Book Description

Types and Properties of Water in two volumes is a component of Encyclopedia of Water Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. These volumes deal with different parts of the hydrosphere and features of water as substance in its three phases. Natural water is one of the most important substances for the maintenance of life on our planet. The main part of the Earth's water is concentrated in the hydrosphere (oceans, lakes, streams, underground water), and in the cryosphere (all the snow and ice). The atmosphere and living organisms also contain water, but in minor quantities as compared to the whole hydrosphere. Several types of water are in the Nature: atmospheric water, water in oceans, seas, coastal zones, and estuaries; in rivers, reservoirs, lakes and wetlands; groundwater including soil waters; glaciers, icebergs, and ground ice (permafrost). This set of volumes is designed to be a very authoritative reference for state-of-the-art knowledge on the various aspects such as: Characteristics of Water and Water Bodies in the Natural Environment; Properties of Atmospheric Water; Properties of Oceans, Inland Seas, Coastal Zones, and Estuaries; Properties of Rivers, Streams, Lakes and Wetlands; Properties of Soil Water and Groundwater; Properties Of Glacial, Iceberg And Permafrost Water. These two volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.