The 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: \n* global warming \n* genetically modified foods \n* desertification \n* acid rain \n* deforestation \n* human population growth \n* depleting resources \n* nuclear power generation \n* descriptions of the 10 major biomes. \nSpecial student text features include illustrations and explanatory diagrams, boxed case studies, concepts and definitions.