Understanding the Earth System
Global Change Science for Application

A highly illustrated, data-rich overview of climate science and its applications for researchers and students, professionals and policymakers.

Sarah E. Cornell (Edited by), I. Colin Prentice (Edited by), Joanna I. House (Edited by), Catherine J. Downy (Edited by)

9781107009363, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 August 2012

291 pages, 30 b/w illus. 80 colour illus. 11 tables
25.3 x 19.3 x 1.8 cm, 0.79 kg

'Offering clear, colorful figures and a minimum of mathematical detail, this book would be useful for a general audience … Recommended.' T. N. Chase, Choice

Explaining the what, the how and the why of climate science, this multidisciplinary new book provides a review of research from the last decade, illustrated with cutting-edge data and observations. A key focus is the development of analysis tools that can be used to demonstrate options for mitigating and adapting to increasing climate risks. Emphasis is given to the importance of Earth system feedback mechanisms and the role of the biosphere. The book explains advances in modelling, process understanding and observations, and the development of consistent and coherent studies of past, present and 'possible' climates. This highly illustrated, data-rich book is written by leading scientists involved in QUEST, a major UK-led research programme. It forms a concise and up-to-date reference for academic researchers or students in the fields of climatology, Earth system science and ecology, and also a vital resource for professionals and policymakers working on any aspect of global change.

List of editors, scientific editorial team and contributing authors
Foreword Sir John Lawton
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of notation
1. Earth system science and society: a focus on the Anthroposphere Sarah E. Cornell, Catherine J. Downy, Evan Fraser and Emily Boyd
2. Fundamentals of climate change science I. Colin Prentice, Peter G. Baines, Marko Scholze and Martin J. Wooster
3. How has climate responded to natural perturbations? Eric W. Wolff, Sandy P. Harrison, Reto Knutti, Maria Fernanda Sanchez-Goñi, Oliver Wild, Anne-Laure Daniau, Valérie Masson-Delmotte, I. Colin Prentice and Renato Spahni
4. The Earth system feedbacks that matter for contemporary climate Pierre Friedlingstein, Angela V. Gallego-Sala, Eleanor M. Blyth, Fiona E. Hewer, Sonia Seneviratne, Allan Spessa, Parvadha Suntharalingam and Marko Scholze
5. Earth system models: a tool to understand changes in the Earth system Marko Scholze, Icarus Allen, Bill Collins, Sarah E. Cornell, Chris Huntingford, Manoj Joshi, Jason Lowe, Robin Smith and Oliver Wild
6. Climate change impacts and adaptation: an Earth system view Richard A. Betts, Nigel W. Arnell, Penelope Boorman, Sarah E. Cornell, Joanna I. House, Neil Kaye, Doug McNeall, Michael Sanderson and Andrew Wiltshire
7. Mitigating climate risks by managing the biosphere Joanna I. House, Jessica Bellarby, Hannes Böttcher, Matthew Brander, Nicole Kalas, Peter Smith, Richard Tipper and Jeremy Woods
8. How our Earth system science understanding shapes society's options - key findings, implications and a forward look Sarah E. Cornell and I. Colin Prentice
List of acronyms
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: The environment [RN], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]