الصفحة 21
الصفحة 21
A Biomass Future for the North American Great Plains : Toward Sustainable Land Use and Mitigation of Greenhouse Warming
The Great Plains of North America is a major global breadbasket but its agriculture is stressed by drought, heat spells, damaging winds, soil erosion and declining ground water resources. This book explores the possibility that the ecology and economy of the Plains region (and similar regions) would benefit from the introduction of perennial biomass crops. Biomass production and processing on the Plains (possibly aided by genetic engineering) would partially restore a perennial vegetative cover and create new employment opportunities. Biomass also offers a means of reducing fossil fuel use, providing fuel to local power plants and a feedstock for production of cellulosic ethanol, a gasoline substitute. Interest in biofuels is growing rapidly in public, political and business circles with rising fossil fuel prices and because of a growing recognition of the need for energy independence in petroleum importing countries.
3D Radiative Transfer in Cloudy Atmospheres
Assessing developments in three-dimensional cloud radiation, this volume treats two main application areas: the impact of clouds on the Earth's radiation budget, and remote observation of clouds. It is suitable for graduate students, researchers, and also for those interested in cloud-radiation processes in the solar and infrared spectral regions.
25 Years of Transformations of Higher Education Systems in Post-Soviet Countries : Reform and Continuity
A result of the first ever study of the transformations of the higher education institutional landscape in fifteen former USSR countries after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It explores how the single Soviet model that developed across the vast and diverse territory of the Soviet Union over several decades has evolved into fifteen unique national systems, systems that have responded to national and global developments while still bearing some traces of the past. The book is distinctive as it presents a comprehensive analysis of the reforms and transformations in the region in the last 25 years; and it focuses on institutional landscape through the evolution of the institutional types established and developed in Pre-Soviet, Soviet and Post-Soviet time. It also embraces all fifteen countries of the former USSR, and provides a comparative analysis of transformations of institutional landscape across Post-Soviet systems.
10 Years Southeast European Cooperative Initiative : From Dayton to Brussels
The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) was the first international instrument for "peace keeping and peace making". Conceived by the United States with full partnership and participation of the European Union, SECI was a response to the Dayton Agreement. SECI was convinced that sending troops and diplomats did not suffice. It called for a new strategy and approach that would promote economic and social development through regional cooperation. SECI understood that despite their differences, the countries of South East Europe shared many mutual concerns. For the international community, SECI was a prelude to a broader instrument - the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, launched in 1999. The approach was a success! This compendium of documents, agreements, analyses and essays gives a glimpse into decision-making processes and results achieved.
