Environmental geology [electronic resource] : ecology resource and hazard management / K S Valdiya.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

A. Dedication -- B. Preface to the second edition -- C. Preface to the first edition -- D. Acknowledgements -- E. Preamble: dimensions of environmental stress -- Over-used earth -- Threats from three quarters -- Ecological footprint -- Common property resources -- History of environmental degradation -- "tyranny of small decisions" -- Tragedy of population explosion -- 1. Spectrum of environmental geology -- Objectives -- Scope -- Summary -- 2. Ecological perspective of environment -- Meaning of ecology -- Biotic communities -- Anthropogenic changes in ecosystems -- Dynamics of the human population -- Preserving gene pools and conserving endangered species -- Forests and forest management -- Summary -- 3. Land—its use and management -- Land — a resource -- Tragedy of commons -- Spheres of land management -- Land-capability mapping -- Human settlements and land-use -- Land-use pattern in the country -- Assessment of impacts of land-use -- Summary -- 4. Soils — types, distresses and conservation -- Nature of soil -- Soil profile -- Origin of soils -- Classification of soils -- Soil types of india -- Soil and vegetation -- Soil conservation -- Summary -- 5. Water resources—hydrogeological considerations, problems and management -- Precious resource -- Water resources of india -- Nature of groundwater -- Favourable geological conditions -- Water-holding capacity of soils and rocks -- Water-yielding capacity of aquifers -- Recharge of groundwater -- Effects of withdrawal of groundwater -- Groundwater provinces of india -- Springs in the hills -- Quality of water -- Waterlogging—the bane of excessive irrigation -- Development of alkalinity-salinity in soils -- Water management -- Summary -- 6. Conservation of mineral resources and impacts of mining -- Mineral consumption and reserves -- Appraisal of mineral resources of india -- Conservation of mineral resources -- Impacts of mining activities on the environment -- Environmental management in mining -- Summary -- 7. Erosion—causes and control -- Dimension of erosion -- Processes of erosion -- Causes of accelerated erosion -- Remedial measures -- Summary -- 8. Desertification and degradation of land -- Meaning of desertification -- Extent of desertification -- Causes of desertification -- Drought -- Drylands of the indian subcontinent -- Signs of desertification in the himalaya -- Measures to combat desertification -- Summary -- 9. Natural hazards, their zoning and risk assessment -- Nature of natural hazards -- Environmental security and hazard zoning -- Risk assessment analysis -- Strategies for hazard mitigation -- Summary.

10. Earthquakes and seismic hazards -- Toll of human life -- Origin and severity of earthquakes -- Effects of earthquakes -- Stability of structures and risk evaluation -- Seismicity conditions in india -- Spatial and temporal gaps in seismicity -- Coping with seismic hazards -- Earthquake-resistant houses -- Summary -- 11. Instability of hill-slopes and landslides -- Landslide-prone areas -- Destablizing forces and mass-movements -- Types of mass-movements -- Identification of landslide zones -- Controlling landslides -- Subsidence and swelling of ground -- Summary -- 12. Hazards in the snowy mountains -- Hazards in the himalayan domain -- Types of avalanches -- Mitigation of avalanche hazards -- Summary -- 13. Floods and flood management -- The indian scene -- Causes of floods -- Flood hazards in india -- Management of floods -- Summary -- 14. Coastal hazards— cyclones and tsunamis -- Hazards on indian coasts -- Cyclones and their genesis -- Tsunamis and dimension of hazards -- Coastal hazard mitigation measures -- Summary -- 15. Volcanic hazards -- Volcanic belt girdling the indian subcontinent -- Barren island -- Origin and types of volcanic activity -- Nature of volcanic hazards -- Prediction of volcanic eruptions -- Mitigation of volcanic hazard -- Summary -- 16. Scope of engineering geology and geotechnics -- Role of geologists in engineering -- Paradigm of geotechnical investigations -- Environmental impact assessment -- Development without destruction -- 17. Dams and reservoirs: geotechnical considerations and environmental impact -- Purposes of dams -- Stability and failure of dams -- Geological conditions of foundation material -- Seismicity conditions -- Geology of reservoir areas -- Environmental impact of water impoundment -- Alternatives to big dams -- Summary -- 18. Foundations of buildings and bridges -- Structural load and foundation strength -- Ground conditions and foundation designs -- Remedial measures against settlement -- Foundations on slopes -- Groundwater and foundation problems -- Foundations of bridges -- Summary -- 19. Geotechnical considerations in road and canal construction and environmental implications -- Route alignment -- Hillside cuts: stability problems -- Low-cost roads in mountains -- Environmental impacts -- Measures for stabilizing walls of road cuts -- Construction of roads and canals in flat country -- Special problems related to canals -- Summary -- 20. Geotechnics of tunnels -- Imperative need -- Stress conditions in tunnels -- Influence of geological conditions -- Changes in water regime -- Summary -- 21. Problems of pollution and wastes -- What is pollution -- Sources of contamination of water -- Groundwater contamination -- Pollution of river waters -- Contamination of lake waters -- Pollution of marine waters -- Treatment of polluted waters -- Nature and effects of air pollution -- Disposal of solid wastes -- Noise as a factor in pollution -- Summary -- 22. Global warming and climate change -- Inevitable warning -- Impact of global warming -- Urbanization and climate of cities -- Summary -- 23. Renewable sources of energy -- The energy crisis -- Energy options -- Energy from solar radiation -- Harnessing the wind -- Energy from tides and waves -- Thermal and salinity gradients in sea water -- Tapping geothermal energy -- Energy from biomass -- Alternative fuel -- Nuclear energy option -- Summary -- A. References.

Also issued in online version.

Description based on cover image and table of contents, viewed on May 21, 2015.