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Ecological principles in global perspective
243
The Forest--Atmosphere Interaction, edited by B.A. Hutchinson and B.B. Hicks, D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1985, 684 pp. Price: Dfl 240.00. Together with Air--Sea Exchange of Gases and Particulates, 1983 and Gas Transfer to Water Surfaces, 1984 (The Science of the Total Environment, 41 (1985) 99--100) this volume forms a trilogy of intermedia exchange. This is the proceedings of a conference convened October 23--28, 1983 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee U.S.A. containing 39 papers, about forest environmental measurement techniques, data acquisition, modelling of forest environmental phenomena, the characterization of the variable and dynamic features of forest environments and forest canopy--atmosphere interactions, and turbulent exchange between forests and the atmosphere of sensible heat, mass, and momentum. Unusual for such a camera-ready assemblage of papers, an effort has been made to standardize the use of the main symbols throughout the volume, which, together with a subject index, expedites the perusal of the volume. The quality of the research papers included in this volume is high, notwithstanding the fact that some of them address too narrowly formulated problems. This is neither a blame for the editors, nor even for the authors. This reflects only the mentality of the research sponsoring agencies who do not recognize that the request to produce each year some "new" result of applied and local interest, is in fact, counter-productive in the long run. No wonder that after 658 pages of closely typed text, the panel discussion filled five more pages with research needs and directions. Forest canopies must be considered as critical elements of the overall problem of dry deposition of air pollutants. There is obviously room for research in a closer association with forestry. There are problems of crops periodically dying out, and nobody yet knows why.
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Ecological Principles in Global Perspective, by H. Walter and S.-W. Breckle (Vol. 1 in: Ecological Systems of the Geobiosphere, Vols 2 and 3 forthcoming), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1985, 242 pp. Price: DM 98.00. This volume is the first in a series of three. It deals with ecological problems of a general nature, knowledge which will be assumed in Volumes 2 and 3. The problems are treated on a global and holistic basis, representing for the senior author the culmination of more than 60 years of ecological research. The biosphere is viewed in the light of the Earth's geological history, and the basic requirements for active life processes such as temperature and water, as well as the factors involved in the competition among living organisms.
244
Growth, light and root competition are discussed separately and in relation to one another. The chapters on succession theory, the idea of climax, the law of relative constancy of habitat, and on ecosystem metabolism in humid and arid environments provide not only background information, but also quite interesting reading matter, and may provide stimulus to research workers to attempt to close the large gaps which still exist in our knowledge as clearly pointed out by the authors. The book is a successful synthesis of the most important ecological problems of the geobiosphere seen globally; that is, of ecological events on a macro-scale. Primarily intended as a university textbook, it will, however, be useful for many research workers as a reference. The translation (from the original German edition of 1983) is of very high standard (translator: Sheila Gruber).
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Atmospheric Trace Substances and Their Physico-chemical Behaviour (in German, original title: Atmospharische Spurenstoffe und ihr physikalischchemisches Verhalten), edited by K.H. Becker and J. L~bel, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1985, 264 pp. Price: DM 98.00. Within the frame of a seminary organized by the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, twelve eminent specialists presented lectures about the chemistry, dispersion, and deposition (wet and dry) of the main air pollutants. The treatment is aide-m$moire-like for an audience more or less familiar with the basics of the field. The intent of the authors and editors was not to provide a comprehensive and uniform textbook but rather to collect a number of topical, self-contained reports. There are references at the end of each chapter and an index allows a search for subjects. College teaching staff and undergraduate students will find the text helpful.
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Chemistry of Atmospheres: An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Atmospheres of Earth, the Planets and Their Satellites, by R.P. Wayne, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1985, 361 pp. Price: £30.00 hardcover, £14.95 paperback. This is an exceptionally fine book. Its outlook is quite original. Instead, as usually occurs, of looking merely at the atmosphere of the Earth, or just a part of it, here we have a synthetical view from the b o t t o m to the very limits of the air-ocean, presented together with all that is known about the atmospheres of the planets and their satellites. This way, a lot of insight is won.
The Forest--Atmosphere Interaction, edited by B.A. Hutchinson and B.B. Hicks, D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1985, 684 pp. Price: Dfl 240.00. Together with Air--Sea Exchange of Gases and Particulates, 1983 and Gas Transfer to Water Surfaces, 1984 (The Science of the Total Environment, 41 (1985) 99--100) this volume forms a trilogy of intermedia exchange. This is the proceedings of a conference convened October 23--28, 1983 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee U.S.A. containing 39 papers, about forest environmental measurement techniques, data acquisition, modelling of forest environmental phenomena, the characterization of the variable and dynamic features of forest environments and forest canopy--atmosphere interactions, and turbulent exchange between forests and the atmosphere of sensible heat, mass, and momentum. Unusual for such a camera-ready assemblage of papers, an effort has been made to standardize the use of the main symbols throughout the volume, which, together with a subject index, expedites the perusal of the volume. The quality of the research papers included in this volume is high, notwithstanding the fact that some of them address too narrowly formulated problems. This is neither a blame for the editors, nor even for the authors. This reflects only the mentality of the research sponsoring agencies who do not recognize that the request to produce each year some "new" result of applied and local interest, is in fact, counter-productive in the long run. No wonder that after 658 pages of closely typed text, the panel discussion filled five more pages with research needs and directions. Forest canopies must be considered as critical elements of the overall problem of dry deposition of air pollutants. There is obviously room for research in a closer association with forestry. There are problems of crops periodically dying out, and nobody yet knows why.
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Ecological Principles in Global Perspective, by H. Walter and S.-W. Breckle (Vol. 1 in: Ecological Systems of the Geobiosphere, Vols 2 and 3 forthcoming), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1985, 242 pp. Price: DM 98.00. This volume is the first in a series of three. It deals with ecological problems of a general nature, knowledge which will be assumed in Volumes 2 and 3. The problems are treated on a global and holistic basis, representing for the senior author the culmination of more than 60 years of ecological research. The biosphere is viewed in the light of the Earth's geological history, and the basic requirements for active life processes such as temperature and water, as well as the factors involved in the competition among living organisms.
244
Growth, light and root competition are discussed separately and in relation to one another. The chapters on succession theory, the idea of climax, the law of relative constancy of habitat, and on ecosystem metabolism in humid and arid environments provide not only background information, but also quite interesting reading matter, and may provide stimulus to research workers to attempt to close the large gaps which still exist in our knowledge as clearly pointed out by the authors. The book is a successful synthesis of the most important ecological problems of the geobiosphere seen globally; that is, of ecological events on a macro-scale. Primarily intended as a university textbook, it will, however, be useful for many research workers as a reference. The translation (from the original German edition of 1983) is of very high standard (translator: Sheila Gruber).
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Atmospheric Trace Substances and Their Physico-chemical Behaviour (in German, original title: Atmospharische Spurenstoffe und ihr physikalischchemisches Verhalten), edited by K.H. Becker and J. L~bel, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1985, 264 pp. Price: DM 98.00. Within the frame of a seminary organized by the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, twelve eminent specialists presented lectures about the chemistry, dispersion, and deposition (wet and dry) of the main air pollutants. The treatment is aide-m$moire-like for an audience more or less familiar with the basics of the field. The intent of the authors and editors was not to provide a comprehensive and uniform textbook but rather to collect a number of topical, self-contained reports. There are references at the end of each chapter and an index allows a search for subjects. College teaching staff and undergraduate students will find the text helpful.
Bretigny-sur-Orge (France)
Michel Benarie
Chemistry of Atmospheres: An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Atmospheres of Earth, the Planets and Their Satellites, by R.P. Wayne, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1985, 361 pp. Price: £30.00 hardcover, £14.95 paperback. This is an exceptionally fine book. Its outlook is quite original. Instead, as usually occurs, of looking merely at the atmosphere of the Earth, or just a part of it, here we have a synthetical view from the b o t t o m to the very limits of the air-ocean, presented together with all that is known about the atmospheres of the planets and their satellites. This way, a lot of insight is won.