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Hydrology and hydrochemistry of British wetlands
The book presents and applies a wealth of simple calculating techniques for assessing environmental behavior of organic pollutants. The examples and problems have been selected carefully to show that our understanding of nature is sufficient to do approximating calculations for particular situations. It is recommended, if not obligatory, for courses on environmental chemistry, where it should be used in combination with the 1993 textbook. Students and those who work already as environmental chemists will like the problems as joyful puzzles. The authors mention that they had promised their wives never to write a book again, after Environmental Organic Chemistry. This time indeed, they did not write a book, but probably had a lot of pleasure in making problems for students interesting - and error-free. One can only be glad that they have broken their promise and made their considerable experience available in this form. The text is typed by the authors and their co-workers, and they are to be complimented for their desktop publishing effort. Small flaws show nevertheless that the text has not been produced professionally, for example a primitive permillage sign is used a few times, and table headings may run outside their confinement. This does mean that all the compliments for the authors cannot be extended to the publisher, since it is very clear that he did nothing but stamp an ISBN number, and copy and bind the text as provided by the authors. C.A.J. APPELO (Amsterdam) Reference Schwarzenbach, R.P., Gschwend, P.M. and Imboden, D.M.. Wiley-Interscience, New York. NY, ISBN O-471-83941-8.
1993.
Environmental
Organic
Chemistry.
SSDI 0169-7722(95)00100-X
Hydrology and Hydrochemistry oJ British Wetlands, by Hughes, J. and Heathwaite, I,. (Editors). John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1995, xi + 486 pp. Price: UK f60.00. ISBN O-471 -95759-3 (hardcover). This book is largely the Proceedings of a Conference held in London in January 1993, with the addition of a few papers to fill some gaps in the original presentations. As such, it contains 23 papers/chapters in three roughly equal sections, namely: hydrology, hydrochemistry, and ecology and management. There is also an introductory chapter, by the editors, which gives an outline of wetland classification, explains why wetlands are important, and gives a brief classification of wetland hydrochemical environments. The final chapter in the book sets out a strategy for future research. There are 51 contributors, all from within the U.K., so just about every group working on the subject is represented. The references are grouped at the end of each chapter, which I always think a pity in a book of this kind. Wetlands are defined as freshwater environments, so although the scope covers mires, marshes, meadows, wet heaths and recreated environments (including ponds), the reader in search of more than occasional mention of marine or brackish wetlands will be disappointed. However, there is plenty to get one’s teeth into.
363
Book Reviews
The section on hydrology looks at the general position of wetlands in the water cycle, in terms of flood mitigation, aquifer recharge and water quality, and puts these functions into the context of wetland survival in relation to various man-made threats. On balance, the emphasis is more on recharge (surface runoff as well as groundwater aspects) than directly in terms of water quality. Modelling of wetland hydrology is an important component of two chapters, and there is a rather novel contribution which uses plants as indicators of wetland water quality. There is also an interesting contribution on the modelling of the form and distribution of mires. The hydrochemistry section ranges over processes within wetland bodies as well as what happens on the edges of such features. There is a timely discussion of the setting of critical loads for peats, and chapters looking at nitrogen fluxes in lysimeters and in river margins. Other authors consider phosphorus dynamics and water colour. Most of these chapters, and also throughout the book, tend to illustrate their principles by reference to a limited number of specific sites, although the chapter on wetland processes is rather an exception by being very wide ranging. An excellent example of what can be achieved by site specific work is given by the chapter on the raised bog and fens of Malham Tarn. Finally, the section on ecology and management again starts with a wide-ranging overview. This is followed by chapters which link ecology and ecological function to wetland hydrology both at the micro- and macro-scale. The discussion extends to cut-over mires and the overall effects of disturbance on mire hydrology. There is one chapter on the use of remote sensing for the mapping of wetland water depths, which sits rather oddly in this section. The contributions finish with two discussions on wetland loss, and wetland re-creation. Does the book succeed? In general, the answer must be yes, despite the fact that it has taken almost 3 years to appear. There is an enormous amount of information buried in this book. There are some disappointments. For example, there are no photographs of any of the wetlands discussed in the papers. Nor are there any maps showing the distribution of various types of wetlands in Britain, even on a regional basis. Soils are mentioned in any detail in only two chapters, where the information ranges from the quite detailed, to the fairly simplistic. It is also a pity that within all the hydrology, there is not a more definitive discussion of the hydraulic properties of wetland materials, both within the body of the wetland itself, and the materials which underly and surround the sites. The overview of wetland hydrology makes a start on this, but the amount of data presented is rather limited. Likewise, there is surprisingly little attention given to the role of climate in wetland formation and persistence. Finally, there is not much mention of wetlands in Ireland (north or south), which rather limits the implications of British in the title. However, these are not reasons for not buying the book. More, they are reasons for more research. The book is well-produced (all in one type of font), the figures and tables are clear and well-drawn, and there is an excellent index. I suspect that it will be source of valuable information for many years to come, and I strongly commend it. For the price it is a bargain. P.J. LOVELAND PII 0169.7722(95)00002-2
(Bedford)
1993.
Environmental
Organic
Chemistry.
SSDI 0169-7722(95)00100-X
Hydrology and Hydrochemistry oJ British Wetlands, by Hughes, J. and Heathwaite, I,. (Editors). John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1995, xi + 486 pp. Price: UK f60.00. ISBN O-471 -95759-3 (hardcover). This book is largely the Proceedings of a Conference held in London in January 1993, with the addition of a few papers to fill some gaps in the original presentations. As such, it contains 23 papers/chapters in three roughly equal sections, namely: hydrology, hydrochemistry, and ecology and management. There is also an introductory chapter, by the editors, which gives an outline of wetland classification, explains why wetlands are important, and gives a brief classification of wetland hydrochemical environments. The final chapter in the book sets out a strategy for future research. There are 51 contributors, all from within the U.K., so just about every group working on the subject is represented. The references are grouped at the end of each chapter, which I always think a pity in a book of this kind. Wetlands are defined as freshwater environments, so although the scope covers mires, marshes, meadows, wet heaths and recreated environments (including ponds), the reader in search of more than occasional mention of marine or brackish wetlands will be disappointed. However, there is plenty to get one’s teeth into.
363
Book Reviews
The section on hydrology looks at the general position of wetlands in the water cycle, in terms of flood mitigation, aquifer recharge and water quality, and puts these functions into the context of wetland survival in relation to various man-made threats. On balance, the emphasis is more on recharge (surface runoff as well as groundwater aspects) than directly in terms of water quality. Modelling of wetland hydrology is an important component of two chapters, and there is a rather novel contribution which uses plants as indicators of wetland water quality. There is also an interesting contribution on the modelling of the form and distribution of mires. The hydrochemistry section ranges over processes within wetland bodies as well as what happens on the edges of such features. There is a timely discussion of the setting of critical loads for peats, and chapters looking at nitrogen fluxes in lysimeters and in river margins. Other authors consider phosphorus dynamics and water colour. Most of these chapters, and also throughout the book, tend to illustrate their principles by reference to a limited number of specific sites, although the chapter on wetland processes is rather an exception by being very wide ranging. An excellent example of what can be achieved by site specific work is given by the chapter on the raised bog and fens of Malham Tarn. Finally, the section on ecology and management again starts with a wide-ranging overview. This is followed by chapters which link ecology and ecological function to wetland hydrology both at the micro- and macro-scale. The discussion extends to cut-over mires and the overall effects of disturbance on mire hydrology. There is one chapter on the use of remote sensing for the mapping of wetland water depths, which sits rather oddly in this section. The contributions finish with two discussions on wetland loss, and wetland re-creation. Does the book succeed? In general, the answer must be yes, despite the fact that it has taken almost 3 years to appear. There is an enormous amount of information buried in this book. There are some disappointments. For example, there are no photographs of any of the wetlands discussed in the papers. Nor are there any maps showing the distribution of various types of wetlands in Britain, even on a regional basis. Soils are mentioned in any detail in only two chapters, where the information ranges from the quite detailed, to the fairly simplistic. It is also a pity that within all the hydrology, there is not a more definitive discussion of the hydraulic properties of wetland materials, both within the body of the wetland itself, and the materials which underly and surround the sites. The overview of wetland hydrology makes a start on this, but the amount of data presented is rather limited. Likewise, there is surprisingly little attention given to the role of climate in wetland formation and persistence. Finally, there is not much mention of wetlands in Ireland (north or south), which rather limits the implications of British in the title. However, these are not reasons for not buying the book. More, they are reasons for more research. The book is well-produced (all in one type of font), the figures and tables are clear and well-drawn, and there is an excellent index. I suspect that it will be source of valuable information for many years to come, and I strongly commend it. For the price it is a bargain. P.J. LOVELAND PII 0169.7722(95)00002-2
(Bedford)