Sedimentologi og pedologi

"The Ecological Farm is the go-to guide for ecological growing, with a unique focus on reduced tillage, minimizing farm and garden inputs, and pest control. Reflecting the wisdom that farmer, consultant, and educator Helen Atthowe and her late husband, Carl Rosato, gained during decades of farming experience, this book guides readers on how to reduce or eliminate the use of outside inputs of fertilizer or pesticides, even those that are commonly used on certified organic orchards and market gardens. In clear language and with color photographs, charts, and graphs throughout, the book emphasizes the importance of managing the details of an entire growing system over the full life of the enterprise. The Ecological Farm makes complex, sometimes messy, ecological concepts and practices understandable to all growers, and makes healthy farming, in which nature is invited to participate, possible."--

The book is based on stochastic theory of sediment motion, particularly the theory of transition intensities.It provides a complete theory and equation system of non-equilibrium transport of non-uniform suspended load. The content proposed theory reports, for the first time in literature, the general boundary condition of diffusion equations of non-equilibrium transport with transition intensities. The book also introduces the theoretical expressions of size distribution of the carrying sediment capacity, efficient bed material grade, and saturation recovery coefficientThis book describes the application of non-equilibrium transport theory and provides solutions to some long-standing unsolved controversial problems related to sediment transport. It establishes a generic mathematic model of reservoir sedimentation and river channel evolution; illustrates the same transport regulars of wash load and bed material load; demonstrates the multi-valued nature of carrying-sediment capacity and its single-valued consideration; and describes the mechanism of bed material coarsening. This book is of interest to a wide audience including students, technicians, and academics, primarily working in the field of river hydra-dynamics. In addition, this book receives attention from the research community working in fields, such as hydrogeology, hydraulic engineering, river navigation, wastewater treatment, and environmental protection

Evapotranspiration in Agro-Ecosystems and Forestry: Spatio-temporal Applications presents the progress and advances made in terms of science and application of evaporation, transpiration, and evapotranspiration for various vegetation surfaces, water bodies, and bare soil under different soil and crop management (including different irrigation and tillage management) conditions. Sections on forest and wetlands evapotranspiration and grassland evaporative losses are included, as are the fundamentals of original Penman, Penman-Monteith, Shuttleworth-Wallace and ASCE-EWRI and FAO56 Penman-Monteith equations and their derivatives. The book is an excellent resource to better understand the progression and applications and dynamics of most recent evapotranspiration, evaporation and transpiration measurement and modeling technologies. Case studies will be provided in terms of how different technologies are currently deployed, how data are used for providing information and management decisions to the users.

Agricultural Water Management in Africa: Lessons Learned and Future Directions provides an overview of the status of irrigation development and AWM practices and technologies in Africa and the global south. In addition, it provides guidelines, scenarios, and investment plans to guide the prioritization and operationalization of irrigation development and AWM under climate change. The African Union (AU) is driving investment and improvement in agricultural water management and transformation in Africa through the operationalization of the AU Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management in Africa (AU-IDAWM). The AU-IDAWM provides a framework that identifies four development pathways for enhanced agricultural water management practices across Africa. The pathways are as follows: (1) Pathway 1: Improved water control and watershed management in rain-fed farming, (2) Pathway 2: Farmer-led Irrigation Development (FLID), (3) Pathway 3: Irrigation scheme development and modernization, and (4) Pathway 4: Unconventional water use for irrigation.

Microbiome-Based Decontamination of Environmental Pollutants explores the complex interactions of plant-associated microbiomes, providing insights into the pressing challenges of managing environmental resources such as soil, water, and waste. Analysis has shown a formidable potential based in the network interactions between plant microbiota and environmental contaminants. This book presents insights into the potential exploitation of these plant-associated microbial functions. This volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series summarizes microbiological aspects of environmental management from the basics to advanced theoretical as well as practical aspects of microbial-based approaches. The physical and chemical changes caused by pollution of an ecosystem can occur rapidly, significantly impacting the functionality of ecosystem services in that environment. Environmental contamination poses and increasingly global challenge through direct and indirect adverse impacts on the climate, soil productivity and the health concerns of human beings. Traditional remediation techniques are not consistently feasible in mitigating environmental contaminants challenges in terms of cost-effectiveness, limited land resources and toxic residual products. The use of plant-associated microbes as part of a network of tools opens a new door to explore an alternative, eco-friendly and economical technology to mitigate the challenges of environmental contamination.

This edited book is based on the accepted papers for presentation at the 1st MedGU Annual Meeting, Istanbul 2021. With four parts spanning a large spectrum of geological, geochemical, geophysical and petroleum topics, this book presents a series of newest research studies that are nowadays relevant to Middle East, Mediterranean region, and Africa.The book covers various topics from the fields of (1) sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, (2) geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, volcanology, (3) structural geology, tectonics, geodynamics, and (4) petroleum and energy engineering, and petroleum geology. The content of these papers provides new scientific knowledge for further understanding new case studies and approaches in these various topics.

Rhizomicrobiome in Sustainable Agriculture and Environment explores the important potential of biocontrol agents in the reduction of overexploitation of synthetic pesticides, enhancing crop production, and maintaining the natural texture and health of agricultural soils. As concerns about sustainable production challenge current practices, this book presents opportunities for utilizing biological systems as part of the solution. Written by a team of global experts, sections explore the full range of rhizomicrobiome topics, including sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental management. This will be a valuable resource for researchers, academics, and advanced students. Rhizomicrobiome is a significant part of plant biological system which impacts the plant growth and survival in different physiological conditions. Its composition includes different microbial networks whose presence is mainly impacted by the root exudates. Archaea, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes, microarthropods etc. are the significant parts of the rhizomicrobiome. Rhizomicrobiome could be that novel ecosystem housing the bioinoculants that can help create sustainable, productive growth environments.

The book summarizes research work on the Wajid Sandstone, which provides integrated field and laboratory data to enable a detailed description of this unit including a facies analysis, porosity data, as well as permeability data to establish aquifer models. Detailed facies analysis at outcrop scale are supported by vertical and lateral sedimentological sections, facies and environmental analysis and supplemented by detailed laboratory petrographical and petrophysical data. The analysis and interpretation of the outcrop analog models include the reconstruction of the stratigraphic architecture at outcrop scale. Moreover, the results were described statistically, analyzed and eventually establish an outcrop-based aquifer model analogue. The book benefits undergraduate, graduate and researchers working on applied sedimentological studies, hydrogeology, statistical and geostatistical analysis and modeling.

Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac are, in reality, the summits of independent fault blocks that rise from the depths of the Caribbean Sea. This book traces the geological evolution of these islands over the last 30 to 35 million years. The balance between deposition of carbonate sediments and karst development of the exposed land was dictated by the interaction between ever-changing sea levels and vertical tectonic movement of the fault blocks. Today, drinking water needed for the ever-increasing populations of the islands is supplied largely by desalinization plants that are located in accord with a detailed knowledge of the bedrock.This book is based on an extensive data base that has been assembled over the last 40 years of field work and laboratory analyses. Noteworthy aspects of this database include:Approximately 60 visits to the islands over last 40 years - sampling and documentation of virtually every accessible outcrop on the islands (including some that no longer exist). Most samples have been fully documented petrographically and geochemically.Data from 120 wells that have been drilled to depths up to 245 m (most less than 125 m). Wells have been cored and/or chip sampled. Full documentation of drilling histories, XRD analyses of samples, extensive geochemical analyses for major and minor elements, stable isotopes, 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and Rare Earth Elements from numerous samples.Mapping and sampling of modern sediments, including sediment cores, from most of the lagoons around Grand Cayman.Extensive thin section petrography, scanning electron microscope, and electron microprobe analyses of the dolostones and limestones that form the bedrock of the islands.Samples and data collected from numerous caves on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac have been used to track their developmental history.Detailed analyses of phosphates collected from Little Cayman.Detailed analyses of terra rossa collected from each of the islands.

This book addresses the various factors affecting fluvial systems, the processes governing them, system responses arising from human-nature interventions, and geospatial and geo-ecological modeling to understand system behaviour better and restore degraded ecosystems around the globe. Thanks to their hydrological and agro-ecological advantages, humans have settled along riverbanks since the dawn of civilization. Thus, the ancient "e;ecumene"e; (settlements) were located near major rivers worldwide. This legacy of river-based civilizations continues to this day in many forms. However, in the course of the 'Anthropocene' era, countless fluvial systems have been altered by human interventions in the form of large-scale dams and barrages, changes in land use and land cover, road-stream crossings, mining of sand and gravel, mushrooming of brickfield, expansion of modern agriculture, industrial growth, and urbanization. Thus, the present-day development pattern threatens fluvial systems, especially riverine morphology and ecosystems. In brief, human-induced morphological changes, water pollution, eutrophication, and related damages to aquatic organisms are the major threats to fluvial systems. Thus, maintaining the 'environmental flow' of the world's major rivers to preserve the proper functioning of riverine ecosystems and promote sustainable development is a global challenge.

The book is intended for practicing engineers in the oil industry, researchers, and graduate students interested in designing and simulating offshore hydrocarbon production systems. It approaches offshore oil production systems from an integrated perspective that combines the modeling of thermophysical properties of reservoir fluids and their flow as a multiphase mixture in wellbores, flow lines, and risers.The first part of the book presents an internally consistent method to compute the critical parameters and acentric factor of Single Carbon Number (SCN) fractions of petroleum mixtures using state-of-the-art multivariate fitting techniques. The procedure is illustrated and validated using flash and differential liberation data from actual field samples. In the second part of the book, mechanistic multiphase flow models are discussed in light of their ability to predict the pressure, temperature, and phase holdup of production fluids in wellbores, flow lines, and risers. Multivariate fitting procedures are again applied to evaluate the sensitivity of the results with respect to closure relationship parameters, such as slug body gas holdup, wall shear stress, and wall roughness in pipelines and production tubing. Finally, the modeling framework is validated using actual field data from offshore production wells.

Bioremediation of Emerging Contaminants from Soils: Soil Health Conservation for Improved Ecology and Food Security deals with current challenges of sustainable soil health using eco-friendly approaches. This book provides ways of reducing the chemical burden on the soil by maintaining balance in terms of society, environment, and economy, which are considered basic pillars of sustainability. Designed to highlight soil health best practices for both environmental and agricultural sustainability, these approaches are also considered important for improving global food security by ensuring safe growing conditions for crops for food and feed.?Presented in two parts, this book first highlights emerging contaminants and their sources.?The second part explores a variety of steps and tools for addressing contaminated soils, including bio- and phytoremediation options.?Case studies in each part provide real-world insights for practical application.

This book presents the most relevant articles selected from the annals of the symposium. In the last few years, Brazilian Geomorphology has experienced a series of epistemological and methodological innovations expressed by the incorporation of the complexity paradigm, by the progressive break with the climate paradigm, by the emergency role of new theories, and by the advances in methodological fields favored by the adherence to geochronological techniques and in function of the increasingly widespread use of geotechnologies. Furthermore, the Anthropocene/Technogene emerge claims to be more than only a temporal cuts, but as conceptions of a science engaged with social and environmental issues. The National Symposium of Geomorphology, in the maturity of its 13th edition, constitutes a portrait and an important sample of Brazilian geomorphological production, aggregating works carried out in the most diverse types of landscapes of Brazil. The book provides an overview of the current scientific production of Brazilian Geomorphology, highlighting the diversity of landscapes and geoheritage in Brazil, the complexity of the morphogenetic and morphodynamic processes responsible for shaping its surface, and the various abundant methodologies used in geomorphological studies in tropical areas.

Terramechanics and Off-Road Vehicle Engineering: Terrain Behaviour and Off-Road Mobility, Third Edition provides comprehensive coverage of terrain behavior, mechanics of wheel- and track-terrain interaction, and various types of models for cross-country performance, ranging from empirical, through theoretical, to physics-based engineering models. The physics-based models for wheeled and tracked vehicle performance developed under the direction of Prof. J.Y. Wong have been gaining increasingly wider acceptance by industry and governmental agencies. The mathematical models established for vehicle-terrain systems enable the engineering practitioner to evaluate a wide range of options and select an appropriate vehicle configuration for any given mission and environment. This long-anticipated revision presents the fields' significant developments over the past decade, both through updates to existing chapters and the inclusion of new material related to modeling applications in addition to a notable, state-of-the-art excursus on extra-terrestrial rovers.

This book provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the impact of Brexit on British agriculture and associated areas, discussing the Common Agricultural Policy and the Agriculture Act 2020.The Brexit referendum provoked new debates and questions over the future of agriculture in Britain and the potential positive and negative impacts of Brexit on both farmers and consumers. These debates, as well as the ensuing proposals relevant to the Agriculture Act 2020, have exposed the multidimensional effects of Brexit when it comes to agriculture. With a focus on profitability, the rights of farmers, environmental protection, as well as animal welfare, this book brings together an interdisciplinary analysis of the future of British agriculture in post-Brexit Britain. More specifically, it addresses the criticisms over the Common Agriculture Policy, presents an analysis of the Agriculture Act 2020, and considers suggestions for future developments. Through this analysis, the book suggests a way towards the future, with a positive outlook towards a competitive and sustainable agriculture that will satisfy the needs of farmers and consumers while ensuring environmental protection, animal welfare, and rural development.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of food and agricultural policy and politics, agroecology and rural development, as well as policymakers involved in Britain's post-Brexit environmental policy.

Microbiome-Assisted Bioremediation: Rehabilitating Agricultural Soils provides a complete reference on the opportunities, technologies, and challenges of remediating contaminated soils through use of microbial means. Environmental pollution and human exposure associated with heavy metals are attributed to anthropogenic activities such as mining, industrial wastes, and metal containing compounds in domestic and agricultural systems. Addressing the foundational aspects of microbe-based approaches, this book provides a valuable gateway resource for those entering the field, as well as providing in-depth insights into the various tools and techniques for real-world application. Microbial remediation has appeared as a promising approach to lessen the heavy metal concentration in the environment due to their sequestration and transforming ability of xenobiotic compounds. Microbial bioremediation is an efficient, economical, and environmentally-friendly procedure that reduces the cost of the cleanup process associated with heavy and toxic metal contamination.

This book combines the results of the research activities in the assessment of water resources environment and an integrated water resource monitoring program to support preservation efforts of the aquatic environment of the Cradle of Humankind (COH), World Heritage Sites. A poor understanding of the surface and groundwater resources of the COH property has precipitated often alarmist reporting in the media regarding the negative impacts associated with various sources of poor quality water. The most notable of these is the acid mine drainage threat to karst ecosystems and fossil sites across the property. These circumstances have generated wide and considerable concern for the preservation of the UNESCO-inscribed fossil sites and integrity of the water resources of the property.

"Components of environmental systems are intrinsically linked through microbiomes that connect water, soils, plants and animals. Interconnectivity mediated by microorganisms is central to an emerging concept of 'a one systems health', where all components of a system interactively depend on each other, with implication and relevance to all aspects of human health. This volume, edited by Professor Kari Dunfield - a renowned soil biologist - brings together a series of quality reviews that explore the structural and functional relevance of microbiomes across agricultural systems and their associated contribution to ecosystem services. Indeed this is both a timely and relevant 'must read' publication from experts in the field to inform and educate scientists, students, policymakers and the wider interested community alike." (Dr Alan Richardson, CSIRO Agriculture & Food, Microbiomes for One Systems Health - Future Science Platform, Australia) Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms living in soil and other habitats. In recent years, a new wave of research into understanding soil microbiomes has emerged, with stakeholders across the supply chain recognising the fundamental importance of these communities in optimising both crop and soil health. Despite these advancements, many soil microorganisms and their ecological functions remain only partially understood.Understanding and utilising soil microbiomes for a more sustainable agriculture summarises the wealth of recent research in this important area. It reviews advances in techniques for analysing soil microorganisms, the composition and dynamics of soil microbial communities, the ecosystem services they support and how they can be enhanced.In its comprehensive exploration of this exciting subject area, the book highlights the role of soil microbiomes in delivering key ecosystem services and how supporting these wonderful communities can achieve a more sustainable and regenerative agriculture.Edited by a leading expert in the field, Understanding and utilising soil microbiomes for a more sustainable agriculture will be a standard reference for researchers in soil and crop science, governments and other agencies supporting the transition to a more sustainable agriculture, as well as agricultural ecologists and agronomists wishing to further their knowledge on the latest developments in understanding soil microbiomes.Dr Kari E. Dunfield is a Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Environmental Microbiology of Agro-ecosystems in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, Canada. Working at the intersection of microbiology, ecology, and soil science, her work investigates the microbial communities and microbial processes driving the global processes that help support life on Earth. She is the North American Representative for the UN-FAO Global Soil Partnership (Pillar 1). Dr Dunfield is currently the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Microbiology.

This book is devoted to the most important and urgent problems arising during the operation of underground gas storage facilities (UGS) and associated with the destruction of the reservoir and sand production into the wells. UGS facilities play a special role in ensuring high reliability of stable and guaranteed gas supplies to consumers. However, despite many years of experience in UGS well operation, there is still no sufficiently substantiated geomechanical model of reservoir failure and a mathematical description of the processes occurring in the reservoir-well system, taking into account the peculiarities of the mechanical behavior of reservoir rocks during cyclic injection and extraction of gas. As a result, there are no reliable criteria for establishing a rational regime for the operation of an UGS wells in conditions of a possible destruction of reservoir rocks. Further development of underground gas storage direction requires the introduction of innovative technologies that can be used both in the design of new UGS facilities and to extend the safe and efficient operation of existing underground gas storage facilities. To solve these problems, the most promising technologies, taking into account their efficiency, relatively low cost and environmental safety, are those based on the geomechanical approach.The book is addressed to specialists in the development and operation of underground gas storage facilities, as well as specialists in geomechanics of oil and gas fields. It can be useful for students and graduate students studying in the speciality "Development of oil and gas fields".

This book focuses on a significant branch of anthropogeomorphology, which is not adequately studied: the impact of transportation systems on altering earth surface processes and landforms. This book fills the gap with in-depth study on the interaction between individual modes of transport network (e.g., trail, roads, railways, waterways, airports, and tunnel) and surface hydro-geomorphology with intensive literature review, fieldwork, geo-environmental modelling, mapping, case studies, and examples from different parts of the world. On the one hand, this book also addresses the vulnerability of transport networks from climate change and critical geo-hazards like floods, landslides, etc. with case studies from the high-risk zones of India. Overall, this book promotes peaceful harmony between the transport network and its surrounding landscapes as an essential lesson for policymakers, planners, and stakeholders.

The area of Eastern Herzegovina is one of the most karstified regions in the world. Deep karst, sinking rivers, underground flows, temporary flooded karst poljes and lack of arable land is main natural property of the region. Due to two kinds of misfortune, flood and drought, people have emigrated from this region searching for a better life. The book contains new scientific data and engineering experience collected during more than 100 years of investigations and construction. To provide optimum water management and economic development, thousands of new data are collected and presented in the book. Necessity for balance between regional development and preservation of nature was one of the important request.

This book is a condensed summary of a broad spectrum of the geological heritage of the Middle Atlas. It has the particularity of proposing an in-depth synthesis and a critical review of the geoheritage of the region. The book addresses the issues related to geoheritage and methodologies for the selection, inventory, assessment and preservation of geosites. It reviews the state of the art of geoheritage in Morocco, particularly in the Middle Atlas, in order to identify geosites with rare and unique geological features. The book presents a detailed study of lithostratigraphic and sedimentological heritage as geosites witnessing at different spatial and temporal scales the evolution and the stratigraphic, sedimentological and paleogeographic history of the Middle Atlas range. It also presents the paleontological heritage of vertebrates by reviewing the discoveries of paleontological sites and their risks in order to present its conservation plans. It also addresses the hydricand fluvial heritage by presenting the potential of water resources and the impact of climate change on the latter. Furthermore, it highlights the karst heritage by exposing an inventory of exo- and endokarst geosites in order to emphasize some unique sites on a national and African scale as well as revealing the underground biodiversity related to this heritage. Finally, it proposes a presentation of the volcanic heritage in order to assess the volcanic geosites that testify to the strombolian, phreatomagmatic and Hawaiian dynamism of the region. The book is mainly intended for researchers, geologists and specialists of the Moroccan Middle Atlas region wishing to acquire a broad multidisciplinary or even transdisciplinary knowledge. It will also be accessible to a non-initiated public, interested in the richness of the Moroccan geoheritage, as well as to Moroccan territorial authorities (High Commission for Water and Forests, Ministry of Tourism, National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences, etc.) who can benefit from it in the perspective of their strategies of preservation of the national geological heritage. This work will be an example for geoscientists, on an African scale, of a valorization of territorial geological heritage.

Treatment and Utilization of Combustion and Incineration Residues introduces state-of-art strategies for combustion and incineration solid residue management and utilization. The book also reviews current technologies for pollutant removal and control of combustion and incineration residues. Recycling ashes and slags in sustainable construction materials are also evaluated on environmental impacts and engineering values, and the use of different ashes and slags in cement clinker production is classified based on the sources and properties of the residues. In addition, the recovery of valuable metals and inorganic elements is also discussed. Finally, the book examines the latest understanding of reaction mechanisms of various treatment technologies, the future design of treatment technologies, and the actualization of sustainable management for combustion/incineration residues.

Biochar Production for Green Economy: Agricultural and Environmental Perspectives addresses the advancements and developments for the efficient diversification of biochar toward achieving improved agricultural and environmental benefits.  This comprehensive and cohesive volume is the first to address the potential multi-and transdisciplinary opportunities of effective biochar production and use. Including the potential applicability of not only crop waste biochar but weeds, agroforestry, agroindustry, municipal waste, as well chapters explore surface modified, enriched or tailored biochar for soil amendment, GHGs mitigation, bioremediation of organic, inorganic, metals and other emerging pollutants, as well as soil remediation. It also covers the trending multidisciplinary approaches of nanotechnology, surface chemistry and thermal decomposition advancements being adopted for capacity enhancement and versatile applicability in the field of agriculture, environment science and green energy synthesis. Composition and characteristics of tailored biochar, their interactions, and transformation into the soil and water ecosystem are illustrated. This book is a valuable resource for those pursuing biochar related areas as well as those seeking environmentally sustainable solutions to crop, soil or water issues.

This book targets to earth scientists and engineers, in particular students, researchers, managers, and practitioners, who are interested in mining engineering, environmental engineering, green coal mining, sustainable water resource management, and effective measures to balance mine safety and ecological conservation.In the disciplines of mine hydrogeology and mining engineering, there have always been difficulties in the theoretical interpretation of the changes in the physical and hydraulic characteristics of water resisting strata during coal seam mining. In the past 10 years, the authors studied the relevant contents by using the methods of physical simulation, numerical simulation, field test and mining practice of similar materials, so as to understand the internal relationship between the stratigraphic sedimentary characteristics of the mining area and the occurrence mechanism of mine water disaster. On the premise of analyzing and studying the stratigraphic sedimentary environment in the mining area in detail, it is of great significance for the realization of "coal water" dual resource mining in the mining area to divide the types of roof water disaster in the mining area and study the formation mechanism of mine water disaster caused by different rock formation combinations and mining methods.

Much of the final shaping of the global landscape is accomplished by incision of river networks. The base-level is a principle determinate controlling the global relief by processes of erosion and aggradation. In the populated world, entrenchments triggered by base-level changes may become devastating events, damaging agricultural lands, undercutting bridges and destroying roads.The aim of this book, as a chapter in fluviomorphology, is to present the base-level control when active in the continental interior, unrelated to marine base-level fluctuations along the continental margins nor to sequence stratigraphic tract models in Exxon sequence stratigraphic sense. The focus is on the morphology and the gross trends of the processes controlling channel evolution through transient signals initiated by base-level changes and communicated upstream through the drainage network.The book brings together principles and conclusions gained by field work, by laboratory studies and by models, based on the widely scattered literature. The chapters include presentation of different types of base-levels, discussing the constraints of their altitude, the degradation and aggradation responses, the temporal and spatial trends along the channel network, the controlling factors, the knickpoint transient retreat process and its rates. Special emphasis is given to the Dead Sea Rift following its extreme base-level conditions which make it a unique field laboratory.This book is relevant to students in earth sciences as well as to planners, hydrologists and engineers dealing with geomorphology and surface drainage.

This book presents the accumulated data and current state of geological knowledge on Chinäs main shale gas fields. It addresses a broad range of topics, including the geological setting, reference sections and published boreholes, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy, sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the late Ordovician to early Silurian, spatial and temporal distribution patterns and environmental changes in the black shales of the Wufeng and Lungmachi formations, numerical analysis of the Wufengian and Lungmachian Total Organic Carbon (TOC), late Ordovician to early Silurian bentonites of the Yangtze region, and a graptolite atlas of the Wufeng and Lungmachi formations. Given its scope, the book represents a valuable asset for researchers and petroleum engineers alike.