Climate Change
Biological and Human Aspects

A fully updated, substantially expanded, new edition of acclaimed textbook for life science and Earth science students and scientists and policymakers.

Jonathan Cowie (Author)

9781107603561, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 November 2012

582 pages, 85 b/w illus. 14 tables
25.4 x 17.8 x 3 cm, 0.97 kg

'This book presents, in reader-friendly language, an immense amount of information taken from primary literature from a great variety of disciplines connected with the study of climate change and its impacts. It is thus an invaluable reference not only for undergraduate students, but also for scientists.' Simone Fattorini, Biological Conservation

The second edition of this acclaimed text has been fully updated and substantially expanded to include the considerable developments (since publication of the first edition) in our understanding of the science of climate change, its impacts on biological and human systems, and developments in climate policy. Written in an accessible style, it provides a broad review of past, present and likely future climate change from the viewpoints of biology, ecology, human ecology and Earth system science. It will again prove to be invaluable to a wide range of readers, from students in the life sciences who need a brief overview of the basics of climate science, to atmospheric science, geography, geoscience and environmental science students who need to understand the biological and human ecological implications of climate change. It is also a valuable reference text for those involved in environmental monitoring, conservation and policy making.

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. The human ecology of climate change
8. Sustainability and policy
Appendix 1. Glossary and abbreviations
Appendix 2. Bio-geological chronology
Appendix 3. Calculations of energy demand/supply and orders of magnitude
Appendix 4. Further thoughts for consideration
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], The environment [RN], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]