Does the Weather Really Matter?
The Social Implications of Climate Change

This book provides an analysis of the current debate on climatic change, and its possible past and future impacts on all aspects of human society.

William James Burroughs (Author)

9780521017442, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 October 2005

244 pages, 62 b/w illus.
23.2 x 15.4 x 1.3 cm, 0.349 kg

'While there are many excellent books focusing on their own cluster of key climate change topics, Burrough's work deserves to sit alongside these on the bookshelf of anyone who has a serious interest in the subject. For those whose interest is more casual, this title, with its New Scientist level of writing, provides an excellent grounding as to why meetings of politicians, such as took place at Kyoto, are so important even if our statesmen are taking a while to get their act together.' Jonathan Cowie, Chemistry and Industry

• What has been the real impact of past weather extremes (e.g. cold winters, droughts, floods, heatwaves and hurricanes) on historic events? • Is the frequency and impact of weather extremes changing? • Can we predict how the climate will behave in the future and what will be the consequences of these changes? • Are greater, less predictable changes just around the corner? Bill Burroughs seeks to answer these questions by providing a balanced and accessible analysis of the current debate on climatic change. Combining a historical perspective, economic and political analysis, together with meteorological and climatological explanations of the impact of extreme weather events on all aspects of society, it provides a basis for interpreting what is known about climatic change and the ability to forecast future changes and their economic and political consequences. The book also includes extensive discussions on El Niño. It will be of interest to all those concerned with the future of human society.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. The historical evidence
3. Cold winters
4. Storms, floods and droughts
5. How much do we know about climatic change?
6. Models of the climate and the economy
7. Consequences of forecasting
8. Conclusions
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Meteorology & climatology [RBP]