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Basic Relativity: An Introductory Essay (SpringerBriefs in Physics)
by Péter HraskóThis Brief presents a new way of introducing relativity theory, in which perplexing relativistic effects such as time dilation and Lorentz contraction are explained prior to the discussion of Lorentz-transformation. The notion of relativistic mass is shown to contradict the spirit of relativity theory and the true significance of the mass-energy relation is contrasted with the popular view of it. The author discusses the twin paradox from the point of view of both siblings. Last but not least, the fundamentals of general relativity are described, including the recent Gravity Probe B experiment.
Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Science
by National Research CouncilThe Committee concludes that the National Science Foundation, through its Earth Science Division is the only federal agency that maintains significant funding for basic research in all the core disciplines of Earth science, and is therefore central to the discipline's national effort. Rather than reviewing existing Division programs, the report identifies new research areas that could be added to its solid-Earth and hydrology portfolio. It is not indexed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World
by UclgUCLG’s Third Global Report on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD III) examines basic service provision and the current state-of-play of the local governance of basic services around the world. Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World examines the enormous challenge of ensuring the universal provision of basic services in a world that is being shaped by rapid global urbanization, climate change, and economic, social and technological transformation. The world’s urban population is predicted to reach 5 billion people within the next 20-30 years. The report analyses the conditions necessary for local governments to provide these new urban residents with quality basic services. Water, sanitation, waste management, transport and energy are essential, not only for the preservation of human life and dignity, but also in driving economic growth and ensuring social equality. Each chapter examines a world region, drawing on existing research and consultation with local authorities on the ground. The chapters review access levels, legal and institutional frameworks, and the different ways in which basic services are managed and financed, as well as showcasing diverse examples of innovation in the local and multi-level governance of services. It concludes with a set of recommendations for all stakeholders with a view to making the goal of basic services for all a reality. This report contributes to discussions on the Millennium Development Goals and the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda. The findings of GOLD III will also be essential to promoting the vision of local governments at the 2016 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat III).
Basic Steps in Geostatistics: The Variogram and Kriging (SpringerBriefs in Agriculture)
by Richard Webster Margaret A. OliverThis brief will provide a bridge in succinct form between the geostatistics textbooks and the computer manuals for `push-button' practice. It is becoming increasingly important for practitioners, especially neophytes, to understand what underlies modern geostatistics and the currently available software so that they can choose sensibly and draw correct conclusions from their analysis and mapping. The brief will contain some theory, but only that needed for practitioners to understand the essential steps in analyses. It will guide readers sequentially through the stages of properly designed sampling, exploratory data analysis, variography (computing the variogram and modelling it), followed by ordinary kriging and finally mapping kriged estimates and their errors. There will be short section on trend and universal kriging. Other types of kriging will be mentioned so that readers can delve further in the substantive literature to tackle more complex tasks.
Basic Survival: A Beginner's Guide
by James Wesley Rawles David NashMany people are beginning to become concerned by increasing natural disasters, global conflict, and political unrest and the smart ones want to do something about it. Unfortunately, increased awareness about disaster preparedness has caused an information overload. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available. Basic Survival helps readers dig out from under the avalanche of preparedness information. It dispels myths, introduces concepts, and teaches the basics of how to start preparing for disaster. Author David Nash, a lifelong prepper and the author of 52 Prepper Projects and The Prepper’s Guide to Foraging outlines an all-hazards approach to disaster management similar to the ones used by the military and federal and state governments. Nash has over ten years of experience in government emergency management as a planner, a first responder, and as an emergency operations center manager. Basic Survival is a great resource that presents a strong foundation for being prepared when an emergency hits.
The Basics of Aggregates (Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment)
by Manuel Bustillo RevueltaAggregates are among the most common natural resource used in everyday's life, having enhanced life quality. They are essential for construction, being utilized in nearly all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction and most public work projects such as roads, highways and bridges, railroad beds, dams, airports, tunnels, and many others. In the future, the rebuilding of deteriorated roads, highways, bridges, airports, seaports, and private and public buildings will require vast amounts of aggregate. Although it is almost impracticable to know the total amount of aggregates extracted every year globally, it is roughly estimated that annual aggregate production totals about 25 billion tons. Both developed and developing nations require extensive use of aggregates.The book "The Basics of Aggregates" covers all topics related to utilizing this type of material, including the properties of aggregates, types of deposits, geological occurrence, exploration methodologies and extraction methods, and processing techniques as well as their main applications and the importance of recycled aggregates. It serves as a basic text on aggregates for natural sciences and provides information about the main aggregate materials comprehensively with extensive number of illustrations and equips students to handle the mining cycle of aggregates. It enhances the understanding of the different aggregate types, being interdisciplinary and practice-oriented. This textbook addresses bachelor and master students of geology and general earth science as well as students of engineering and environmental sciences. It is written for undergraduate and graduate students, researches and professionals alike.
Basics of Atmospheric Dynamics
by R.N. KeshavamurtyThe book discusses the basic of atmospheric dynamics where the curved surface of the earth and its rotation around its own axis plays very important roles. The emphasis is on basic physical concepts and the interpretation of equations and the different terms therein. Note: T&F does not sell or distribute the hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Basics of Continuum Plasticity
by Kwansoo Chung Myoung-Gyu LeeThis book describes the basic principles of plasticity for students and engineers who wish to perform plasticity analyses in their professional lives, and provides an introduction to the application of plasticity theories and basic continuum mechanics in metal forming processes. This book consists of three parts. The first part deals with the characteristics of plasticity and instability under simple tension or compression and plasticity in beam bending and torsion. The second part is designed to provide the basic principles of continuum mechanics, and the last part presents an extension of one-dimensional plasticity to general three-dimensional laws based on the fundamentals of continuum mechanics. Though most parts of the book are written in the context of general plasticity, the last two chapters are specifically devoted to sheet metal forming applications. The homework problems included are designed to reinforce understanding of the concepts involved. This book may be used as a textbook for a one semester course lasting fourteen weeks or longer. This book is intended to be self-sufficient such that readers can study it independently without taking another formal course. However, there are some prerequisites before starting this book, which include a course on engineering mathematics and an introductory course on solid mechanics.
Basics of Environmental Science
by Michael AllabyThe new edition of this popular student text offers an engaging introduction to environmental study. It covers the entire breadth of the environmental sciences, providing concise, non-technical explanations of physical processes and systems and the effects of human activities. In this second edition the scientific background to major environmental issues is clearly explained. These include:* global warming* genetically modified foods* desertification* acid rain* deforestation* human population growth * depleting resources* nuclear power generation* descriptions of the 10 major biomes. Special student text features include illustrations and explanatory diagrams, boxed case studies, concepts and definitions.
Basics of Geomatics
by Mario A. GomarascaThis volume presents a comprehensive and complete treatment. In a systematic way the complex topics and techniques are covered that can be assembled under Geospatial Information namely, Geodesy, Cartography, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Informatics, Acquisition Systems, Global Positioning Systems, Digital Image Processing, Geographic Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, and WebGIS. It describes in detail and at an accessible level - too much math has been avoided - the state of current knowledge. Per chapter a detailed bibliography has been included. As such, it will serve as a working tool not only to geoscientists and geographers but also to engineers, architects, computer scientists, urban planners, specialists in GIS, remote sensing, forestry, agricultural science, soil science geometry, environmental scientists and managers. Applications can be found in security, risk management, monitoring, info-mobility, geo-positioning, food traceability, etc. From the reviews: "The book is rigorous and synthetic, describing with precision the main instruments and methods connected to the multiple techniques today available. The objective pursued is to publish an integrated text, containing simple and comprehensible concepts relevant to experts in Geo-spatial Information." S. Dequal, Professor of Topography and Photogrammetry, DITAG, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy "This book fills a void of telling and showing the reader how remote sensing as a part of geomatics really works. With a clearly presented historical review up to the present time, the author illustrates the basic theories and use of the different remote sensing sensors and how to analyze the data from them for their application. This book would be a complement to the standard remote sensing books and I would highly recommend it for all land oriented professionals and especially graduate students who need a clear explanation of how remote sensing works". Chris J. Johannsen, Professor Emeritus of Agronomy, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA "Basics of Geomatics" is structured in a clear and effective way into thematic chapters that provide a fundamental, yet comprehensive coverage of each of the major disciplines making up the field of Geomatics. Thanks to its clarity and completeness, the text, supplemented by many useful tables and illustrations will serve as a basic reference work for both beginners and experienced readers". John L. van Genderen, Professor, International Institute for Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Department of Earth Observation Science, Enschede, The Netherlands.
The Basics of Geomorphology: Key Concepts
by Kenneth J. Gregory John Lewin"This book, written by two leading geomorphologists, provides a very welcome first attempt to explain the major concepts in a concise and accessible way." - Andrew Goudie, University of Oxford "I can think of no better guides than Professors Ken Gregory and John Lewin to lead the reader through the conceptual basis of this exciting science." - Victor R. Baker, University of Arizona "A very readable and informative introduction to the discipline for senior undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers approaching the subject from other areas of science." - Angela Gurnell, Queen Mary University of London "Gregory and Lewin have managed the difficult but important task of distilling a new set of 'basics' that both broadens and complements traditional ideas... Time will tell, but this book may well mark a turning point in the way students and scientists alike perceive Earth surface processes and landforms." - Jonathan Phillips, University of Kentucky This student focused book provides a detailed description and analysis of the key concepts, ideas, and hypotheses that inform geomorphology. Kenneth Gregory and John Lewin explain the basics of landform science in 20 concepts, each the subject of a substantive, cross-referenced entry. They use the idea of the 'geomorphic system' to organise entries in four sections, with extensive web resources provided for each: System Contexts: The Systems Approach / Uniformitarianism / Landform / Form, Process and Materials / Equilibrium / Complexity and Non Linear Dynamical Systems System Functioning: Cycles and cascades / Force-Resistance / Geomorphic work / Process Form Models System Adjustments: Timescales / Forcings / Change Trajectories / Inheritance and Sensitivity / Anthropocene Drivers for the Future: Geomorphic Hazards / Geomorphic Engineering / Design and Prediction Aligned with the teaching literature, this innovative text provides a fully-functioning learning environment for study, revision, and even self-directed research for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of geomorphology.
Basics of Petroleum Geochemistry: With Examples from the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt of Iran
by Majid AlipourThis book provides a concise summary about fundamental aspects of petroleum geology and geochemistry for graduate students, primarily from non-English-speaking countries. These fundamentals constitute about 40% of the book, while the remaining 60% deals with regional examples from petroleum geology of the Zagros basin of Iran. The regional examples are prepared using both published and unpublished (proprietary) data. The aim is to familiarize readers with the fundamental aspects of petroleum geochemistry and then provide typical examples from one of the world&’s most prolific petroleum provinces.
Basin Analysis
by John R. Allen Philip A. AllenBasin Analysis is an advanced undergraduate and postgraduate text aimed at understanding sedimentary basins as geodynamic entities. The rationale of the book is that knowledge of the basic principles of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere, the dynamics of the mantle, and the functioning of sediment routing systems provides a sound background for studying sedimentary basins, and is a pre-requisite for the exploitation of resources contained in their sedimentary rocks. The third edition incorporates new developments in the burgeoning field of basin analysis while retaining the successful structure and overall philosophy of the first two editions.The text is divided into 4 parts that establish the geodynamical environment for sedimentary basins and the physical state of the lithosphere, followed by a coverage of the mechanics of basin formation, an integrated analysis of the controls on the basin-fill and its burial and thermal history, and concludes with an application of basin analysis principles in petroleum play assessment, including a discussion of unconventional hydrocarbon plays. The text is richly supplemented by Appendices providing mathematical derivations of a wide range of processes affecting the formation of basins and their sedimentary fills. Many of these Appendices include practical exercises that give the reader hands-on experience of quantitative solutions to important basin analysis processes.Now in full colour and a larger format, this third edition is a comprehensive update and expansion of the previous editions, and represents a rigorous yet accessible guide to problem solving in this most integrative of geoscientific disciplines.Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/allen/basinanalysis.
Basin Analysis: Principles and Application to Petroleum Play Assessment
by Philip A. Allen John R. AllenBasin Analysis is an advanced undergraduate and postgraduate text aimed at understanding sedimentary basins as geodynamic entities. The rationale of the book is that knowledge of the basic principles of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere, the dynamics of the mantle, and the functioning of sediment routing systems provides a sound background for studying sedimentary basins, and is a pre-requisite for the exploitation of resources contained in their sedimentary rocks. The third edition incorporates new developments in the burgeoning field of basin analysis while retaining the successful structure and overall philosophy of the first two editions. The text is divided into 4 parts that establish the geodynamical environment for sedimentary basins and the physical state of the lithosphere, followed by a coverage of the mechanics of basin formation, an integrated analysis of the controls on the basin-fill and its burial and thermal history, and concludes with an application of basin analysis principles in petroleum play assessment, including a discussion of unconventional hydrocarbon plays. The text is richly supplemented by Appendices providing mathematical derivations of a wide range of processes affecting the formation of basins and their sedimentary fills. Many of these Appendices include practical exercises that give the reader hands-on experience of quantitative solutions to important basin analysis processes. Now in full colour and a larger format, this third edition is a comprehensive update and expansion of the previous editions, and represents a rigorous yet accessible guide to problem solving in this most integrative of geoscientific disciplines. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/allen/basinanalysis.
Basiswissen Physik, Chemie und Biochemie: Vom Atom bis zur Atmung – für Biologen, Mediziner, Pharmazeuten und Agrarwissenschaftler (Bachelor Ser.)
by Horst Bannwarth Bruno P. Kremer Andreas SchulzDieses Buch bietet im kompakten Überblick das gesamte Basiswissen der Physik, Chemie und Biochemie in leicht verständlichen Texten und Abbildungen, bei Beschränkung auf das wirklich Notwendige. Es ist abgestimmt auf die Gegenstandskataloge für den ersten Abschnitt der Ärztlichen und der Pharmazeutischen Prüfung. Für Studierende der Biologie, der Ernährungs- und Umweltwissenschaften dient es zur leichteren Orientierung im Grundstudium und zur optimalen Vorbereitung für die Vor- oder Zwischenprüfung. Für diese Neuauflage haben die Autoren alle Kapitel durchgängig aktualisiert.
Basiswissen Physik, Chemie und Biochemie: Vom Atom bis zur Atmung - für Biologen, Mediziner und Pharmazeuten (Bachelor)
by Bruno P. Kremer Horst Bannwarth Andreas SchulzErste Hilfe in Physik und Chemie: die Basics für das erfolgreiche Bachelorstudium. Physikalische, chemische und biochemische Grundlagen sind unverzichtbar für das Verständnis von Biologie, Medizin, Pharmazie, Ernährungs- und Umweltwissenschaften. Dieses Buch bietet im kompakten Überblick das gesamte Basiswissen dieser Grundlagendisziplinen in leicht verständlichen Texten und Abbildungen, bei Beschränkung auf das wirklich Notwendige, abgestimmt auf die Gegenstandskataloge für den Ersten Abschnitt der Ärztlichen und der Pharmazeutische Prüfung, zur leichteren Orientierung im Grundstudium, und zur optimalen Vorbereitung für die Vor- oder Zwischenprüfung. Die neue Auflage wurde aktuell überarbeitet. Sie enthält auch ein komplett neues Kapitel über Stoffe, Energie und Information. Das ideale Lernbuch zur Physik und Chemie in Biologie, Medizin, Pharmazie, Ernährungs- und Umweltwissenschaften.
Bat Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation
by Rick A. Adams Scott C. PedersenRecent advances in the study of bats have changed the way we understand this illusive group of mammals. This volume consist of 25 chapters and 57 authors from around the globe all writing on the most recent finding on the evolution, ecology and conservation of bats. The chapters in this book are not intended to be exhaustive literature reviews, but instead extended manuscripts that bring new and fresh perspectives. Many chapters consist of previously unpublished data and are repetitive of new insights and understanding in bat evolution, ecology and conservation. All chapters were peer-reviewed and revised by the authors. Many of the chapters are multi-authored to provide comprehensive and authoritative coverage of the topics.
Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management
by Michael J. LackiAlthough bats are often thought of as cave dwellers, many species depend on forests for all or part of the year. Of the 45 species of bats in North America, more than half depend on forests, using the bark of trees, tree cavities, or canopy foliage as roosting sites. Over the past two decades it has become increasingly clear that bat conservation and management are strongly linked to the health of forests within their range. Initially driven by concern for endangered species—the Indiana bat, for example—forest ecologists, timber managers, government agencies, and conservation organizations have been altering management plans and silvicultural practices to better accommodate bat species. Bats in Forests presents the work of a variety of experts who address many aspects of the ecology and conservation of bats. The chapter authors describe bat behavior, including the selection of roosts, foraging patterns, and seasonal migration as they relate to forests. They also discuss forest management and its influence on bat habitat. Both public lands and privately owned forests are considered, as well as techniques for monitoring bat populations and activity.The important role bats play in the ecology of forests—from control of insects to nutrient recycling—is revealed by a number of authors. Bat ecologists, bat conservationists, forest ecologists, and forest managers will find in this book an indispensable synthesis of the topics that concern them.
The Battle for North Carolina's Coast: Evolutionary History, Present Crisis, and Vision for the Future
by Stanley R. RiggsThe North Carolina barrier islands, a 325-mile-long string of narrow sand islands that forms the coast of North Carolina, are one of the most beloved areas to live and visit in the United States. However, extensive barrier island segments and their associated wetlands are in jeopardy. In The Battle for North Carolina's Coast, four experts on coastal dynamics examine issues that threaten this state treasure. According to the authors, the North Carolina barrier islands are not permanent. Rather, they are highly mobile piles of sand that are impacted by sea-level rise and major storms and hurricanes. Our present development and management policies for these changing islands are in direct conflict with their natural dynamics. Revealing the urgency of the environmental and economic problems facing coastal North Carolina, this essential book offers a hopeful vision for the coast's future if we are willing to adapt to the barriers' ongoing and natural processes. This will require a radical change in our thinking about development and new approaches to the way we visit and use the coast. Ultimately, we cannot afford to lose these unique and valuable islands of opportunity. This book is an urgent call to protect our coastal resources and preserve our coastal economy.
The Battle for Paradise: Surfing, Tuna, and One Town's Quest to Save a Wave
by Jeremy EvansCORRECTION:Regarding the book, The Battle for Paradise by Jeremy Evans, the following correction has been made on page 163 in paragraph three (3) to wit:“Weston once worked in concert with government officials in a pre-planned sting operation, complete with marked bills: Weston, whose role in the operation involved paying a bribe to the Golfito mayor for a concession and then documenting the bribe as a way to expose the mayor as a corrupt government official, was a former cocaine dealer, according to Dan, and someone who illegally acquired possession of his sawmill property.”Pavones, a town located on the southern tip of Costa Rica, is a haven for surfers, expatriates, and fishermen seeking a place to start over. Located on the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), a marine sanctuary and one of the few tropical fjords in the world, Pavones is home to a legendary surf break and a cottage fishing industry. In 2004 a multinational company received approval to install the world’s first yellowfin tuna farm near the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. The tuna farm as planned would pollute the area, endanger sea turtles, affect the existing fish population, and threaten the world-class wave. A lawsuit was filed just in time, and the project was successfully stalled. Thus began an unlikely alliance of local surfers, fishermen, and global environmental groups to save a wave and one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. In The Battle for Paradise, Jeremy Evans travels to Pavones to uncover the story of how this ragtag group stood up to a multinational company and how a shadowy figure from the town’s violent past became an unlikely hero. In this harrowing but ultimately inspiring story, Evans focuses in turn on a colorful cast of characters with an unyielding love for the ocean and surfing, a company’s unscrupulous efforts to expand profits, and a government that nearly sold out the perfect wave.
Battle For The Wilderness
by Michael FromeThis book focuses on the principles of wilderness, exploring the actual and potential values of wilderness, its ecology, economics, the effect of human impact, and mechanisms to protect small, relatively untouched tracts in or near urban areas in the United States.
The Battle for Yellowstone: Morality and the Sacred Roots of Environmental Conflict
by Justin FarrellYellowstone holds a special place in America's heart. As the world's first national park, it is globally recognized as the crown jewel of modern environmental preservation. But the park and its surrounding regions have recently become a lightning rod for environmental conflict, plagued by intense and intractable political struggles among the federal government, National Park Service, environmentalists, industry, local residents, and elected officials. The Battle for Yellowstone asks why it is that, with the flood of expert scientific, economic, and legal efforts to resolve disagreements over Yellowstone, there is no improvement? Why do even seemingly minor issues erupt into impassioned disputes? What can Yellowstone teach us about the worsening environmental conflicts worldwide?Justin Farrell argues that the battle for Yellowstone has deep moral, cultural, and spiritual roots that until now have been obscured by the supposedly rational and technical nature of the conflict. Tracing in unprecedented detail the moral causes and consequences of large-scale social change in the American West, he describes how a "new-west" social order has emerged that has devalued traditional American beliefs about manifest destiny and rugged individualism, and how morality and spirituality have influenced the most polarizing and techno-centric conflicts in Yellowstone's history.This groundbreaking book shows how the unprecedented conflict over Yellowstone is not all about science, law, or economic interests, but more surprisingly, is about cultural upheaval and the construction of new moral and spiritual boundaries in the American West.
Battle of the Brains: The Science Behind Animal Minds
by Jocelyn RishA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection! This hilarious companion to Battle of the Butts examines the way animals use their brainpower for survival in the wild and encourages readers to rank animals based on their intellectual prowess. Birdbrained. Pigheaded. Batty. Bullheaded. When humans want to insult the intelligence of another person, they often compare them to an animal. But animals are smart. Really, really smart. There are animals that use tools. Others that can solve complex problems. Some have excellent memories. A few can even talk to us! With animals having such mighty minds, the question is: who has the best brainpower of them all? That&’s for you to decide! Full of fascinating facts throughout in a fun "battle of the minds" format, The Battle of the Brains includes a glossary and links to sources and activities at the end, making it the perfect read for any curious mind.
Battling Resistance to Antibiotics and Pesticides: An Economic Approach
by Ramanan LaxminarayanThe increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, and pests to pesticides, threatens to undo some of the most remarkable advances made in public health and agriculture during the past century. Though the potential consequences of increased antibiotic and pesticide resistance are far reaching, regulatory efforts to address the problem are at a very early stage. Battling Resistance to Antibiotics and Pesticides moves such discussions forward by presenting cutting edge research and the first comprehensive application of economic tools to analyze how antibiotics and pesticides should be used to maximize their value to society. Laxminarayan and his contributors explore lessons from past experiences with resistance, especially in agriculture. They consider what incentives would be ideal for the individuals who prescribe or apply antibiotics and pesticides, and what would be ideal for the firms engaged in developing and producing these products. The chapters in this groundbreaking book reflect the fact that efforts to combat resistance will require contributions from a broad range of scholars and professionals, representing a broad range of expertise. The analysis demonstrates that, for all these participants, an understanding of economic issues is an essential complement to knowledge of medical or biological factors. The book provides economists with an overview of relevant scientific issues, as well as a variety of analytical approaches to studying the economics of resistance. It offers policymakers detailed analyses of the multiple dimensions of resistance and discusses the future strategies to combat and manage resistance. For professionals in medicine, public health, and agriculture, the book translates the economic approaches into usable guidance for daily practice and decisionmaking.
Battling the Elements: Weather and Terrain in the Conduct of War
by Harold A. WintersThroughout history, from Kublai Khan's attempted invasions of Japan to Rommel's desert warfare, military operations have succeeded or failed on the ability of commanders to incorporate environmental conditions into their tactics. In Battling the Elements, geographer Harold A. Winters and former U.S. Army officers Gerald E. Galloway Jr., William J. Reynolds, and David W. Rhyne, examine the connections between major battles in world history and their geographic components, revealing what role factors such as weather, climate, terrain, soil, and vegetation have played in combat. Each chapter offers a detailed and engaging explanation of a specific environmental factor and then looks at several battles that highlight its effects on military operations. As this cogent analysis of geography and war makes clear, those who know more about the shape, nature, and variability of battleground conditions will always have a better understanding of the nature of combat and at least one significant advantage over a less knowledgeable enemy.