Egbert Boekeris a retired Professor from the Free University of Amsterdam with a career in which he taught virtually all of the undergraduate courses in physics. Rienk van Grondelle is a Professor in the Department of Biophysics and Physics of Complex Systems at the Free University of Amsterdam. He is performing research in biophysics and teaching not only to physics students but also to biology students. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences.

"...I would regards this as one of the more accessible and usefulintroductory texts in environmental physics..." (Chemistry &Industry, 19 August 2002) "...This book should be a good choice for environmental scienceteachers..." (Jnl of Environmental Quality (September/October2002) "...very valuable to all students taking a course inenvironmental sicence..." (The Int Jnl of Environmental Studies,Vol.59, 2002) "...well adapted to the needs of an environmental sciencecourse..." (Int Jnl of Environement & Pollution, Vol.18, No.1,2002) "...valuable to all students taking courses on environmentalsciences..." (Int Jnl of Environmental Analytical Chemistry,Vol.82, No.10, 2002) "...the material is fresh and to the point ...It is a highlyrecommended introductory text..." (Environmental Geology, January2003) "...an excellent overview...very well written...material isfresh and to the point...highly recommendable..." (EnvironmentalGeology, Vol 43(3), Jan 2003)

• Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: A Physical Approach to Environmental Problems What are Environmental Problems -Pollution The Economic and Social Context Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum The Greenhouse Effect Transport of Pollutants The Carbon Cycle 2. Weather and Climate Energy Transport The Atmsophere, Vertical Structure and Motion Horizontal Motion of Air The Oceans 3. Climate Change Natural Changes of Climate Human induced changes Consequences of Climate Change Reactions to Climate Change 4. Conventional Energy Physics of Heat Heat and Power: Thermodynamics Converting Heat into Power: Problems and 'Solutions' 5. Carbonfree Energies Renewable energies Nuclear Power 6. Making up the Balance Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources Defining the task 7. Transport of Pollutants Basic Concepts Dispersion in the Air Dispersion in Surface Waters Dispersion by Groundwater 8. Noise Physics of Sound Human hearing Reducing Sound Levels 9. Environmental Spectroscopy Basic Spectrospcopy The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy Solar UV, Ozone and Life 10. Geophysical Methods Radioactive Clocks Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors Magnetic Surveys Seismic Probing 11. Science and Society Finite Resources of Energy Pollution and Health Effects Environmental Policy Thinijhng about the Environment and Human Life The Responsibility of the Scientist Appendices References Index

Egbert Boekeris a retired Professor from the Free University of Amsterdam with a career in which he taught virtually all of the undergraduate courses in physics. Rienk van Grondelle is a Professor in the Department of Biophysics and Physics of Complex Systems at the Free University of Amsterdam. He is performing research in biophysics and teaching not only to physics students but also to biology students. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences.

"...I would regards this as one of the more accessible and usefulintroductory texts in environmental physics..." (Chemistry &Industry, 19 August 2002) "...This book should be a good choice for environmental scienceteachers..." (Jnl of Environmental Quality (September/October2002) "...very valuable to all students taking a course inenvironmental sicence..." (The Int Jnl of Environmental Studies,Vol.59, 2002) "...well adapted to the needs of an environmental sciencecourse..." (Int Jnl of Environement & Pollution, Vol.18, No.1,2002) "...valuable to all students taking courses on environmentalsciences..." (Int Jnl of Environmental Analytical Chemistry,Vol.82, No.10, 2002) "...the material is fresh and to the point ...It is a highlyrecommended introductory text..." (Environmental Geology, January2003) "...an excellent overview...very well written...material isfresh and to the point...highly recommendable..." (EnvironmentalGeology, Vol 43(3), Jan 2003)

• Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: A Physical Approach to Environmental Problems What are Environmental Problems -Pollution The Economic and Social Context Sunlight and the Solar Spectrum The Greenhouse Effect Transport of Pollutants The Carbon Cycle 2. Weather and Climate Energy Transport The Atmsophere, Vertical Structure and Motion Horizontal Motion of Air The Oceans 3. Climate Change Natural Changes of Climate Human induced changes Consequences of Climate Change Reactions to Climate Change 4. Conventional Energy Physics of Heat Heat and Power: Thermodynamics Converting Heat into Power: Problems and 'Solutions' 5. Carbonfree Energies Renewable energies Nuclear Power 6. Making up the Balance Greenhouse Gases, Pollution and Resources Defining the task 7. Transport of Pollutants Basic Concepts Dispersion in the Air Dispersion in Surface Waters Dispersion by Groundwater 8. Noise Physics of Sound Human hearing Reducing Sound Levels 9. Environmental Spectroscopy Basic Spectrospcopy The Solar Spectrum at Ground Level Experimental Techniques in Environmental Spectroscopy Solar UV, Ozone and Life 10. Geophysical Methods Radioactive Clocks Isotope Ratios as Environmental Sensors Magnetic Surveys Seismic Probing 11. Science and Society Finite Resources of Energy Pollution and Health Effects Environmental Policy Thinijhng about the Environment and Human Life The Responsibility of the Scientist Appendices References Index