Fresh WaterWith the eye of a professional scientist and the passion of a dedicated amateur, E. C. Pielou conducts a guided tour of fresh water on its course through the natural world. As the world's supply of clean, fresh water continues to dwindle, it becomes increasingly important to understand the close connection between water and all forms of life. Pielou's fascination with fresh water gives us a "natural history" that is remarkable and surprising. "[A] keen and detailed look at the life and history of fresh water. . . . Dip into Fresh Water. It will both stimulate and satisfy as only good natural history can."—Toronto Globe and Mail "Pielou's ease with her subject and her no-nonsense style of writing will satisfy and inspire the poet as well as the naturalist."—Denize Springer, Express Books "[Pielou's] writing is didactic and definitive, in places even charming, and is buttressed by clear illustrations. . . . A welcome addition to the genre of literature designed to bridge the gap between scientists . . . and the intelligent and concerned lay public."—Daniel Hillel, Nature "A wonderful natural history of one of life's necessities, a refreshing break from the grand theory and special pleading of many a science book. . . . Read it."—Fred Pearce, New Scientist |
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amount aquatic Arctic bacteria banks become bedrock bottom boulders Canadian capillary capillary fringe cause channel chemicals confined aquifer confining layer Delta deposited depth discharge dissolved downstream drain ecosystems evapotranspiration falls figure floating floodplain floods flowing water forest freezing fresh water frozen gravel ground groundwater grow happens horizontal hydraulic conductivity hydraulic head hydrogeology hydrology hypolimnion hyporheic hyporheic zone ice age ice sheets kilometers lake laminar land liquid living material meanders measured melting meters moving nutrients overland flow oxygen particles Peace-Athabasca Delta peat permafrost piezometers plankton plants pollution ponds protists rain recharge reservoir river rock runoff sand sediment seeps seiches shallow shows slope slow snow soil sometimes speed stream surface talik temperature thermocline trees unconfined underground upstream vadose zone valley vapor vegetation velocity vertical warm water cycle water flows water level water table watershed waves wetlands wind winter