Alfven waves are investigated including dissipation (resistivity, visc
osity) and the Hall effect (dispersion), searching for the dominant no
nlinear effects. First a modulational instability arises, which heats
the plasma and causes a soliton envelope to develop. Both the stationa
ry and nonstationary soliton envelopes were studied For certain condit
ions shock waves are generated. Finally the emission of ion-sound wave
s by the accelerated soliton envelope in inhomogeneous plasma is discu
ssed.