in planetary magnetospheres and laboratory plasma devices.
Book Description
Physics of Space Plasmas was one of the first textbooks published in the area of space plasma physics and included up-to-date observations from space available at that time. It has been used in the United States and abroad by many universities as a text in introductory space plasma physics courses. A considerable number of new space plasma observations have been made since publication of the first edition. These more recent observations have revealed new and exciting information about space plasma and will enhance the quality of the overarching discussion and analyses of space plasma physics. Citing results from several NASA and ESA space missions, the completely revised Second Edition now expands the interpretation using kinetic physics to explain the kinetic features in the plasma data. Parks also includes a clear and simple discussion of how electromagnetic fields behave in rotating frames. This revision retains the thoughtful examples and problems of the First Edition and includes new ones to complement the new material and changes in the Second Edition.
Customer Reviews:
This book is the real deal.......2005-04-10
For one who wants the full mathematical plasma physics approach to geospace, this is the book to get.
When it comes to looking up phenomena associated with the maths however, I found the book difficult. It often doesn't explain in enough depth in simple terms certain happenings around the earth (whistlers, instabilities etc). The chapters are organised around the maths aswell.
I suppose it depends on what you need the book for. If you want the full maths approach, get this book. If you want something based around the concepts, get a copy of Kivelson & Russell, or Kallenrode - both excellent texts.
Average customer rating:
- Great as a teaching reference, but not as a stand alone text - way too broad
|
An Introduction to Astrophysical Hydrodynamics
Steven N. Shore
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Solar System
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Fluid Mechanics
| Mechanical
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0126406707 |
Book Description
This book is an introduction to astrophysical hydrodynamics for both astronomy and physics students. It provides a comprehensive and unified view of the general problems associated with fluids in a cosmic context, with a discussion of fluid dynamics and plasma physics. It is the only book on hydrodynamics that addresses the astrophysical context. Researchers and students will find this work to be an exceptional reference. Contents include chapters on irrotational and rotational flows, turbulence, magnetohydrodynamics, and instabilities.
Customer Reviews:
Great as a teaching reference, but not as a stand alone text - way too broad.......2006-07-28
The level of this text lies somewhere in between a basic text on hydrodynamics and an advanced reference of use to graduate students and professionals. The author starts by deriving the basic equations of hydrodynamics, then discusses individual topics such as viscosity, supersonic flow, turbulence, and MHD. Some typical astrophysical examples of each of these phenomenon follow the basic discussion. This is not a good text from which to learn hydrodynamics. Fundamentally, way too much material is covered in this text, none of it very deeply. It is just too broad in my opinion. For teaching an undergraduate course, one would be much better off with a more conventional introductory fluid mechanics text such as Batchelor, perhaps gearing some of the lectures to the dynamics of compressible fluids. Basic ideas of hydrodynamics get lost in a sea of astrophysical applications. For a graduate level course, this book has some limitations as well as it doesn't really take the student close to the level of current research. This is only the starting point for an advanced student. One thing I found really annoying about this text was that the author spent too much time trying to write cute phrases (one section is entitled `A Quodlibet of Applications of Shocks to Astrophysical Problems', for example). This is a great reference/supplement for someone who is teaching a course in astrophysical hydrodynamics for ideas about topics and problems to discuss. A better title for this book may be `An Intermediate Survey of Topics in Astrophysical Hydrodynamics'.
Average customer rating:
|
Physics of Space Plasmas: An Introduction
George Parks
Manufacturer: Addison Wesley Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Astronomy
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Electromagnetism
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0201489872 |
Book Description
This textbook was developed to provide seniors and first-year graduate students in physical sciences with a general knowledge of electrodynamic phenomena in space. Since the launch of the first unmanned satellite in 1957, experiments have been performed to study the behavior of electromagnetic fields and charged particles. There is now a considerable amount of data on hand, and many articles, including excellent review articles, have been written for the specialists. However, for students, new researchers, and non-specialists, a need still exists for a book that integrates these observations in a coherent way. This book is an attempt to meet that need by using the theory of classical electrodynamics to unify space observations. The contents of this book are based on classroom notes developed for an introductory space physics course that the author has taught for many years at the University of Washington. Students taking the course normally have had an undergraduate course in electricity and magnetism but they come with very little knowledge about space.
Book Description
Phenomena in space physics are complex and their understanding often requires the integration of different concepts of space physics. To help the beginner this book uses a new methodological approach. The first chapters introduce simple concepts of plasma physics and describe where these concepts can be applied in space physics. The subsequent chapters are devoted to more-complex observations. These are interpreted in terms of the concepts introduced earlier and new, more difficult, concepts are introduced where they are required. Thus observations and physical concepts can be interwoven to give basic explanations of phenomena and also show the limitations in these explanations and point out some rather fundamental questions.
Average customer rating:
|
Space Plasma Physics: An Introduction
A. C. Das
Manufacturer: Alpha Science International, Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 8173195757 |
Product Description
The book deals with two principal topics that are closely linked; basic plasma and space physics mostly related to solar system plasma. The first part contains the basic plasma processes. It includes the derivation and discussions on single particle motion in electric and magnetic fields, fluid equations for one and two fluid concepts, conductivities, diffusion, frozen-in-field concept, plasma waves, instabilities, nonlinear effects leading to solitons etc.. In kinetic approach, it provides discussions on Landau damping, wave-particle interaction, Nyquist diagrams and instabilities. The second part is fully devoted the important space plasma phenomena particularly in solar terrestrial environment. Solar wind, solar wind interaction with the planetary ionosphere and magnetosphere, magnetic reconnection, substorm phenomenon, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, wave-particle interaction, trapping of particles in the wave leading to some important emission processes are some of the highlights of the second part.
Average customer rating:
|
An Introduction to Nonlinear Plasma Physics (Series on Plasma Physics)
P.K SHUKLA
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Astrophysics & Space Science
| Astronomy
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Physics
| Professional Science
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0750306696 |
Book Description
Up-to-date and comprehensive, An Introduction to Nonlinear Plasma Physics describes the numerous nonlinear effects in plasmas that are confined in an external magnetic field. Because a magnetized plasma is rich in wave motions, many effects related to wave phenomena can be studied. This book focuses on wave phenomena in magnetized plasmas for this reason, but it also contains some new results associated with unmagnetized plasma. Using model equations and methods derived from various areas of science, from astrophysics to fluid mechanics to nonlinear optics, the book explores high- and low-frequency wave motions as well as nonlinear low-frequency wave phenomena, making it a useful tool that applies to many disciplines.
Book Description
Tales of the adventure and influence of a timeless American character.
Books:
- The Enterobacteria
- The Families of Diptera of the Malay Archipelago (Fauna Malesiana Handbooks, No 1)
- The Macrofungus Flora of China's Guangdong Province
- Theory of Light Hydrogenic Bound States (Springer Tracts in Modern Physics)
- Thinking About Biology: An Introductory Biology Laboratory Manual (2nd Edition)
- Understanding Autism: From Basic Neuroscience to Treatment
- Vegetable Brassicas and Related Crucifers
- Vitamin C: Its Functions and Biochemistry in Animals and Plants
- Walking the Wetlands: A Hiker's Guide to Common Plants and Animals of Marshes, Bogs, and Swamps (Wiley Nature Editions)
- Walking the Wetlands: A Hiker's Guide to Common Plants and Animals of Marshes, Bogs, and Swamps (Wiley Nature Editions)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction to the Manuscript in Trinity College Dublin
- History: Fiction or Science
- Chemically Induced Magnetic Polarization
- Firefly Beach
- Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay: 30 Techniques & Projects That Imitate Precious Stones, Metals, Wo
- History: Fiction or Science
- Growing Up Happy: Captain Kangaroo Tells Yesterday's Children How to Nuture Their Own
- George Inness and the Science of Landscape
- Critical Issues in Public Art: Content, Context, and Controversy
- Plant Stress from Air Pollution
