Climate Change

Observed Impacts on Planet Earth

By: Trevor Letcher

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Hardcover | 8 May 2009

At a Glance

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492 Pages

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22.86 x 15.24 x 2.54

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The climate of the Earth is always changing. As the debate over the implications of changes in the Earth's climate has grown, the term climate change has come to refer primarily to changes we've seen over recent years and those which are predicted to be coming, mainly as a result of human behavior. This book serves as a broad, accessible guide to the science behind this often political and heated debate by providing scientific detail and evidence in language that is clear to both the non-specialist and the serious student.

* provides all the scientific evidence for and possible causes of climate change in one book
* written by expert scientists working in the field
* logical, non-emotional conclusions
* a source book for the latest findings on climate change

Industry Reviews

CHOICE, December 2009: "This book encompasses 25 chapters written by 30 international experts on climate change . . . The chapter treatments are concise and authoritative . . . The book is well constructed and includes 30 high-quality color plates illustrating striking climate phenomena; references are provided at the end of each chapter. This work is complemented by Letcher's Future Energy (2008). Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." --F. T. Manheim, George Mason University

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Non-Fiction Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning Earth Sciences Meteorology & Climatology Engineering & Technology Environmental Science Science Physics Applied Physics Atmospheric Physics The Environment Pollution & Threats to the Environment

Climate Change Geography

Foreword	p. xiii
Preface	p. xv
Contributors	p. xix
Introduction	p. xxiii
Possible Causes of Climate Change
The Role of Atmospheric Gases in Global Warming
Introduction	p. 3
Origin of the Greenhouse Effect: `Primary' and `Secondary' Effects	p. 4
The Physical Chemistry Properties of Greenhouse Gases	p. 9
The Lifetime of a Greenhouse Gas in the Earth's Atmosphere	p. 15
General Comments on Long-Lived Greenhouse Gases	p. 17
Conclusion	p. 18
References	p. 19
The Role of Widespread Surface Solar Radiation Trends in Climate Change: Dimming and Brightening
Introduction	p. 22
Solar Radiation and its Measurement	p. 22
Trends in Surface Solar Radiation or Global Dimming and Brightening	p. 26
The Causes of Dimming and Brightening	p. 32
The Influence of Solar Radiation Changes (Dimming and Brightening) on Climate	p. 33
Conclusions	p. 38
References	p. 38
The Role of Space Weather and Cosmic Ray Effects in Climate Change
Introduction	p. 44
Solar Activity, Cosmic Rays and Climate Change	p. 45
The Influence on the Earth's Climate of the Solar System Moving Around the Galactic Centre and Crossing Galaxy Arms	p. 65
The Influence of Molecular-Dust Galactic Clouds on the Earth's Climate	p. 65
The Influence of Interplanetary Dust Sources on the Earth's Climate	p. 67
Space Factors and Global Warming	p. 68
The Influence of Asteroids on the Earth's Climate	p. 70
The Influence of Nearby Supernova on the Earth's Climate	p. 70
Discussion and Conclusions	p. 71
References	p. 74
The Role of Volcanic Activity in Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 77
Aerosol Loading, Spatial Distribution and Radiative Effect	p. 79
Volcanoes and Climate	p. 82
Summary	p. 98
References	p. 99
The Role of Variations of the Earth's Orbital Characteristics in Climate Change
Introduction	p. 103
Astronomical Parameters	p. 104
Orbital-Induced Climate Change	p. 112
Conclusion	p. 120
References	p. 121
A Geological History of Climate Change
A Geological History of Climate Change
Introduction	p. 127
Climate Models	p. 128
Long-Term Climate Trends	p. 129
Early Climate History	p. 131
Phanerozoic Glaciations	p. 132
The Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic Greenhouse	p. 133
Development of the Quaternary Icehouse	p. 134
Astronomical Modulation of Climate	p. 135
Milankovitch Cyclicity in Quaternary (Pleistocene) Climate History	p. 136
Quaternary Sub-Milankovitch Cyclicity	p. 137
The Holocene	p. 138
Climate of the Anthropocene	p. 138
Conclusions	p. 139
References	p. 139
Indicators of Climate and Global Change
Changes in the Atmospheric Circulation as Indicator of Climate Change
Introduction	p. 145
The General Circulation of the Atmosphere	p. 147
The Poleward Expansion of the Tropical Circulation	p. 149
The Decreasing Intensity of the Tropical Circulation	p. 155
Emerging Mechanisms	p. 155
Connection to Extratropical Circulation Change	p. 159
Outstanding Problems and Conclusions	p. 160
References	p. 162
Weather Pattern Changes in the Tropics and Mid-Latitudes as an Indicator of Global Changes
Introduction	p. 165
Observed Changes in Extra-Tropical Patterns	p. 166
Changes in Tropical Patterns	p. 170
Conclusion	p. 178
References	p. 179
Bird Ecology as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 181
Indicators of Change	p. 182
Conclusion	p. 193
References	p. 193
Mammal Ecology as an Indicator of Climate Change
Introduction: A Primer on Mammal Thermoregulation and Climate Impacts	p. 197
Demonstrated Impacts of Climate Change on Mammals	p. 199
Linking Time and Space in Mammal Climate Responses	p. 210
References	p. 211
Climate Change and Temporal and Spatial Mismatches in Insect Communities
Introduction	p. 215
Direct Effects of Climate Change on Insects	p. 217
Host Plant-Mediated Effects on Insects	p. 219
Predator-Mediated Effects on Insect Populations	p. 222
Climate Change and Insect Pests	p. 225
Conclusion	p. 226
References	p. 227
Sea Life (Pelagic and Planktonic Ecosystems) as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
Pelagic and Planktonic Ecosystems	p. 233
Observed Impacts on Pelagic and Planktonic Ecosystems	p. 237
Conclusion and Summary of Key Indicators	p. 246
References	p. 248
Changes in Coral Reef Ecosystems as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 253
Tropical Coral Reef Ecosystems	p. 254
The Associated Fauna of Coral Reefs	p. 258
Conclusion	p. 260
References	p. 260
Changes in Marine Biodiversity as an Indicator of Climate Change
Introduction	p. 263
Climate Change and the Oceans	p. 264
Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity	p. 265
Cumulative Impacts and Indirect Effects of Climate Change	p. 272
Biodiversity as Insurance against Climate Change Impacts	p. 274
Conclusions	p. 275
References	p. 276
Intertidal Indicators of Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 281
Climate Change and Biogeography	p. 283
Mechanisms	p. 289
Additional Impacts of Global Change	p. 291
Conclusions	p. 292
References	p. 292
Plant Ecology as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 297
Changes in Phenology	p. 299
Changes in Distribution	p. 300
Community Composition	p. 301
Plant Growth	p. 302
Conclusions	p. 303
References	p. 304
The Impact of Climate and Global Change on Crop Production
Introduction	p. 307
Impact on Plant Growth and Reproduction	p. 308
Scale of the Problems	p. 313
Climate Change Models	p. 314
Winners and Losers	p. 315
Adaptation	p. 320
References	p. 322
Rising Sea Levels as an Indicator of Global Change
Introduction	p. 325
Is Sea Level Rising?	p. 325
Why is Sea Level Rising?	p. 328
Are Contemporary Rates of Sea-level Rise Unusual?	p. 333
Conclusion	p. 334
References	p. 334
Sea Temperature Change as an Indicator of Global Change
Introduction: Role of Ocean, Mechanisms and Correction of Bias	p. 337
Long-Term Trends in Sea Temperature: The Historical Context	p. 341
Global and Regional Patterns of Sea Temperature over the Last 100-150 Years	p. 343
Conclusion: Anthropogenic Influence	p. 345
References	p. 346
Ocean Current Changes as an Indicator of Global Change
Introduction	p. 349
The Variable Ocean	p. 350
Oceanographers' Tools	p. 351
The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation	p. 353
The AMOC's Role in Heat Transport, Oceanic Uptake of Carbon and Ventilation of the Deep Ocean	p. 357
Can we Detect Changes in the AMOC? Is the AMOC Changing Already?	p. 361
Conclusion	p. 362
References	p. 364
Ocean Acidification as an Indicator for Climate Change
Introduction	p. 367
Evidence from Observations	p. 370
Model Predictions of Future Change	p. 374
Impacts	p. 374
Biogeochemical Cycling and Feedback to Climate	p. 381
Adaptation, Recovery and Mitigation	p. 383
Conclusion	p. 385
References	p. 387
Ice Sheets: Indicators and Instruments of Climate Change
Introduction	p. 391
Sea-level and Ice	p. 391
How Ice Sheets Work	p. 394
Summary	p. 398
References	p. 399
Lichens as an Indicator of Climate and Global Change
Introduction	p. 401
Predicted Effects	p. 402
Observed Effects	p. 402
Uncertain Effects	p. 403
Habitats with Vulnerable Lichens	p. 405
Conclusion	p. 407
References	p. 408
Coastline Degradation as an Indicator of Global Change
Introduction	p. 409
Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Systems	p. 411
Climate Change and Global/Relative Sea-Level Rise	p. 412
Increasing Human Utilisation of the Coastal Zone	p. 413
Climate Change, Sea-Level Rise and Resulting Impacts	p. 415
Recent Impacts of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change	p. 416
Global Warming and Coasts at Latitudinal Extremes	p. 418
The Challenge to Understand Contemporary Impacts	p. 420
Concluding Remarks	p. 421
References	p. 422
Plant Pathogens as Indicators of Climate Change
Introduction	p. 425
Climate Variables and Plant Disease	p. 426
Evidence that Simulated Climate Change Affects Plant Disease in Experiments	p. 430
Evidence that Plant Disease Patterns have Changed due to Climate Change	p. 431
References	p. 436
Index	p. 439
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Climate Change

Observed Impacts on Planet Earth

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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