Peter Ryan 
Environmental and Low Temperature Geochemistry 

Environmental and Low-Temperature Geochemistry presents
conceptual and quantitative principles of geochemistry in order to
foster understanding of natural processes at and near the
earth’s surface, as well as anthropogenic impacts on
the natural environment. It provides the reader with the
essentials of concentration, speciation and reactivity of elements
in soils, waters, sediments and air, drawing attention to both
thermodynamic and kinetic controls. Specific features
include:

* An introductory chapter that reviews basic chemical
principles applied to environmental and low-temperature
geochemistry

* Explanation and analysis of the importance of minerals in
the environment

* Principles of aqueous geochemistry

* Organic compounds in the environment

* The role of microbes in processes such as
biomineralization, elemental speciation and reduction-oxidation
reactions

* Thorough coverage of the fundamentals of important
geochemical cycles (C, N, P, S)

* Atmospheric chemistry

* Soil geochemistry

* The roles of stable isotopes in environmental
analysis

* Radioactive and radiogenic isotopes as environmental
tracers and environmental contaminants

* Principles and examples of instrumental analysis in
environmental geochemistry

The text concludes with a case study of surface water and
groundwater contamination that includes interactions and reactions
of naturally-derived inorganic substances and introduced organic
compounds (fuels and solvents), and illustrates the
importance of interdisciplinary analysis in environmental
geochemistry.

Readership: Advanced undergraduate and graduate students
studying environmental/low T geochemistry as part of an earth
science, environmental science or related program.

Additional resources for this book can be found at: href=’http://www.wiley.com/go/ryan/geochemistry’>www.wiley.com/go/ryan/geochemistry.

About the author

Peter Crowley Ryan is Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies at Middlebury College where he teaches courses in environmental geochemistry, hydrology, sedimentary geology and interdisciplinary environmental science. He received a Ph.D. in geology at Dartmouth College, an M.S. in geology from the University of Montana and a B.A. in earth sciences from Dartmouth College. He has served as Director of the Program in Environmental Studies and as Chair of the Department of Geology at Middlebury College. His research interests fall into two main areas: (1) understanding the geological and mineralogical controls on trace-element speciation, particularly the occurrence and mobility of arsenic and uranium in bedrock aquifers; and (2) the temporal evolution of marine terrace soils in the tropics, with emphasis on mechanisms and rates of mineralogical reactions, nutrient cycling and application of soil geochemical analysis to correlation and geological interpretation.