Unraveling Environmental Disasters
by Daniel A. Vallero, Trevor Letcher
2nd Edition
Publisher: Elsevier
Book Details
| Print ISBN | 9780443186516 |
| eText ISBN | 9780443186523 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Publishing Year | 2023 |
| Edition | 2nd Edition |
| Language | English |
In Unraveling Environmental Disasters (2nd Edition), authors Daniel A. Vallero and Trevor Letcher analyze major ecological catastrophes to support efforts aimed at reducing future disaster risks. Designed for graduate students, engineers, scientists, and government decision makers, the book treats environmental disasters as complex systems driven by human activity and natural hazards.
The text synthesizes core thematic areas including groundwater pollutant transport and historical contamination events at Love Canal and Times Beach. It examines nuclear power plant meltdowns at Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi, the mechanics of oil spills, greenhouse gas emissions, and broad impacts linked to global climate change.
A key feature of this second edition is its expanded treatment of food, health, and water safety challenges. This updated material offers academicians, research staff, urban planners, and technical experts a structured scientific foundation for evaluating systemic environmental vulnerabilities across both public and industrial domains.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Failure
- • Events
- • Disasters as Failures
- • Types of Failure
- • Types of Disasters
- • Systems Engineering
- • References and Notes
Chapter 2: Science
- • Scientific Advancement
- • Laws of Motion
- • Laws of Chemistry and Thermodynamics
- • Science in the Public Eye
- • References
Chapter 3: Explosions
- • Dust
- • Ammonium Nitrate
- • Picric Acid and TNT
- • Methyl Isocyanate
- • Natural Explosions—Volcanoes
- • References
Chapter 4: Plumes
- • Nomenclature
- • Early Air Quality Disasters
- • Toxic Plumes
- • Plume Characterization
- • Nuclear Fallout Plumes
- • References and Notes
Chapter 5: Leaks
- • Surreptitious Disasters
- • Pollutant Transport in Groundwater
- • Love Canal
- • Chester
- • Times Beach
- • Valley of the Drums
- • Stringfellow Acid Pits
- • Tar Creek
- • The March Continues
- • References and Notes
Chapter 6: Spills
- • Disastrous Releases
- • Oil Spills
- • Niger River Delta Oil Spills
- • Other Spills
- • Partitioning in the Environment
- • References and Notes
Chapter 7: Fires
- • Fire Disaster Thermodynamics
- • Kuwait Oil Fires
- • Release of Radioactive Material
- • Indonesian Wildfires
- • World Trade Center Fire
- • The Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
- • Other Major Fires
- • Tire Fires
- • Coal Mine Fires
- • Indirect Effect: Formation of Toxic Substances
- • Indirect Impact: Transport
- • References and Notes
Chapter 8: Climate
- • Global Climate Change
- • Greenhouse Gases
- • Consequences of Global Warming
- • Is It a Disaster?
- • Responding to Climate Change
- • Carbon and Climate
- • Potential Warming Disaster
- • Geoengineering
- • Biological Drivers of Climate Change
- • References and Notes
Chapter 9: Nature
- • Hurricanes
- • Floods
- • Drought
- • Ecosystem Resilience
- • References and Notes
Chapter 10: Minerals
- • Inorganic Substances
- • Toxic Metals
- • Asbestos
- • Cyanide
- • Surface Mining
- • Value
- • References and Notes
Chapter 11: Recalcitrance
- • The Dirty Dozen
- • Agent Orange
- • Lake Apopka
- • James River
- • Persistent Wastes
- • The Arctic Disaster
- • References and Notes
Chapter 12: Radiation
- • Electromagnetic Radiation
- • Nuclear Radiation
- • Nuclear Plants
- • Nuclear Power Plant Failure
- • Is Nuclear Power Worth the Risks?
- • Meltdown at Chernobyl
- • The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster
- • Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident
- • Radioisotopes and Radiation Poisoning
- • Carbon Dating
- • Nuclear Waste Disposal
- • References and Notes
Chapter 13: Invasions
- • The Worst 100
- • Sensitive Habitats
- • References and Notes
Chapter 14: Products
- • Precaution
- • Endocrine Disruptors and Hormonally Active Agents
- • Antibiotics: Superbugs and Cross-Resistance
- • Organophosphates
- • Scientific Principles at Work
- • Milk and Terrorism
- • References and Notes
Chapter 15: Unsustainability
- • Oil
- • Phosphates
- • Helium
- • Platinum Group Metals
- • Lithium
- • Rare Earth Metals
- • Other Metals
- • Biomass
- • Methane
- • Carbon Dioxide
- • References and Notes
Chapter 16: Society
- • Justice
- • Solid Waste
- • Food Supply
- • Vinyl Chloride
- • Food Versus Fuel
- • Burning as a Societal Issue
- • Risk Trade-Offs
- • References and Notes
Chapter 17: Food
Chapter 18: Health
Chapter 19: Water
Chapter 20: Future
- • Recommendations
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- Unraveling Environmental Disasters - STANZATEXTBOOKS
