Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments (Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series) - Hardcover

9781402045516: Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments (Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1402045514 ISBN 13: 9781402045516

Publisher: Springer, 2008

One of Springer’s Major Reference Works, this book gives the reader a truly global perspective. It is the first major reference work in its field. Paleoclimate topics covered in the encyclopedia give the reader the capability to place the observations of recent global warming in the context of longer-term natural climate fluctuations. Significant elements of the encyclopedia include recent developments in paleoclimate modeling, paleo-ocean circulation, as well as the influence of geological processes and biological feedbacks on global climate change. The encyclopedia gives the reader an entry point into the literature on these and many other groundbreaking topics.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Back Cover:

Concern exists over human-generated increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases and their potential consequences to society. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 finds that global temperatures have increased by 0.8�C since 1850 and that climate warming is now 'unequivocal'. While the human imprint is becoming increasingly apparent, Earth’s climate has shifted dramatically and frequently during the last few million years, alternating between ice ages, when vast glaciers covered Northern Europe and much of North America, and interglacials―warm periods much like today. Farther back in geologic time, climates have differed even more from the present. Thus, to fully understand the unusual changes of the 20th century and possible future trends, these must be placed in a longer-term context extending beyond the period of instrumental records.

The Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments, a companion volume to the recently-published Encyclopedia of World Climatology, provides the reader with an entry point to the rapidly expanding field of paleoclimatology―the study of climates of the past. Highly interdisciplinary in nature, paleoclimatology integrates information from a broad array of disciplines in the geosciences, ranging from stratigraphy, geomorphology, glaciology, paleoecology, paleobotany to geochemistry and geophysics, among others. The encyclopedia offers 230 informative articles written by over 200 well known international experts on numerous subjects, ranging from classical geological evidence to the latest research. The volume is abundantly illustrated with line-drawings, black-white and color photographs. Articles are arranged alphabetically, with extensive bibliographies and cross-references.

Volume Editor:

Vivien Gornitz is a Senior Research Scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research Columbia University and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Her research interests include global sea level rise--past, present, and future, coastal hazards, climatic implications of land cover transformations, and planetary geology, including Mars. In addition to numerous scientific publications, she has edited Geology of the Planet Mars (Benchmark Papers in Geology, v. 48, Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc., 1979) and has contributed articles to several of the encyclopedias in the Earth Sciences Series. She was a Contributing Author for the IPCC in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2007.

Review:

From the reviews:

"This book is an A-Z series of entries on paleoclimatology and ancient environments. ... offers a good overview of its subject matter and would be a suitable reference for any academic library that supports research in paleoclimatology and ancient environments or related fields. It would also be of interest to the general public who were interested in this subject area. ... here is a chronological list of the geological time-periods as an appendix. This makes the text more accessible to the non-specialist ... .” (Clari Hunt, Reference Reviews, Vol. 23 (8), 2009)

“I was very impressed by the sedimentology encyclopedia ... and I had therefore great expectations of this new title. ... seems to be more interesting for Quaternary geologists and climatologists ... . I must conclude that the volume comprises a wealth of valuable information, and that most chapters are truly useful. ... the book is well printed, most figures are instructive and well-readable, and the binding has the quality that is required for such a huge work.” (A. J. Tom van Loon, Journal of Sedimentary Research, February, 2010)

“This companion volume focuses on paleoclimatology and spans Earth’s climate history from the early Precambrian to the Little Ice Age, which ran from the 16th to the mid-19th centuries. ... All articles contain excellent bibliographies leading to additional information. The work is well indexed, entries are cross-referenced, and the text is profusely illustrated with maps, graphs, and charts. Summing Up: Essential. Reference collections supporting programs in climate studies, lower-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners, and general readers.” (J. C. Stachacz, Choice, Vol. 47 (6), February, 2010)

“The chapters of the encyclopaedia are informative ... . Palaeoclimatology, palaeogeography, geomorphology, geochemistry, and several more disciplines that are important for the climatological reconstruction of the geological past form a wide spectrum, and the encyclopaedia is, therefore, truly comprehensive. ... easy to use. ... Each chapter ends with cross-references, which indicate relevant chapters on related topics. ... very useful for all geoscientists. It belongs in each geoscience library.” (Dmitry A. Ruban, Geologos, Vol. 16 (2), 2010)

“The first major reference work covering the field of palaeoclimatology through the whole of Earth’s history from the early Precambrian to recent times. ... the authors and editor have done a great job in making each entry accessible, creating a work that is extremely useful for providing introductions to undergraduate students approaching palaeoclimatology for the first time, or to postgraduates and academics wanting a quick explanation of an area outside of their area of expertise or an insight into how theories have developed over time.” (Jonathan R. Dean, Journal of Paleolimnology, Vol. 47, 2012)

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.