Surviving 1000 Centuries: Can We Do It? (Springer Praxis Books) - Hardcover

Bonnet, Roger-Maurice; Woltjer, Lodewyk

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387746331 ISBN 13: 9780387746333

Publisher: Praxis, 2008

Synopsis

The circumstances that will shape the long-term future of our planet will be constrained by what is physically possible and what is not. This full color book provides a quantitative view of our civilization over the next 100,000 years, in comparison to the 40-60,000 years it took for modern humans to emerge from Africa, on the basis of contemporary scientific and technological knowledge. The evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere and the origin of water are highlighted as the most important factors for the emergence and the development of life.

The authors consider both cosmic and natural hazards, pointing out that scientific information provided by satellites and communication systems on the ground could prevent many unnecessary casualties by forward planning and the installation of elementary precautions. The Earth’s evolving climate is considered, showing how greenhouse gases have played an important role in the past climate, whereas human industrial and agricultural emissions will greatly impact our future.

About this title

About the Author:

Dr R M Bonnet and Dr L Woltjer are outstanding, internationally renowned scientists. During his long tenure at the European Space Agency, Dr Bonnet has directed the launch of 17 artificial scientific satellites, initiating the development of the Huygens probe placed on the NASA Cassini Saturn Orbiter which landed on Titan on 14 January 2005, developing the successful Mars Express mission and directing the SMART-1 European lunar mission. He is President of COSPAR and Executive Director of ISSI and has acquired a world reputation in the field of space politics. After 11 years at Columbia University, NY, Dr Woltjer returned to Europe as Director General of ESO for 13 years. Since then he has worked closely with the Observatories de Haute Provence in France and the University of Florence in Italy, was President of the International Astronomical Union and Chairman of the Space Science Advisory Committee of ESA for 4 years.

Review:

From the reviews:

"A good initial feeling for the thesis of the book can be obtained simply by reading the ... chapters. ... the authors turn to threats to survival from outside (from nearby supernovae to asteroid impact) and from inside (disease, seismic events, and climatic hazards), before turning to the current burning issue of climate change, both past and future. ... This is a fascinating and challenging book which is published at just the right moment. It should be required reading for all politicians ... ." (Robert Connon Smith, The Observatory, Vol. 129 (1210), June, 2009)

About this edition

• Publisher: Praxis
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0387746331
• ISBN 13: 9780387746333
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 448