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Contents:
1 - Dynamic Earth: processes of change; 2- Dynamic Earth: human impacts; 3 - Population change and environmental change; 4 - Changing land; 5 - Water; 6 - Dynamic atmosphere; 7 - Uneven development, globalisation and environmental change; 8 - Conclusion.
Review:
The Open University has long been known for the quality of its long distance (i.e. book, audio and visual) material. In producing this material for its students it has also opened up this way of working to a far wider audience. For example, this is part of a four-part set (see also Hinchliffe and Bingham - the fourth volume is due in August 2003) dealing with the analysis of, understanding of and reaction to environmental events. This, the second volume in the series considers ways in which environments can change.
The main focus of this text is that change is part of the Earth system and that change can be created by both natural and human agencies. From that it is possible to see the extent of human change and the resulting implications from that. Thus we start chapter one with a review of key Earth processes. A summary of major changes provides an overview to the remainder of the chapter which deals, briefly, with key ecological and ecosystem processes, global vegetation patterns and global physical and geological processes. Chapter two repeats the process only for human impacts. Human impacts seem to be linked more to cultural than physiological changes which lessens the early part of the chapter. Energy is taken as the key process and its acquisition and use is a major element here. Finally, the Ehrlich equation (I=P.R.T) is used to attempt some assessment of impact. Chapter three focusses on population change (both human and non-human which makes a good counterpoint in the argument). Initially, population change is linked to changes in the landscape. This is soon followed by standard ideas on population dynamics and a closing section dealing with population and economic growth. Chapter four takes a similarly non-standard approach to the study of land changes. We start with the value of land and human impact (in this case, deforestation). This is followed by major sections on soils, agriculture and mining. The concluding section draws together the major themes of the chapter using, in this case, the notion of the ecofootprint. This is followed by a chapter dealing with the hydrological cycle, fresh water resources and oceans. Chapter six aims to look at atmospheric dynamics but most of the focus is on global warming both natural and human-induced along with a study of the the significance of these changes. To this point all the chapters have had a natural-environment focus but chapter seven deals with development and change. This is crucial because most of the change is happening in areas that can least afford it. Here, the authors look at the notions of development and globalisation and the effect this will have on both people and their environment. A concluding chapter draws together key elements explored in the book.
Considering the vast range of material to be covered this was always going to be a difficult exercise in one relatively slim text. Experts in each specialist field might think that their area is neglected but overall, the basic components of study are there. The standard OU techniques of questions mid-text, summaries, exercises, activities and references are all used to good effect which provides the reader with challenges to test their knowledge (and giving the answers helps!). Overall, this continues the standard of the first text making this a most promising series.