This a lot revised and increased version presents a useful and specified precis of the numerous makes use of of diatoms in a variety of purposes within the environmental and earth sciences. specific emphasis is put on using diatoms in analysing ecological difficulties relating to weather switch, acidification, eutrophication, and different toxins matters. The chapters are divided into sections for simple reference, with separate sections overlaying signs in numerous aquatic environments. a last part explores diatom use in different fields of research resembling forensics, oil and gasoline exploration, nanotechnology, and archaeology. 16 new chapters were further because the first version together with introductory chapters on diatom biology and the numerical techniques utilized by diatomists. The vast word list has additionally been accelerated and now contains over 1,000 specified entries, in an effort to aid non-specialists to exploit the ebook successfully.