This book introduces readers to the rich and varied thermal springs of the Tibetan Plateau, which is steadily rising due to the collision of two continental plates. Readers will discover a wealth of information on boiling springs and hot springs, including their location and elevation, temperature, geological characteristics, and water chemical data, as well as tables on warm and tepid springs. Shedding new light on this vital supplement to hydroelectric resources in remote southwest China, the book will appeal to a broad relationship, from experts researching the Tibetan Plateau to companies specializing in geothermal exploration.

The largest emitter of green-house gases since 2007 and top polluter of the increasingly stressed Pacific Ocean, the People’s Republic of China is both a major contributor to environmental degradation and a leading contender to mitigate and stabilize global environmental conditions. Reviewing the history of the PRC from the periods of central economic planning (1953-1978) followed by the single-minded pursuit of economic growth and mass consumption beginning in 1978-1979 to the adoption of a more balanced approach stressing environmental protection and restoration beginning in the 1990s, Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Environment documents both the enormous damage to the country’s natural environment and the dramatic attempts by the Chinese government and environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) at environmental amelioration and restoration. Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Environment contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 200 cross-referenced entries on environmental degradation including air and water pollution, deforestation, desertification, and resource depletion while efforts at amelioration and restoration include river and waterway clean-ups, reforestation and desert control, restoration of fisheries, creation of national nature reserves, along with energy conservation and development of renewables such as solar and wind power. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Chinese Environment.

Energy, Resources and Environment documents the first U.S.-China Conference and discusses the concerns about the world's energy situation, such as its resource, environmental effects, and possible alternative sources. The book is comprised of 72 chapters including the keynote address, five lecture papers, and 66 technical papers that are organized according to its contents, specifically the type of energy it discusses. The text begins with the keynote address, and then discusses the plenary and technical papers. The plenary papers discuss the importance of energy, resources, environment, and future development. The technical papers cover the technological advancement of alternative energy source and their application. The conference covers the following theme: chemical fuels, coal energy, electric power systems, energy conservation, geothermal and other natural energy, hydropower, ice storage for cooling, solar energy, wind energy, economic aspect of energy utilization, and impact of energy on the environment. The book will be of great interest to individuals concerned with the development of alternative energy sources. Researchers whose work involves alternative energy will be able to make use of this book as a reference material.

Mining the Earth's Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy describes the work carried out by the Los Alamos National Laboratory to turn an idealistic concept - that of drawing useful amounts of energy from the vast underground store of hot rock at reachable depths - into a practical reality. This book provides comprehensive documentation of the over two decades of experiments carried out at the test site at Fenton Hill, New Mexico, where the feasibility of accessing and extracting this vast natural resource was finally demonstrated. It also discusses the numerous technical, administrative, and financial hurdles that had to be overcome along the way. This publication will no doubt prove invaluable to researchers around the world as they strive to move this now-proven technology toward commercial viability. In addition, it is a valuable source of relevant information for anyone interested in the world energy outlook for the 21st century and beyond.

This book introduces aqueous geochemistry applied to geothermal systems. It is specifically designed for readers first entering into the world of geothermal energy from a variety of scientific and engineering backgrounds, and consequently is not intended to be the last word on geothermal chemistry. Instead it is intended to provide readers with sufficient background knowledge to permit them to subsequently understand more complex texts and scientific papers on geothermal energy. The book is structured into two parts. The first explains how geothermal fluids and their associated chemistry evolve, and shows how the chemistry of these fluids can be used to, deduce information about the resource. The second part concentrates on survey techniques explaining how these should be performed and the procedures which need to be adopted to ensure reliable sampling and analytical data are obtained. A geothermal system requires a heat source and a fluid which transfers the heat towards the surface. The fluid could be molten rock (magma) or water. This book concentrates on the chemistry of the water, or hydrothermal, systems. Consequently, magma-energy systems are not considered. Hot-dry rock (HDR) systems are similarly outside the scope of this text, principally because they contain no indigenous fluid for study. Both magma-energy and HDR systems have potential as energy sources but await technological developments before they can be exploited commercially. Geothermal systems based on water, however, are proven energy resources which have been successfully developed throughout the world.

This book provides a general survey of Geocryology, which is the study of frozen ground called permafrost. Frozen ground is the product of cold climates as well as a variety of environmental factors. Its major characteristic is the accumulation of large quantities of ice which may exceed 90% by volume. Soil water changing to ice results in ground heaving, while thawing of this ice produces ground subsidence often accompanied by soil flowage. Permafrost is very susceptible to changes in weather and climate as well as to changes in the microenvironment. Cold weather produces contraction of the ground, resulting in cracking of the soil as well as breakup of concrete, rock, etc. Thus permafrost regions have unique landforms and processes not found in warmer lands. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the characteristics of permafrost. Four chapters deal with its definition and characteristics, the unique processes operating there, the factors affecting it, and its general distribution. Part 2 consists of seven chapters describing the characteristic landforms unique to these areas and the processes involved in their formation. Part 3 discusses the special problems encountered by engineers in construction projects including settlements, roads and railways, the oil and gas industry, mining, and the agricultural and forest industries. The three authors represent three countries and three language groups, and together have over 120 years of experience of working in permafrost areas throughout the world. The book contains over 300 illustrations and photographs, and includes an extensive bibliography in order to introduce the interested reader to the large current literature. Finalist of the 2019 PROSE Awards.