Fog, Smog, and Poisoned Rain deals with air pollution and its consequences. Beginning with a definition of the problem, it then examines the causes of particular types of pollution and the way the pollution is disseminated; the geographic distribution of the phenomenon; and historical records. The book closes with a look into the future and a discussion of the ways in which air pollution can be reduced. In addition to pollution resulting from human activities the book also describes "natural pollution" from volcanic eruptions, lake beds, and gaseous emissions from plants and trees.
Earth's atmosphere supports and protects all of its life, giving the planet its blue skies, mild temperatures, and weather. But people use the atmosphere for another purpose: as a dump for waste gases and particles. Air pollution obscures vistas, damages ecosystems, and compromises human health. Combined with water in the atmosphere, air pollutants create acid rain. In the upper atmosphere, air pollutants damage the ozone layer, which protects life from the sun's harmful rays. Excess emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane push global temperatures higher, creating global warming. While some pollutants are successfully regulated, as population grows and industries expand, more intensive solutions are needed to deal with the many types of air pollution and its consequences. This provocative book tackles these issues in a straightforward manner and shows readers what they can do to help conserve our planet's atmosphere.
Tackles the tough issues, the complex problems and the political controversies surrounding the vast landmass environment of Asia. The book encompasses everything from economics, land use, energy and transportation, to air pollution, rivers and lakes, oceans, and species and habitat protection.
