Climate Process and Change - Hardcover

Bryant, Edward

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521481899 ISBN 13: 9780521481892

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1997

Synopsis

This is the first major textbook to encompass the true complexity of climate change. While greenhouse warming dominates most of the literature, Bryant presents numerous reasons for the observed climate change of the past century. He argues that changes in climate, more dramatic than those of the past 150 years, have been a predominant aspect of the Earth's climate over the past two million years. He highlights human impacts on climate other than "greenhouse" gases, including sulphate air pollutants, dust and urban heat islands. He also explains the natural components forcing climate change. Bryant presents, in simple terms, the processes that drive the Earth's present climate system. He outlines the nature and reasons for temperature fluctuations over millennia, including recent human-induced climate change. Finally, he discusses the impact of climate change on human health and the world's ecosystems. This text will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate students as well as a reference for professionals.

About this title

Book Description

This textbook encompasses the true complexity of climate change. Bryant presents the basic processes behind climate change and outlines the nature and reasons for the dramatic temperature fluctuations over millenia, including recent changes partially related to human activity. Whilst 'greenhouse' warming dominates most of the literature, this text also examines the role of sulphate air pollutants, dust and urban heat islands. Finally the effect of climate change upon human health and the world's ecosystems are discussed.

Review

"It is rare these days to find a book about climate change that is indifferent to the popular simplistic view and detached from impassioned warnings of impending environmental disasters. This is what makes Climate Process and Change different from the plethora of publications on the subject. It should be essential reading for all inquisitive undergraduates who are interested in a balanced treatment of an important subject." New Zealand Geographer

"The key feature that sets this text apart is the perspective of climate change on a larger timescale...raising awareness of uncertainties in historial observations, trends, and the complex and nonlinear relationships between observations and theory." Gregory S. Jenkins, EOS

"...could be used as a reference or supplemental textbook for the useful figures, tables, references, and Web sites..." Gregory S. Jenkins, EOS

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521481899
• ISBN 13: 9780521481892
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 225