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Environmental Science

By G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

15th Edition © 2016
Discipline:Environmental Science
Course:Environmental Science
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"Inspiring people to care about the planet …" In the new edition of ENVIRONNMENTAL SCIENCE, authors Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman have partnered with the National Geographic Society to develop a text designed to equip students with the inspiration and knowledge they need to make a difference solving today's environmental issues. Exclusive content highlights important work of National Geographic Explorers and Grantees and features over 180 new photos, maps, and illustrations that bring course concepts to life. The text's concept-centered approach transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember.

Using sustainability as their central theme, the authors emphasize natural capital, natural capital degradation, solutions, trade-offs, and the importance of individuals. As a result, students learn how nature works, how they interact with it, and how humanity has sustained—and can continue to sustain—its relationship with the earth by applying nature's lessons to economies and individual lifestyles. Engaging features such as "Core Case Studies" and "Connections" boxes demonstrate the relevance of issues and encourage critical thinking. Updated with new learning tools, the latest content, and an enhanced art program, this highly flexible book allows instructors to vary the order of chapters and sections within chapters to meet the needs of their courses.

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Higher Education

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"Inspiring people to care about the planet …" In the new edition of ENVIRONNMENTAL SCIENCE, authors Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman have partnered with the National Geographic Society to develop a te…

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AboutTable of contentsResourcesPricing & formatsRelated products

About this product

"Inspiring people to care about the planet …" In the new edition of ENVIRONNMENTAL SCIENCE, authors Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman have partnered with the National Geographic Society to develop a text designed to equip students with the inspiration and knowledge they need to make a difference solving today's environmental issues. Exclusive content highlights important work of National Geographic Explorers and Grantees and features over 180 new photos, maps, and illustrations that bring course concepts to life. The text's concept-centered approach transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember.

Using sustainability as their central theme, the authors emphasize natural capital, natural capital degradation, solutions, trade-offs, and the importance of individuals. As a result, students learn how nature works, how they interact with it, and how humanity has sustained—and can continue to sustain—its relationship with the earth by applying nature's lessons to economies and individual lifestyles. Engaging features such as "Core Case Studies" and "Connections" boxes demonstrate the relevance of issues and encourage critical thinking. Updated with new learning tools, the latest content, and an enhanced art program, this highly flexible book allows instructors to vary the order of chapters and sections within chapters to meet the needs of their courses.

CENTRAL THEME OF SUSTAINABILITY: Three clearly explained scientific principles of sustainability (solar energy, chemical cycling, and biodiversity) are integrated throughout every chapter and take students through the practical steps they can take toward more sustainable lifestyles. Icons highlight sustainability throughout the text.

PERSONAL RELEVANCE: "What Can You Do?" boxes describe how students can make a difference. "Good News" logos mark areas in the text that present positive developments in efforts to deal with environmental problems. "Connections" boxes in each chapter briefly describe connections between human activities and environmental consequences, environmental and social issues, and environmental issues and solutions.

OBJECTIVE COVERAGE: A strong emphasis on scientific objectivity and the need for non-biased solutions is a hallmark of the text. "Trade-Offs" boxes present advantages and disadvantages of various environmental technologies and solutions to environmental problems.

CONCEPT-CENTERED APPROACH: To help students focus on the main ideas, each major chapter section is built around one to two key concepts which state the most important take-away messages of each chapter.

Table of contents

Chapters

Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Cover Photo
Acknowledgments
Guest Essayists
Pedagogy Contributors
Cumulative List of Reviewers
About the Authors
From the Authors
Note to Students
Humans and Sustainability: An Overview
Ecology and Sustainability
Sustaining Biodiversity
Sustaining Resources and Environmental Quality
Sustaining Human Societies
Supplement 1. Measurement Units
Supplement 2. Reading Graphs and Maps
Supplement 3. Some Basic Chemistry
Supplement 4. Maps and Map Analysis
Supplement 5. Environmental Data and Data Analysis
Supplement 6. Geologic and Biological Time Scale
Supplement 7. Principles of Sustainability
National Geographic Profiles
Guest Essays
Show more

Humans and Sustainability: An Overview

1. Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Preview this section ↗
1.1. What Are Some Principles of Sustainability? ↗
Environmental Science Is a Study of Our Interactions with the World ↗
Three Scientific Principles of Sustainability ↗
Sustainability Has Certain Key Components ↗
Other Principles of Sustainability Come from the Social Sciences ↗
Resources Are Inexhaustible, Renewable, or Nonrenewable ↗
Countries Differ in Resource Use and Environmental Impact ↗
1.2. How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth? ↗
We Are Living Unsustainably ↗
Pollution Comes from a Number of Sources ↗
We Are Degrading Commonly Shared Renewable Resources: The Tragedy of the Commons ↗
Our Ecological Footprints Are Growing ↗
IPAT Is Another Environmental Impact Model ↗
1.3. Why Do We Have Environmental Problems? ↗
Experts Have Identified Several Causes of Environmental Problems ↗
The Human Population Is Growing at a Rapid Rate ↗
Affluence Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects ↗
Poverty Can Have Harmful Environmental and Health Effects ↗
Prices of Goods and Services Rarely Include Their Harmful Environmental and Health Costs ↗
We Are Increasingly Isolated from Nature ↗
People Have Different Views about Environmental Problems and Their Solutions ↗
The Rise of Environmental Conservation and Protection in the United States ↗
1.4. What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society? ↗
Environmentally Sustainable Societies Protect Natural Capital and Live Off Its Income ↗
A More Sustainable Future Is Possible ↗
Tying It All Together. The Greening of American Campuses and Sustainability ↗
Chapter Review ↗
Critical Thinking ↗
Doing Environmental Science ↗
Global Environment Watch Exercise ↗
Ecological Footprint Analysis ↗

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