In response to the overwhelming concern for possible acute and long-term effects of ozone depletion on terrestrial and aquatic life, this volume presents a comprehensive collection of review articles from an internationally acknowledged group of experts.

This publication originates from the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Environmental Radiation: Impact on Ecosystems and Human Health and Predictive Models, held in Pisa, Italy, in June 2001. The book offers not only basic information on the action mechanisms of UV radiation on ecosystems and various biological systems, but also a picture of the possible scenarios of the long-term global increase of environmental UV radiation, with emphasis on the research aspects aimed at the proper quantitative assessment of risk factors and the formulation of reliable predictive models. The purpose of the authors is to present a critical discussion on how changes in UV radiation will affect ecosystems and the biological processes needed to sustain life on Earth and to provide useful hints for future actions of governmental and international agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations. The book is structured in four sections: the first one is devoted to a general overview of the consequences of ozone depletion and to the basic concepts of radiation measurements and monitoring; the other three sections are devoted to the effects on plants, aquatic ecosystems and human health.

This book offers extensive coverage of the most important aspects of UVR effects on all aquatic (not just freshwater and marine) ecosystems, encompassing UV physics, chemistry, biology and ecology. Comprehensive and up-to-date, UV Effects in Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems aims to bridge the gap between environmental studies of UVR effects and the broader, traditional fields of ecology, oceanography and limnology. Adopting a synthetic approach, the different sections cover: the physical factors controlling UVR intensity in the atmosphere; the penetration and distribution of solar radiation in natural waters; the main photochemical process affecting natural and anthropogenic substances; and direct and indirect effects on organisms (from viruses, bacteria and algae to invertebrate and vertebrate consumers). Researchers and professionals in environmental chemistry, photochemistry, photobiology and cell and molecular biology will value this book, as will those looking at ozone depletion and global change.

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) is electromagnetic radiation coming from the sun, with a medium wavelength which is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer. The biological effects of UV-B are greater than simple heating effects, and many practical applications of UV-B radiation derive from its interactions with organic molecules. It is considered particularly harmful to the environment and living things, but what have scientific studies actually shown? UV-B Radiation: From Environmental Stressor to Regulator of Plant Growth presents a comprehensive overview of the origins, current state, and future horizons of scientific research on ultraviolet-B radiation and its perception in plants. Chapters explore all facets of UV-B research, including the basics of how UV-B's shorter wavelength radiation from the sun reaches the Earth's surface, along with its impact on the environment's biotic components and on human biological systems. Chapters also address the dramatic shift in UV-B research in recent years, reflecting emerging technologies, showing how historic research which focused exclusively on the harmful environmental effects of UV-B radiation has now given way to studies on potential benefits to humans. Topics include: UV-B and its climatology UV-B and terrestrial ecosystems Plant responses to UV-B stress UB- B avoidance mechanisms UV-B and production of secondary metabolites Discovery of UVR8 Timely and important, UV-B Radiation: From Environmental Stressor to Regulator of Plant Growth is an invaluable resource for environmentalists, researchers and students who are into the state-of-the-art research being done on exposure to UV-B radiation.

This book, first published in 2000, provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary review of UV radiation effects in the marine environment. It is aimed at researchers and graduate students in photobiology, photochemistry and environmental science. It will also be useful as a supplementary text for courses in oceanography, climatology and ecology.

A comprehensive review of this important aspect of environmental change.

Although there are some biological processes that are supported by UV radiation, most organisms are stressed by it in various ways, e.g. through DNA damage. Top international experts present an integrated overview of UV radiation and its effects on terrestrial, freshwater and marine Arctic biota. Increased stratospheric ozone depletion and the corresponding increase in ground levels of UV radiation as well as ambient, "natural" UV radiation as a key ecological factor in the Arctic spring and summer are discussed in detail. Additionally, basic information on Arctic ecosystems is given. The volume provides not only an excellent account of present-day knowledge of the subject, but also describes the state of the art on which future research can be built.

Radiation Measurement in Photobiology deals with the measurement of optical radiation and its application in photobiology. Optical radiation detectors as well as the calibration of light sources and detectors are discussed, together with techniques for spectroradiometry and broadband radiometry. Action spectroscopy and ultraviolet radiation dosimetry are also considered. Comprised of nine chapters, this volume begins with an introduction to the basic principles of light measurement, followed by a survey of optical radiation detectors based on physical principles and the problems associated with calibration. The next three chapters deal with important applications and extensions of these radiant measurements, including a short review of biological and medical users of lasers. The final three chapters on specialized studies and developments illustrate the wide diversity that exists in photobiology. These cover ultraviolet radiation dosimetry using polymer films, computer modeling of terrestrial ultraviolet radiation, and the "diffusion optics" in biological media. This book should be of interest to photobiologists.

Once thought of as a pristine environment, it is now all too apparent that the Arctic is a sink for pollutants transported northwards over long distances in the atmosphere and oceans, and is also likely to be subject to major climate change as a result of global warming. Many ecologists are currently seeking to further our understanding of how arctic ecosystems function, and to detect and predict anthropogenic changes which may occur within them. This book, resulting from a British Ecological Society Special Symposium, addresses these issues.

The innovative theme of the book entitled Environmental Physiology is basically molecular physiology of abiotic stress response in plants. This has been especially edited for realistic and rational utilization by planners, scientists, investigators, academicians and postgraduate students. This book is an exceptional assimilation of well-timed, crucial and comprehensive twenty-one worthy reviews of diverse significance contributed by sincere dedication of experienced, laudable and well-known scientists/ stalwarts all over the world. The genuineness that due to incredible harmony with the world scientists of various disciplines developed in the last eight years, over nineteen Indian and twenty-nine foreign intellectuals enthusiastically came forward and associated in this extensive project of pragmatic importance. In fact, this kind of momentous work cannot be accomplished effectively and productively by a single person belonging principally to a specific field of specialization. This is also strongly realized that there is progressively more a need of united effort of experts in the ground-breaking work of precise importance above all in the agricultural sciences, which absolutely depends on environmental situations. The intricacies of abiotic and biotic stresses on growth and development of plants have been understood in the last few decades. This is the right time to apply the knowledge acquired in this direction, out of exhaustive research throughout the globe, in anyhow enhancing yield of crop plants cultivated under a variety of environmental stresses, in general, and extending basic research, in particular, for having more insight in establishing new cultivars under higher intensities of abiotic stresses like drought, high and low temperature, salinity, sodicity, flooding, mineral, oxidative, heavy metals, etc. This book too is an endeavour to make aware the young workers with allied techniques comprising destructive and non-destructive methods for extending relevant research incessantly in the years to come to gain further information of both basic and applied significance for sustainability of agriculture under environmental stresses. The manifold ideas on basic problems of the present and the future as well as resolutions have been consolidated through precious reviews by distinguished personnel of plant sciences in twenty-one chapters. In this enthusiastic and forceful enterprise, the real appreciation is due to all notable and brilliant authors, for bringing up most needed unrivalled, practical, thoughtful and comprehensive reviews of international standard on physiology of plants and their responses under wide-ranging environmental stresses. Hopefully, the wonderful multifaceted reviews selected and compiled very systematically in this exclusive book for the first time by genuine experts and distinguished scientists would enable to plan meaningful advanced research and profuse consequential teaching on the extremely crucial theme of abiotic stress responses in plants. This unique collection must be of enormous help for post-graduate studies and higher research in all disciplines of plant science in every university and research institute of the world.