Saudi Arabia : An Environmental Overview

A comprehensive overview of Saudi Arabia#xE2;#xAC;"s environment, this volume is a unique and authoritative text on the geological and environmental aspects of Saudi Arabia, a country about which little is known by the outside world. Saudi Arabia is a fascinating country with a long tradition of environmental awareness and sensitivity, pitted against some of the harshest environments on earth. The book brings together a wide range of published and unpublished material which will be of interest to environmental scientists, geologists, geographers and biologists. A comprehensive bibliography is included. This book will be indispensable for university courses dealing with the Middle East and arid zone environments as well as various regional/environmental courses.

Contents List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments 1 AN ENVIRONMENT DISCOVERED 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Early European Exploration 1.3 The Nineteenth Century 1.4 Twentieth Century Explorers 2 THE KINGDOM 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Main Physiographic Regions 2.3 A Journey Through Time 2.4 The Modern Kingdom - Growing Environmental Pressures 3 GEOLOGY 3.1 Introduction - Main Geological Units 3.2 Brief Geological History 3.3 Regional Geology 3.4 Economic Geology 4 CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Synoptic Climatology and Seasons 4.3 Air Temperature 4.4 Atmospheric Humidity and Evaporation 4.5 Precipitation 4.6 Global Radiation and Sunshine 4.7 Wind 4.8 Climatic Regions 4.9 Climate and Environmental Change 5 HYDROGEOLOGY & HYDROLOGY 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Drainage Net 5.3 Surface Runoff 5.4 Dams 5.5 Lakes 5.6 Springs 5.7 Groundwater 5.8 Aquifer Water Quality 5.9 Aquifer Recharge 5.10 Water Extraction for Irrigation 5.11 Urban Development and Groundwater 5.12 Water Harvesting in Urban Areas 6 GEOMORPHOLOGY 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Weathering 6.3 Denudation History 6.4 Tertiary Drainage Development 6.5 Deep Weathering 6.6 Inselbergs and Kopjes 6.7 Pediments and Gravel Plains 6.8 Alluvial Fans 6.9 Sand Dunes and Ergs 6.10 Wind Erosion - Yardangs and Ventifacts 6.11 Karst 6.12 Volcanic Landforms 6.13 Escarpments and Cuestas 6.14 Quaternary Sea Level Changes 6.15 Loessic Alluvial Silts 7 BIOGEOGRAPHY 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Fauna 7.3 The Flora 7.4 Vegetation 8 SOILS & SOIL EROSION 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Entisols 8.3 Inceptisols 8.4 Aridisols 8.5 Soil Map Associations 8.6 Soil Mineralogy 8.7 Paleosols 8.8 Soil Erosion 9 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS & HAZARDS 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Geohazards 9.3 Biological Hazards 9.4 Industrial Hazards 9.5 Soil Salinization and Irrigation 9.6 Desertification 9.7 1991 Gulf War Impacts 10 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, REGULATION & POLICY 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Islam and the Environment 10.3 Legal Background 10.4 Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration 10.5 Ministry of Agriculture 10.6 National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development 10.7 Traditional Land Management - hima 10.8 Eco- and Geotourism References Subject Index