An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics

By Gaylon S. Campbell

This book shows how basic physical principles can be applied to describe interactions between living organisms and their microenvironment. Emphasis is placed on teaching the student how to calculate actual heat and mass transfer rates, rather than just studying the concepts involved. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate many of the principles, and problems are included at the end of each chapter to help the student develop skills in using the equations and to gain an understanding of modern environmental biophysics. The book is an engineering approach to environmental biology.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B004AXEINI
• ISBN13: 9780387949376
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

An excellent introductory text or quick reference

Campbell's text is a classic. It stands up as well today as when it was first published. The book provides a thoughtful and clear introduction to biophysics and its many practical applications. While this book may not have the depth of information on specific topics as some others, it provides a thorough foundation for those interested in the field and is an the perfect springboard to more advanced text. It is also and excellent quick reference for those who study land-atmosphere processes on a daily basis. It is replete with the equations and tables of physical parameters that are commonly used and give clear instructions on their proper application. I would strongly recommend this book as a classic in the field.

A dense book for a complex topic

Campbell is thorough in his approach to biophysical analysis of multiple environmental scenarios. As a text book, it is fairly dense and provides hints on how to solve specific problems throughout the text. However, finding those hints is sometimes fairly tricky. The equations presented are the latest version of the equations, but some may produce skewed answers in extreme condtions. Living in interior Alaska, some of Campbell's formulas and tables just don't cut it for winter and high-latitude conditions. All in all a solid book though, despite it's initial density and sometimes insufficient clarity.

excellent and unique update in the subject

This text is an excellent companion for anybody dealing with transfers of energy and water in the biosphere, particularly at the plant-canopy level. Badly needed since the only comparable textbook is Monteith & Unsworth - a little outdated and more physically based than this one, which is more bio-oriented and includes current remote sensing use. Excellent reference, and well organized course textbook. There are some mistakes but I know of a second edition appearing this year which will correct them.