Background Ocbil theory aims to develop hypotheses explaining the evolution and ecology
of, and best conservation practices for, biota on very old, climatically buffered, infertile …

NaCl-saturated brines such as saltern crystalliser ponds, inland salt lakes, deep-sea brines
and liquids-of-deliquescence on halite are commonly regarded as a paradigm for the limit of …

This chapter focuses almost exclusively on marine evaporites and in particular on how the
chemistry of seawater is reflected in the mineralogy and facies distribution of deposits in …

Based on four decades of research by Professor Andrew Goudie, this volume provides a
state-of-the-art synthesis of our understanding of desert geomorphology. It presents a truly …

The Global Casino is an introduction to environmental issues which deals both with the
workings of the physical environment and with the political, economic and social frameworks …

The thermodynamic availability of water (water activity) strictly limits microbial propagation
on Earth, particularly in hypersaline environments. A considerable body of evidence …

Among surface waters, lakes in volcanic areas display the greatest range in pH values: from
negative values up to about 12. The present chapter is a short review of the main features of …

Water activity is an important characteristic for describing unusual waters and is a
determinant of habitability for microorganisms. However, few empirical studies of water …

Cross crater is a 65 km impact crater, located in the Noachian highlands of the Terra
Sirenum region of Mars (30° S, 158° W), which hosts aluminum phyllosilicate deposits first …

Although the late Paleozoic deglaciation is arguably one of the best deep-time analogs for
current and predicted climate change, quantitative paleotemperature data from this interval …