Climate Change
Biological and Human Aspects

Review of future climate change for life sciences and environmental science students, and policy-makers.

Jonathan Cowie (Author)

9780521696197, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 5 July 2007

504 pages, 69 b/w illus.
24.6 x 17.5 x 2.2 cm, 0.998 kg

'… a valuable, balanced and informative text, pulling together complex materials from a wide range of disciplines … I recommend it to anyone looking for a reader friendly introduction to climate change and its potential impacts.' Nigel Richardson, Geography

In recent years climate change has become recognised as the foremost environmental problem of the twenty-first century. Not only will climate change potentially affect the multibillion dollar energy strategies of countries worldwide, but it also could seriously affect many species, including our own. A fascinating introduction to the subject, this textbook provides a broad review of past, present and likely future climate change from the viewpoints of biology, ecology and human ecology. It will be of interest to a wide range of people, from students in the life sciences who need a brief overview of the basics of climate science, to atmospheric science, geography, and environmental science students who need to understand the biological and human ecological implications of climate change. It will also be a valuable reference for those involved in environmental monitoring, conservation, policy-making and policy lobbying.

Introduction
Acknowledgements
1. An introduction to climate change
2. Principal indicators of past climates
3. Past climate change
4. The Oligocene to the Quaternary: climate and biology
5. Present climate and biological change
6. Current warming and likely future impacts
7. Human ecology of climate change
8. Sustainability and policy
Appendix 1. Glossary and acronyms
Appendix 2. Bio-geological timescale
Appendix 3. Calculations of energy demand/supply, and orders of magnitude
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Conservation of the environment [RNK], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Ecological science, the Biosphere [PSAF], Science funding & policy [PDK]