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Mountains
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Comments/Reviews
Description: Mountainous areas contain hundreds of millions of years of history, stretching back to the earliest continental landforms; they are often so large they create their own weather patterns. Yet despite their daunting size, mountains are affected by growing local populations, as well as by distant influences, such as air pollution and global climate change. The case studies in Mountains consider how global warming in East Africa is harming Mount Kenya's regional population, examine the fragile ecology of New Zealand's Southern Alps, and discuss the impact of mountain use over time in New Hampshire's White Mountains, among other critical issues.
Selected Contents:
Preface
Part I. Introduction to Mountains
1. Mountain's Majesty
2. Mountain Formation
3. Mountain Composition
Part II. Mountains of the World: Case Studies
4. Himalayas Range, Southeast Asia
5. Presidential Range, New Hampshire
6. Mount Kenya, Kenya
7. Pyrenees, Spain and France
8. Southern Alps, New Zealand
9. Rocky Mountains, Colorado
10. Ural Mountains, Russia
Part III. Mountains Conclusion
11. People in the Mountains
12. Protecting Mountains
Glossary
Web Sites
Further Reading
Index
Comment(s): "The natural world and its uses to support the explosion of human life in the last century have made understanding the environment in all its forms essential. We live in a period where species are displaced--think of coyotes in our yards--and sometimes are eclipsed even before they are discovered. An awareness of the fragility of the fish stocks and the forests we depend on, or the quality of our water and our air, and the disaster that it would mean to despoil them, makes a series such as James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives a vital reference and source. With evenhandedness and intelligence, Balliett has compressed enormous amounts of complicated information and science into distinct and very readable narratives. His collection is as good a survey as I am aware of. Any library, school room, or individual would be broadened by having these necessary books." -- Alec Wilkinson, staff writer for New Yorker Magazine
"James Balliett's Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives is a comprehensive scientific investigation of the problems facing the quality of life on Earth, and an examination of some of the solutions to these problems. The five volumes that make up this work-- Oceans, Freshwater, Wetlands, Forests, and Mountains--are a well researched and written primer on today's complex global environmental challenges and should find their way to the bookshelves of readers everywhere, and into classrooms across the nation." -- Paul Brodeur, award-winning journalist and author of Downstream, The Asbestos Hazard , Secrets, and Currents of Death.
Review(s): "The illustrated encyclopedia on each topic includes photos, charts, maps, and text tied to student curricula in science, environmental science, and contemporary issues. Students will find the information they need to absorb the complicated scientific and social topics along with a global perspective on even lesser known environmental concerns. With library budgets and interest in mind, this series can be purchased as a set or as individual volumes. With a glossary, index, and sources for further study including relevant websites and readings, this set is a great resource for public and high school libraries." -- Library Journal
"This series' strength is its visual presentation of information about current environmental issues. Each title contains a variety of maps, charts, and graphs to help the reader visualize the information. This series could be used for research in science or social studies classes. Researchers will appreciate the specificity of the information given mostly through illustrations. Recommended." -- Library Media Connection
    
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