First published in 1981. Settling the Desert is an attempt to organise those aspects of scientific and sociological research that are the necessary prerequisites for making the desert a comfortable and profitable place for man to inhabit. In this book, experts from many fields of desert research review the history of desert settlement and agriculture, as well as the present problems encountered by modern desert settlers. Topics discussed include: meteorology, sociology, ecology, water resources, solar energy, innovative desert agriculture, architecture, and animal science.
Foreword; Preface; Part One: Desert Agriculture Past and Present; 1. Twenty-Five Years of Research on Runoff Desert Agriculture in the Middle East M. Evenari 2. Plant Introduction in the Deserts of Israel and its Theoretical Basis M. Zohary 3. Contribution of Animal Studies to Human Settlement in the Desert D. Cohen 4. Algae Production for Biomass in Arid Zones A. Richmond 5. High Yields and Low Water Requirements in Closed System Agriculture in Arid Regions: Potentials and Problems J. Gale; Part Two: Resource Economics of the Desert; 6. Desert Meteorology L. Berkofsky 7. The Role of Non-Replenishable Aquifers in Development Projects in Arid Regions A. Issar 8. Solar Energy for Desert Settlements D. Faiman 9. Is Desert Settlement Economically Viable? Theory vs. Reality U. Regev 10. Ecology as a Tool for Desert Management M. Shachak; Part Three: The Desert as Human Habitat; 11. Economic Change Among Pastoral Nomads in the Middle East E. Marx 12. Desert Towns as a Social Type A. Weingrod 13. Regional Strategies and the Evolution of the Negev Urban System Y. Gradus and E. Stern 14. Extreme Conditions and Responsive Architecture A. Rahamimoff 15. Heating and Colling via the Utilization of Natural Energies B. Givoni; Some Details About the Authors
Biography
L. Berkofsky, D. Faiman, J. Gale
