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Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire

Science & Math

Carle, David

Biological Sciences

Praeger

Imported water has transformed the Golden State's environment and quality of life. In the last one hundred years, land ownership patterns and real estate boosterism have dramatically altered both urban and rural communities across the entire state. The key has been water from the Eastern Sierra, the Colorado River and, finally, Northern California rivers. Whoever brings the water, brings the people wrote engineer William Mulholland, whose leadership began the process of water irrigating unlimited growth. Using first-person voices of Californians to reveal the resulting changes, Carle concludes that the new millennium may be the time to stop drowning the California dream.
With extensive use of oral histories, contemporary newspaper articles, and autobiographies, Carle provides a rich exploration of the historic change in California, showing that imported water has shaped the pattern of population growth in the state. Water choices remain the primary tool, he claims, for shaping California's future. The state's damaged environment and reduced quality of life can be corrected if Californians will step out of their historic pattern and embrace limited water supplies as a fact of life in this naturally dry region.

Drowning the Dream: California's Water Choices at the Millennium

Business & Money

Economics

A burning mix of diesel fuel and gasoline drips from handheld canisters onto the ground. Slowly a line of fire begins to creep downhill. The flames are well behaved, almost hesitant. This is a backing fire, unlikely to attract media attention unless it escapes, like the disastrous Los Alamos Cerro Grande fire did in 2000. This book explores a century of controversy over prescribed burning―using fire as a tool―and fire suppression. For more than 100 years, America waged an all-out war against wildland fire. Decades of fire suppression caused fuels to build up at alarming levels in our forests, culminating in the increasingly severe, uncontrollable fires of the late 20th century―the fires in Yellowstone, the Oakland Hills, and Los Alamos and the fires in summers of 2000 (the second worst fire season in the nation's history) and 2001.
Looking at these and earlier fires, Carle uses the voices of those who were involved, of those who were early advocates, and of today's proponents to examine the role of controlled burning. Early in the century, Harold Biswell, a pioneer in prescribed burning, dared to commit the heresy of questioning the dogma of fire suppression, despite professional controversy and opprobrium, he and a few other pioneers led the way. Their roles play an integral part in the story told here. In Biswell's words, fire is a natural part of the environment, about as important as rain and sunshine… . We must work more in harmony with nature, not so much against it. Can humanity, this book asks, learn to become a fire-adapted species?

It takes 8 gallons of water to grow a tomato; 616 gallons to make a burger patty. In fact, the food each of us consumes per day represents an investment of 4,500 gallons of water, according to the California Farm Bureau. In this densely populated state where it rains only six months out of the year, where does all that water come from? This thoroughly engaging, concise book tells the story of California's most precious resource, tracing the journey of water in the state from the atmosphere to the snowpack to our faucets and foods. Along the way, we learn much about California itself as the book describes its rivers, lakes, wetlands, dams, and aqueducts and discusses the role of water in agriculture, the environment, and politics. Essential reading for a state facing the future with an already overextended water supply, this fascinating book shows that, for all Californians, every drop counts. * Features 137 color photographs and 27 color maps * Includes a table "Where Does Your Water Come From?" that answers the question for 315 California cities and towns * Provides up-to-date information on water quality in California, covering such timely topics as Giardia, groundwater contamination, fluoride, and the bottled-water phenomenon A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

Introduction to Water in California (California Natural History Guides)

University of California Press

Introduction to Water in California (Volume 76) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Air in California (Volume 87) (California Natural History Guides)

What is air? Why is the sky blue? Why do people react favorably to mountain or sea air? How does desert air differ from the air of California’s Central Valley? How is air pollution affecting plants and animals? This book is a unique guide to the air we breathe in California. More than a natural history guide, it approaches this fascinating topic by recognizing the overwhelming role played by humans in the story of California’s air. In a highly engaging style, David Carle explains daily weather patterns, seasonal climate, characteristic winds, and sky phenomena. He explores air as the gases in our atmosphere, but also considers the aspects of air that influence all of our sensesits taste, smell, feel, and look. The guide discusses California’s history of air quality management, air pollution and its effect on humans and the environment, and the technological and individual measures needed to address these challenges. The book also functions as a handbook for more environmentally conscious living by providing information on alternative energy sources for consumers and tips for cleaner running cars. * Features 80 color photographs, 23 figures, 18 maps * Covers regional differences of topography, weather, and the character of the air in California’s fifteen designated air basins * Includes a field guide to the sky, explaining color and light, clouds and wind, and the nature of flight * Addresses issues surrounding global climate change in California A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

History

Americas

What is air? Why is the sky blue? Why do people react favorably to mountain or sea air? How does desert air differ from the air of California’s Central Valley? How is air pollution affecting plants and animals? This book is a unique guide to the air we breathe in California. More than a natural history guide, it approaches this fascinating topic by recognizing the overwhelming role played by humans in the story of California’s air. In a highly engaging style, David Carle explains daily weather patterns, seasonal climate, characteristic winds, and sky phenomena. He explores air as the gases in our atmosphere, but also considers the aspects of air that influence all of our senses―its taste, smell, feel, and look. The guide discusses California’s history of air quality management, air pollution and its effect on humans and the environment, and the technological and individual measures needed to address these challenges. The book also functions as a handbook for more environmentally conscious living by providing information on alternative energy sources for consumers and tips for cleaner running cars. * Features 80 color photographs, 23 figures, 18 maps * Covers regional differences of topography, weather, and the character of the air in California’s fifteen designated air basins * Includes a field guide to the sky, explaining color and light, clouds and wind, and the nature of flight * Addresses issues surrounding global climate change in California A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

What is fire? How are wildfires ignited? How do California's weather and topography influence fire? How did the California Indians use fire? In the spirit of his highly acclaimed Introduction to Air in California and Introduction to Water in California, David Carle now turns to another fundamental element of the natural world, giving a fascinating and concise view of this complex topic. His clearly written, dramatically illustrated book will help Californians, including the millions who live near naturally flammable wildlands, better understand their own place in the state's landscape. Carle covers the basics of fire ecology; looks at the effects of fire on wildlife, soil, water, and air; discusses firefighting organizations and land management agencies; explains current policies; and explores many other topics.Features:* 91 color illustrations and 15 maps* Tips on what to do before, during, and after fires* An overview of major wildfires in California's history* A discussion of the effect of climate change on fires in natural landscapesA book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

Introduction to Fire in California (Volume 95) (California Natural History Guides)

What is fire? How are wildfires ignited? How do California's weather and topography influence fire? How did the California Indians use fire? In the spirit of his highly acclaimed Introduction to Air in California and Introduction to Water in California, David Carle now turns to another fundamental element of the natural world, giving a fascinating and concise view of this complex topic. His clearly written, dramatically illustrated book will help Californians, including the millions who live near naturally flammable wildlands, better understand their own place in the state's landscape. Carle covers the basics of fire ecology; looks at the effects of fire on wildlife, soil, water, and air; discusses firefighting organizations and land management agencies; explains current policies; and explores many other topics. Features: * 91 color illustrations and 15 maps * Tips on what to do before, during, and after fires * An overview of major wildfires in California's history * A discussion of the effect of climate change on fires in natural landscapes A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

Introduction to Earth, Soil, and Land in California (Volume 101) (California Natural History Guides)

Following his acclaimed guides to air, fire, and water, David Carle now offers a fascinating exploration of one more primary element of the natural worldthe land beneath our feet. From earthworms and earthquakes to Earth Day, this concise, engaging guide is a multifaceted primer on the literal foundation of California’s environment. Carle tells how soil ecosystems function, discusses what lives in the soil, and examines various soil types. He then turns to the relationship between humans and the land, and investigates the various uses and abuses that land in California endures: large scale agriculture, mining, and development, as well as fires, floods, and erosion. The guide also details the history of land use in the state, making it an essential resource for understanding our total reliance on soil, the marvelous substrate that is the basis of life. Covers the entire state, including California’s wildlands, farmland, cities, and landfills Assesses California’s ecological footprint on planet Earth Discusses many different life forms found in soil, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and mammals Features 92 color photographs and 18 maps A book in the Californians and Their Environment subseries, dedicated to understanding human influences on the state's ecology and natural resources

Nature & Ecology

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Carle, David. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Carle, David

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Carle, David. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire

Drowning the Dream: California's Water Choices at the Millennium

Burning Questions: America's Fight with Nature's Fire

Introduction to Water in California (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Water in California (Volume 76) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Air in California (Volume 87) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Air in California (Volume 87) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Fire in California (Volume 95) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Fire in California (Volume 95) (California Natural History Guides)

Introduction to Earth, Soil, and Land in California (Volume 101) (California Natural History Guides)