Introduction to Modern Climate Change

Highly acclaimed textbook on the science, economics, and policy of modern climate change, for both science students and non-science majors.

Andrew E. Dessler (Author)

9781108793872, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 August 2021

288 pages
24.6 x 19 x 1.3 cm, 0.64 kg

'All in all, I expect that this third edition of Introduction to modern Climate Change will continue to be a popular choice in climate science education. It is written for use in undergraduate modules and courses, and it does an excellent job of explaining the fundamentals of climate science and combining these with an insightful treatise of the impacts on society, economy and politics.' John F. Hiemstra, The Holocene

The third edition of this introductory textbook for both science students and non-science majors has been brought completely up-to-date. It reflects recent scientific progress in the field, as well as advances in the political arena around climate change. As in previous editions, it is tightly focussed on anthropogenic climate change. The first part of the book concentrates on the science of modern climate change, including evidence that the Earth is warming and a basic description of climate physics. Concepts such as radiative forcing, climate feedbacks, and the carbon cycle are discussed and explained using basic physics and algebra. The second half of the book goes beyond the science to address the economics and policy options to address climate change. The book's goal is for a student to leave the class ready to engage in the public policy debate on the climate crisis.

Contents
Preface
1. An introduction to the climate problem
2. Is the climate changing?
3. Radiation and energy balance
4. A simple climate model
5. The carbon cycle
6. Forcing, feedbacks, and climate sensitivity
7. Why is the climate changing?
8. Predictions of future climate change
9. Impacts of climate change
10. Exponential growth
11. Fundamentals of climate change policy
12. Mitigation policies
13. A brief history of climate science and politics
14. Putting it together: A long-term policy to address climate change
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], The environment [RN], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Environmental economics [KCN]