Overview
- Integrates case studies and examples from Australia (highly urbanised) and China (rapidly urbanising) and elsewhere fully into the text
- Examines the archaeological value of urban soils for the first time
- Includes environmental justice and inequity in urban areas, in a soils context
Part of the book series: Progress in Soil Science (PROSOIL)
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About this book
The authors reflect current developments in research and urban trends. In China, for example, the proportion of the population living in cities increased from 13% in 1950 to 45% in 2010 (World Bank data). Australia is one of the world's top ten urbanised countries with population greater than ten million, with approximately 90% of its population living in cities, mainly along Australia's coast. The most rapidly urbanising populations are currently in nations of the African continent. Soils in urban areas have multiple functions which are becoming more valued by urban communities: soils supply water, nutrients and physical support for urban plant and animal communities (parks, reserves, gardens), and are becoming increasingly valued for growing food. Soils may be used for building foundations, or as building materials themselves. Urban hydrology relies on the existence of unsealed soils for aquifer protection and flood control.
This volume presents the importance of urban ecosystems and the impacts of global change. It examines pedogenesis of urban soils: natural materials affected by urban phenomena, and natural processes acting on urban materials, including an examination of different climatic zones. There is a focus on soils formed on landfill, reclaimed land, dredge spoils as well as soil-related changes in urban geomorphology. There is plenty of discussion on urban soil as a source and sink as well as soil geochemistry and health.
The book is intended primarily as a text for upper-level undergraduate, and postgraduate (Masters) students. It will also be invaluable as a resource for professionals such as researchers, environmental regulators, and environmental consultants.
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
Editors and Affiliations
About the editor
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Urban Soils
Book Subtitle: Principles and Practice
Editors: Andrew W. Rate
Series Title: Progress in Soil Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87316-5
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental Science, Earth and Environmental Science (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-87315-8Published: 08 January 2022
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-87318-9Published: 09 January 2023
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-87316-5Published: 07 January 2022
Series ISSN: 2352-4774
Series E-ISSN: 2352-4782
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XII, 446
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations
Topics: Soil Science & Conservation, Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts, Urban Ecology, Earth System Sciences, Environmental Geography, Geochemistry