Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change [Hardcover]

William H. Schlesinger (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0126251568 | ISBN-13: 978-0126251562 | Publication Date: April 1991

Biogeochemistry is the study of the geochemical reactions that occur in the atmosphere, oceans, and crustal minerals of the Earth's surface as affected by living organisms. This text examines global changes that have occurred and are occurring in water, air, and on land, and relates them to the global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulphur. The text is intended for students and professionals in the environmental, geochemical and ecological disciplines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Academic Pr (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0126251568
• ISBN-13: 978-0126251562
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,382,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Overview of a Complex Subject, March 25, 2000

By 

Brian L Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biogeochemistry : An Analysis of Global Change (Paperback)

Biogeochemistry starts with a grand overview, including the formation of the elements, solar system & planets, and then progressively narrows the focus into specifics. As such by the time you get to a chapter on, say, the global carbon cycle, you already have a pretty good idea of where it fits in the big picture. Part I (Processes & Reactions) contains 9 chapters (Introduction, Origin, the Atmosphere, the Lithosphere, Biosphere: Terrstrial Carbon Cycle, Biosphere: Biogeochemical Cycling on Land, Biogeochemistry of Freshwater, Rivers & Estuaries, & the Oceans), which do a balanced job of covering the biological & geological aspects (too many books focus on one or the other). Part II (Global Cycles) has 5 chapters (Water, Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorous, Sulfur, & a final chapter on perspectives) that provide more of the details in these specalized catagories. Suitable for the advanced undergaduate or very interested bystandard, there's little detailed math (a weakness for me, but maybe not for you) but the chemistry is well summarized (and the biochemistry made simple & understandable), and the tables & graphs are clean and very useful. Perhaps more importantly for a "textbook", the style is readable - Schlesinger keeps the essentials, but does not bury the reader in them. While it might not provide all you need at a high level, the references scattered throughout as well as the recommended readings make this a great starting point for the subject, and a handy reference book for the subject as a whole.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview of the Subject, August 23, 2005

By 

feminist military spouse (Akron, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Biogeochemistry : An Analysis of Global Change (Paperback)

I actually took Biogeochemistry from Dr. Schlesinger last fall and I do feel that the book is a good survey of alot of geochemical cycles and is presented at an undergraduate level.
However, some of the information, particularly about methane, was severely broken up throughout the text to the point where it was difficult to put together complete chemical cycles of some elements..
Nevertheless, it gives the reader the broad brush strokes necessary to get up to speed, particularly if you do not have a strong science background. For those who are very familiar to the sciences, you can get much more complete information from review papers than is presented here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a good textbook, July 11, 2005

By 

S. Morrissey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biogeochemistry : An Analysis of Global Change (Paperback)

I had to buy this for a Biogeochemical Cycles class. The book is great! It's actual readable, which I was never expecting. It's interesting and understandable. The first reviewer is right that it doesn't get too complex, but references out the more difficult parts. I appreciated not having to read the way-too-hard stuff on my first introduction to this subject.