Coverage in this proceedings volume includes robust multilevel and hierarchical preconditioning methods, applications for large scale computations and optimization of coupled engineering problems, and applications of metaheuristics to large-scale problems.

This book contains 22 peer-reviewed articles that cover a spectrum of contemporary subjects relevant to atmospheric sciences, with specific applications to the Asia-Pacific region. The majority of these papers consist of a review of a scientific sub-field in atmospheric sciences, while some contain original contributions. All of the accepted papers were subject to scientific reviews and revisions.

An international team of eminent atmospheric scientists have prepared Mechanisms of Atmospheric Oxidation of the Alkanes as an authoritative source of information on the role of alkanes in the chemistry of the atmosphere. The book includes the properties of the alkanes and haloalkanes, as well as a comprehensive review and evaluation of the existing literature on the atmospheric chemistry of the alkanes and their major atmospheric oxidation products, and the various approaches now used to model the alkane atmospheric chemistry. Comprehensive coverage is given of both the unsubstituted alkanes and the many haloalkanes. All the existing quality measurements of the rate coefficients for the reactions of OH, Cl, O(3P), NO3, and O3 with the alkanes, the haloalkanes, and their major oxidation products have been reviewed and evaluated. The expert authors then give recommendations of the most reliable kinetic data. They also review the extensive literature on the mechanisms and rates and modes of photodecomposition of the haloalkanes and the products of atmospheric oxidation of the alkanes and the haloalkanes, and make recommendations for future use by atmospheric scientists. The evaluations presented allow an extrapolation of the existing kinetic and photochemical data to those alkanes and haloalkanes that are as yet unstudied. The current book should be of special interest and value to the modelers of atmospheric chemistry as a useful input for development of realistic modules designed to simulate the atmospheric chemistry of the alkanes, their major oxidation products, and their influence on ozone and other trace gases within the troposphere.

Environmental policy aims at the transition to sustainable production and consumption. This is taking place in different ways and at different levels. In cases where businesses are continuously active to improve the environmental performance of their products and activities, the availability of knowledge on environmental impacts is indispensable. The integrated assessment of all environmental impacts from cradle to grave is the basis for many decisions relating to achieving improved products and services. The assessment tool most widely used for this is the environmental Life Cycle Assessment, or LCA. Before you is the new Handbook of LCA replacing the previous edition of 1992. New developments in LCA methodology from all over the world have been discussed and, where possible, included in this new Handbook. Integration of all developments into a new, consistent method has been the main aim for the new Handbook. The thinking on environment and sustainability is, however, quickly evolving so that it is already clear now that this new LCA Handbook does not embrace the very latest developments. Therefore, further revisions will have to take place in the future. A major advantage of this Handbook is that it now also advises which procedures should be followed to achieve adequate, relevant and accepted results. Furthermore, the distinction between detailed and simplified LCA makes this Handbook more broadly applicable, while guidance is provided as to which additional information can be relevant for specialised applications.