This thoroughly engaging, concise book tells the story of California's most precious resource, tracing the journey of water in the state from the atmosphere to the snowpack to our faucets and foods. Along the way, we learn much about California itself as the book describes its rivers, lakes, wetlands, dams, and aqueducts and discusses the role of water in agriculture, the environment, and politics. Essential reading in a state facing the future with an overextended water supply, this fascinating book shows that, for all Californians, every drop counts. New to this updated edition: * Additional maps, figures, and photos * Expanded coverage of potential impacts to precipitation, snowpack, and water supply from climate change * Updated information about the struggle for water management and potential solutions * New content about sustainable groundwater use and regulation, desalination, water recycling, stormwater capture, and current proposals for water storage and diversion *Additional table summarizing water sources for 360 California cities and towns

Product Description: The volcanoes of Europe offer dramatic landscapes, intriguing geological and geographical characteristics, and compelling histories of their interaction with those who have chosen to live on and near them. This new colour illustrated edition presents a wealth of up-to-date material in a comprehensive and thoroughly researched introduction...read more

Product Description: Two young Aussies go to Thailand to hatch a plan that is risky, adventurous and maybe land them in the infamous prison dubbed the Bangkok Hilton if things go awry.

A true tale of rescue in the face of extreme natural disaster follows two geologists into the hot crater of a Colombian volcano to save several colleagues trapped by an eruption.

Product Description: In the last one hundred years, imported water has transformed the environment of the Golden State and its quality of life, with land ownership patterns and real estate boosterism dramatically altering both urban and rural communities...read more

Offers a look at the structure, characteristics, and morphology of volcanoes with an examination of why they erupt along with an overview of the environmental benefits and detriments they cause. Original.

Gardening in harmony with a Mediterranean climate means taking advantage of winter rain and allowing the garden to rest over hot summers. In this beautifully illustrated, practical handbook, Heidi Gildemeister provides both novice and experienced gardeners with a comprehensive guide for waterwise gardening, with over one thousand drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants chosen both for their beauty and for their easygoing ways. Well indexed with common and botanical names, Mediterranean Gardening will be indispensable not only for gardeners in California, the Mediterranean basin, and Mediterranean climate areas in South America, Australia, and Africa, but for anyone living in a region that experiences drought.Gildemeister explains how drought-tolerant plants that are suitably matched with a site and carefully planted and mulched can live on winter rain and, once established, do not need additional summer water—as in nature. The Plant Selection lists over one thousand plants from nearly five hundred genera, including their preferred growing conditions, propagation, best use, and maintenance. Guidelines in eight steps describe the planning of waterwise gardens, such as for the establishment of dappled shade to conserve precious soil moisture. Successful alternatives to the water-intensive lawn offer attractive design ideas.Mediterranean Gardening offers a wealth of information: "easy" plants for the beginner, new choices for the garden architect, and for botanists the latest findings on minimum temperatures plants can endure. An extensive bibliography covering drought tolerance and a list of useful addresses make this book as helpful to people converting to water-, labor-, and ecology-conscious gardening as to those starting from scratch. (view table of contents)

Product Description: Donald Pisani's history of perhaps the boldest economic and social program ever undertaken in the United States--to reclaim and cultivate vast areas of previously unusable land across the country—shows in fascinating detail how ambitious government programs fall prey to the power of local interest groups and the federal system of governance itself...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: Originally published in 1897 as a guide to nature and science for young readers, this book has fabulous illustrations typical of the Victorian era. (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Describes the eruption of Mount Pelâee in 1902, contrasting life on the island of Martinique before and after the disaster.

Product Description: This top-selling series introduces the wild creatures of the world and examines the natural world. Good general introductions for ages 10+, these volumes contain the knowledge, personal experiences, and research of leading naturalists and scientists, accompanied by stunning photography...read more

Product Description: The true-life adventure story of one of the world's leading volcano experts. In 1993, Stanley Williams was investigating Galeras, what he thought was a dormant volcano in Colombia. But it blew, killing nine members of his expedition; against all odds Williams survived...read more

Product Description: FROM A CHILD’S SUMMER DREAM TO A LIFE-LONG ADVENTURE ACROSS THE PACIFIC FROM EASTER ISLAND, THROUGH HAWAII TO MIDWAY, WAKE, AND MARCUS ISLAND ON TO POHNPEI AND JAPAN IN PURSUIT OF ENDLESS SUMMERS DRIVEN BY INSPIRATIONAL LEADERS AND COLLEAGUES MOTHER EARTH SLOWLY AND RELUCTANTLY REVEALING HER SECRETS TO ME SECRETS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE GLOBAL WARMING, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION, MYSTERY CLOUDS THE MOTHER’S HEARTBEAT AND HOW SHE RENEWS HERSELF CLUES TO EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION AND EL NINOS ISAAC NEWTON AND “THE CHILD” A JOURNEY TO SHARE WITH ALL SCIENTISTS, ADVENTURERS, LOVERS OF MYSTERY TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END SUSTENANCE FOR THE SOUL OF MA...read more

Product Description: This reference book puts earthquakes and volcanic activity into context by explaining the complexities of plate tectonics and continental drift using both text and helpful diagrams. Subsequent sections of the book go into more detail looking first at earthquakes, and then at volcanoes, using a mixture of historical and contemporary accounts of major incidents in order to illustrate the often devastating effects...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

The riveting true tale of rescue in the face of extreme natural disaster follows two geologists into the hot crater of a Columbian volcano to save several colleagues trapped by an eruption. (view table of contents)

Where were you on May 18, 1980, when Mount St. Helens erupted? Author Rob Carson's essays, accompanied by incredible photos, outline the events leading up to and following the eruption, with a special look at the 20-year process of the mountain's rebirth. As plants, insects, animals, and people have reclaimed Mount St. Helens, the mountain remains a looming reminder of an event that changed the face of the Northwest.

Product Description: This book comprises selected and fully-refereed papers from the BGRG Annual Conference, 'Tracers in Geomorphology'. which was held in September 1998. The theme chosen for the conference reflects the growing interest amongst the geomorphological community in studies of fine sediment provenance and in the development of methods for tracing coarse sediments...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: This account of the greatest lava flow in historical times, which occurred in Iceland only two hundred years ago, is a unique eye-witness record of a dramatic natural catastrophe which threatened the lives of a small nation in the high north...read more

Product Description: A review, consisting of 8 papers with 120 illustrations, this book aims to present an outline of the editors' current understanding of several aspects of the physics of volcanic eruptions. The aspects covered include the physical characterization of silicic magma relevant to explosive volcanism, vesiculation of silicic magmas, conduit flow and fragmentation, gas loss from magmas during eruption, observations and models of eruption columns, tephra dispersal, pyroclastic density currents, and future research directions...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)