Название: Water Encyclopedia - Oceanography, Meteorology, Physics and Chemistry, Water law and Water history, Art and Culture
Автор: Jay Lehr, Ph.D
Издательство: A John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Год: 2005
Формат: PDF
Страниц: 956
Размер: 41,2 Mb
Язык: English

No natural molecule on the planet is more fascinating thanwater. It has unique properties ranging from the unusualangles formed between its two hydrogen ions and its singleoxygen molecule, to the fact that unlike most substances, itexpands when it freezes rather than shrinks and reachesa maximum density as a liquid 4?F above its freezingpoint. These and many other aspects of the special physicsand chemistry are described in this volume, including theimpact of a wide variety of chemicals occurring in water,osmosis, diffusion, hydration, isotope exchange, along withthe fun physics of the mariotte bottle.Equally fascinating are the many unusual physical andchemical encounters in both the ocean and the atmosphere.Although oceanography and meteorology are frequentlyconsidered separate sciences from hydrology, their limitedinclusion in theWater Encyclopediawas deemed necessaryto tell the complete story. Tidal changes, benthic nutrients,the sea floor, el nino, sea level, and ocean/climaterelationships make up but a few of the oceans fascinatingstories, whereas water spouts, hurricanes, monsoons,droughts, sublimation, and barometric efficiency just touchthe tip of what this volume has in store in the area ofmeteorology.
But water has a wonderful human face as well. Wehave reached around the world to describe the historyof water and its role in the development of civilizationsand the many beliefs held about it. As society developed,the distribution of water needed supervision, which leadto a wide variety of water laws we have attempted tocategorize and describe in an interesting and meaningfulway.We are equally proud of our open-minded effort todescribe the role that water has played in art and culture.We have attempted not be judgmental, with stories ofwater forms and water intelligence along with somemedical theories and, of course, the wonderful descriptionsof early water clocks. This volume is a true intellectualcornucopia of water in the life of humankind on apersonal level.We are confident that in the coming years and editionsof theWater Encyclopedia, this volume will expand withmore participation from individuals working in unusualfields relating to water.