Introduction to air in California / David Carle.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-221) and index.

Introduction : the nature of California air -- [1.] The thin blanket : the atmosphere -- Layers of the blanket -- The elegant balance : photosynthesis and respiration -- Why is there air? : evolution of the atmosphere -- What a difference an O makes -- The essence of air -- The nitrogen cycle -- The carbon cycle -- The essential "greenhouse effect" -- A dating game : ions and radiation -- Weighty matters : air pressure -- Highs and lows : California's "Mediterranean climate" -- El Niño -- "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" -- Temperature upside down -- [2.] Air apparent : a field guide to the sky -- Why is the sky blue? -- How to find cloud 9-- Lightning, then thunder -- Clouds on your level -- Contrails -- The Sierra wave -- Air in motion -- Daily and seasonal winds -- Santa Ana and Diablo winds -- Dust devils and the occasional tornado -- Blowing in the wind -- Pollination, planting, and perfumes -- Motion in air : taking flight -- Designing California birds -- California condors -- California gulls -- California quails -- Can bumblebees fly? -- Mammals overhead -- [3.] California air basins -- San Diego County -- South Coast -- South Central Coast -- North Central Coast -- San Francisco Bay -- North Coast -- Lake County -- Sacramento Valley -- San Joaquin Valley -- Mountain counties -- Lake Tahoe -- Northeast Plateau -- Great Basin Valleys -- Mojave Desert -- Salton Sea -- [4.] Footprints in the air -- The breath of life -- What's a ppb to me? -- The pollutants -- Photochemical smog : NOx, VOCs, and ozone -- Ozone health effects -- The mysterious "weekend effect" -- Particulates -- Carbon monoxide -- Sulfur dioxide -- Lead -- Toxics -- The enemy is us : emission sources -- Tailpipes -- Diesel -- Ports of call -- "Air spray" -- Downwind from the farm -- Natural emissions too -- Sharing air with the wildlands -- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks : a case study -- [5.] Sharing air with the globe -- Adrift from Asia -- Ozone depletion -- The enhanced greenhouse effect and climate change -- Gambling with greenhouse gases -- Slow or sudden? -- Reacting to change -- California and climate change -- Climate stewardship -- [6.] Breathing easy -- Who takes regulatory responsibility? -- Tensions over jurisdiction -- Cleaning the car -- Smog check program -- Getting older cars off the road -- Reporting smoking vehicles -- Weaning ourselves from oil -- Clean diesel -- Hydrogen fuel cells -- Renewable energy : here today, much more tomorrow -- Air power -- Solar -- Cool communities -- Success stories -- What you can do, every day -- Cars -- At home -- What about indoor air? -- Finally, think about numbers -- Glossary.

What is air? Why is the sky blue? Why do people react favorably to mountain or sea air? How does desert air differ from the air of California's Central Valley? How is air pollution affecting plants and animals? This book approaches this fascinating topic by recognizing the overwhelming role played by humans in the story of California's air.

Print version record.

English.

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