Principles and Measurements in Environmental Biology

1 Introduction to the Effects of the Environment on Biological Organisms Solar Radiation Temperature Water Atmospheric Pressure Air Flow Carbon Dioxide References and Bibliography2 Radiation Introduction Electromagnetic or Wave Theory of Radiation Quantum Theory of Radiation Applications of Light Theories Some General Definitions Concerning Radiation Light and Growth Crops and Their Radiation Environment References and Bibliography3 Kinetic Theory, Gas Laws and Diffusion Introduction The Ideal-Gas Laws Effusion and Diffusion Resistances (The Use of Equivalent Electrical Circuits) Diffusion through Stomata References and Bibliography4 Water Introduction Water Molecules Liquid Water Flow Solutions Osmosis Water Vapor Surface Tension Water and the Atmosphere Temperature Variations in the Atmosphere Water Potential Background Thermodynamics: Definitions References and Bibliography5 Plants and the Atmosphere near the Ground Introduction Turbulence Wind Profiles Eddy Diffusion and Vertical Transport in the Lower Atmosphere Friction Velocity Mixing Length Transfer Coefficients The Resistance Analogue Logarithmic Wind Profiles The Aerodynamic Method of Estimating Flux Densities Effects of Temperature The Influence of Temperature Gradients on Buoyancy Monin-Obukhov Stability Function Bowen-Ratio Method of Estimating Flux Densities The Monteith-Modified Penman Equation References and Bibliography6 Sampling Introduction Spatial Sampling Temporal Sampling References and Bibliography7 Errors Introduction Types of Variation Estimation of Mean of Data and Scatter about the Mean Standard Error and Confidence Limits Calibration Problems Repeatability and Accuracy Some Examples of Measurement Errors Summary of Equations References and Bibliography8 Transducers Introduction Temperature Radiation Water Wind Speed Wind Direction Carbon Dioxide Atmospheric Pressure References and Bibliography9 Display and Recording Devices Introduction Techniques for Linking Transducers to Translation Devices Translation Devices Interfaces Decisions References and Bibliography10 Practical Applications Introduction Case Study 1: Barley and Its Environment Case Study 2: Ammonia Fluxes Case Study 3: The Design of an Enclosure References and Bibliography11 Growth Analysis Introduction Primary Model Secondary Model Tertiary Model Curve Fitting References and BibliographyAppendixIndex