Urban Soils

Urbanisation of the world's population is an increasing trend; in China, for example, the proportion of the population living in cities increased from 13% in 1950 to 45% in 2010 (World Bank data). Australia is one of the world's top ten urbanised countries with population greater than ten million, with approximately 90% of its population living in cities, mainly along Australia's coast. The most rapidly urbanising populations are currently in nations of the African continent. Soils in urban areas have multiple functions which are becoming more valued by urban communities: soils supply water, nutrients and physical support for urban plant and animal communities (parks, reserves, gardens), and are becoming increasingly valued for growing food. Soils may be used for building foundations, or as building materials themselves. Urban hydrology relies on the existence of unsealed soils for aquifer protection and flood control. This book is designed primarily as an educational text, but it also reflects current developments in research, and provides readers with an authoritative gateway to the primary literature. It presents the importance of urban ecosystems and the impacts of global change. It examines pedogenesis of urban soils: natural materials affected by urban phenomena, and natural processes acting on urban materials, including an examination of different climatic zones. There is a focus on soils formed on landfill, reclaimed land, dredge spoils as well as soil-related changes in urban geomorphology. There is plenty of discussion on urban soil as a source and sink as well as soil geochemistry and health.

Auteur
Dr Andrew Rate has worked at The University of Western Australia since 1995 after postgraduate training in chemistry and soil chemistry in New Zealand. He has published research relating to geochemistry in multiple areas, including estuaries, mineral exploration, mine rehabilitation, analytical chemistry, hydrology, mineralogy, agriculture, and urban contamination. Dr Rate's main areas of teaching and research are currently in Environmental Geochemistry. His present areas of research activity and publication are centered around understanding the behaviour of trace and rare-earth elements in Earth-surface environments, soils and sediments in urban environments, and acid sulfate soils.

Contenu
Chapter 1Urban Ecosystems: Soils and the Rise and Fall of CitiesChapter 2Formation and properties of urban soilsChapter 3Spatial variability and data analysis in urban soilsChapter 4Urban Soil FunctionsChapter 5Urban Soil PhysicsChapter 6Inorganic contaminants in urban soilsChapter 7Organic contaminants in urban soilsChapter 8Soil Biological Processes in Urban SoilsChapter 9Urban soil as a source and sinkChapter 10Urban Soil and Human HealthChapter 11Urban Soil RemediationChapter 12The Future of Urban Soils