CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge [Hardcover]

Tyler Volk (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262220830 | ISBN-13: 978-0262220835 | Publication Date: August 1, 2008

An introduction to the global carbon cycle and the human-caused disturbances to it that are at the heart of global warming and climate change.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The most colossal environmental disturbance in human history is under way. Ever-rising levels of the potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) are altering the cycles of matter and life and interfering with the Earth's natural cooling process. Melting Arctic ice and mountain glaciers are just the first relatively mild symptoms of what will result from this disruption of the planetary energy balance. In CO2 Rising, scientist Tyler Volk explains the process at the heart of global warming and climate change: the global carbon cycle. Vividly and concisely, Volk describes what happens when CO2 is released by the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), letting loose carbon atoms once trapped deep underground into the interwoven web of air, water, and soil. To demonstrate how the carbon cycle works, Volk traces the paths that carbon atoms take during their global circuits. Showing us the carbon cycle from a carbon atom's viewpoint, he follows one carbon atom into a leaf of barley and then into an alcohol molecule in a glass of beer, through the human bloodstream, and then back into the air. He also compares the fluxes of carbon brought into the biosphere naturally against those created by the combustion of fossil fuels and explains why the latter are responsible for rising temperatures. Knowledge about the global carbon cycle and the huge disturbances that human activity produces in it will equip us to consider the hard questions that Volk raises in the second half of CO2 Rising: projections of future levels of CO2; which energy systems and processes (solar, wind, nuclear, carbon sequestration?) will power civilization in the future; the relationships among the wealth of nations, energy use, and CO2 emissions; and global equity in per capita emissions. Answering these questions will indeed be our greatest environmental challenge.

"Incessant flow of carbon dioxide and its fluid transformation becomes our own personal story in this wise and accessible narrative of the reality of accelerating climate change. Volk's beautifully illustrated description of this vast problem and his approach to potential solutions for our future life, growth, and energy supplies should interest everyone."--Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

(Lynn Margulis )

"Here's the most important math of our time on earth. Straightforward, simple, powerful--Tyler Volk lays out the numbers to show why we need a far more urgent and dramatic response to global warming than we've attempted to date."--Bill McKibben, author The End of Nature, and founder, 350.org

(Bill McKibben )

"Tyler Volk is a wonderful expositor who tells it like it is. In CO2 Rising he has some feisty carbon atoms take us along on their vividly and clearly described romp through the bio and geosphere. A journey we most certainly affect." -- Roald Hoffmann, Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

(Roald Hoffmann )

"If I had the power, I would assign C02 Rising to every college freshman in America. It is that good. It is that accessible. It is that important." -- Mitchell Thomashow, President, Unity College

(Mitchell Thomashow )

"[T]his book is an excellent introduction for undergraduate students and the general public with a keen interest in knowing more about climate change. It is equally informative for scientists and professionals specializing in different fields who would like to have an interdisciplinary view of the wonderful carbon cycle." -- Ning Zeng, T he American Meteorological Society Bulletin

"A clear and compelling picture of both the nature and scale of the global climate and energy challenge and what will be necessary to address it." -- Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, Breakthrough Institute

"Carbon atoms with personality. That is the interesting literary device biochemist Tyler Volk uses to illustrate the fantastic convolutions that define the many and varied pathways of the carbon cycle... The public hears a lot about climate change but too little about just why too much CO2 -- a natural part of our atmosphere -- is bad news. Volk does an impressive job of illustrating, in engaging prose, the dangers to humanity of pushing the carbon cycle too hard and too fast." Barry Brook The Quarterly Review of Biology

"Here's the most important math of our time on Earth. Straightforward, simple, powerful Tyler Volk lays out the numbers to show why we need a far more urgent and dramatic response to global warming than we've attempted to date." Bill McKibben , author of The End of Nature and founder of 350.org

"I confess to initial doubts regarding a narrative about an anthropomorphized carbon atom... But this skeptic got caught up in the story and was impressed by the effectiveness with which Volk conveys complex concepts, the time scales involved, and some illuminating statistics." (For the full review, visit http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/September-October%202009/Books-so09.html) Gregg Marland Environment Magazine

"If I had the power, I would assign CO2 Rising to every college freshman in America. It is that good. It is that accessible. It is that important." Mitchell Thomashow , President, Unity College

"Incessant flow of carbon dioxide and its fluid transformation becomes our own personal story in this wise and accessible narrative of the reality of accelerating climate change. Volk's beautifully illustrated description of this vast problem and his approach to potential solutions for our future life, growth, and energy supplies should interest everyone." -- Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"... the book is well written and engaging... Volk clearly and fairly communicates complex and sometimes difficult concepts. CO2 Rising provides the basic information about the global carbon cycle that is needed to understand the scope, challenges, and options for dealing with climate change. This understanding should be part of everyone's scientific literacy." (For the full review, visit http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/117-2/newbooks.html.) -- Kristie L. Ebi, Environmental Health Perspectives

"The MIT Press has released CO2 Rising-The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge by Tyler Volk. This is the ultimate guide to the subject. A basic understanding of the carbon, CO2, and its cycle is necessary in order to understand what is driving global warming. This engaging and compelling book provides everything you need to know. It is jargon-free and easy to follow."(For the full review, visit http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art61998.asp) -- Connie Krochmal, BellaOnLine: The Voice of Women

"Tyler Volk is a wonderful expositor who tells is like it is. In CO2 Rising he has some feisty carbon atoms take us along on their vividly and clearly described romp through the bio and geosphere. A journey we most certainly affect." -- Roald Hoffmann, Department of Chemistry, Cornell University, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

"Tyler Volk takes the reader on a journey of the carbon cycle from the viewpoint of individual carbon atoms. He then compares the natural release of carbon into the biosphere to that released by our use of fossil fuels. Both serve to bring the science of the carbon cycle to the reader in understandable terms." -- Wildlife Activist Magazine

"Tyler Volk's CO2 Rising is a finely crafted introduction to the greenhouse problem, taking as its protagonist a little carbon atom called Dave.... If there is one book on climate change that President-elect Barack Obama should read, it might well be Tyler Volk's CO2 Rising. Its clear, simple exposition of atmospheric chemistry is so well-written that it might even convince past-presidents." (For the full review, visit http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0812/full/climate.2008.123.html.) -- Euan Nisbet, Nature Reports: Climate Change

"... Volk introduces readers to Oiliver, Coaleen, and Methaniel, who unlike Dave were purposively extracted from the earth and have been in the biosphere for a much shorter period... more than competent tour guides to the complexities of the carbon cycle." (For the full review, visit http://www.chemheritage.org/pubs/magazine/review_volk.html) -- Zoe Marquardt, Chemical Heritage Newsmagazine

About the Author

Tyler Volk is Science Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology at New York University. He is the author of Gaia's Body: Toward a Physiology of the Earth (MIT Press, 2003), Metapatterns: Across Space, Time, and Mind, and other books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262220830
• ISBN-13: 978-0262220835
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #770,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tyler Volk is Science Director for Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology at New York University. Recipient of the NYU All-University Distinguished Teaching Award, Volk lectures and travels widely, communicates his ideas in a variety of media, plays lead guitar for the science-inspired rock band The Amygdaloids, and is an avid outdoorsman. Volk's previous books include CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge; Metapatterns Across Space, Time, and Mind; and Gaia's Body: Toward a Physiology of Earth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for those trying to understand CO2, May 13, 2009

By 

S. D. Mayor (Chico, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge (Hardcover)

First, a little about my credentials: I have a PhD in atmospheric & oceanic sciences. While my expertise is not in climate, I certainly have a significant interest in the subject and am often asked by friends, family, and acquaintances about the physics of CO2 and global warming. Even with my familiarity of a lot of the scientific basis for climate change, I must say this book made a huge contribution to my understanding of the concepts involved.

Summary: this is one excellent little book. I found it to be really enjoyable reading about an extremely important topic. The author has made a very complex subject understandable to the non-scientific reader. If you are wondering how the global carbon cycle works, how carbon is related to carbon dioxide, and projections on energy usage and CO2 emissions in the future, I highly recommend it. I thought the few charts and graphs were excellent and appropriate.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible & Academic Journey -- Beautiful and Fun Read, January 10, 2009

By 

F. C. Mataska (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge (Hardcover)

CO2 Rising accompanied me on my Amtrak ride to Chicago for the holidays and I really enjoyed it! Although I learned a lot of new things, it was also a great refresher of the basics of physics and chemistry that many of us may have forgotten. I really appreciated the explanations of the varying phenomena that build up to a complete understanding of the C02 picture. Like when Volk describes how William Herschel first inferred the existence of infrared rays using a prism. These building block vignettes paint a clearer picture of all of the different elements that come together to create an understanding of greenhouse gases.

Very impressed with the imagery in the book; it is a really unique gift to be both scientist and artist and some of the descriptions [and connections] in CO2 Rising really attest to that combination. Especially Volk's Michener-esque descriptions of carbon cycling through time, making the weathering of limestone a beautiful experience with which to bookend his story.

Volk employs a really great writing device by naming the individual carbon atoms that appear in the book as "characters". It really highlights the difference between carbon sources and mixing, and the difference between molecules and atoms that would have been so much more confusing otherwise. It was also more fun to read about these characters' journeys through time in this way.

Volk reminds us all that there is not likely going to be a single development that frees us from the problem of pumping CO2 into the atmosphere. Especially in a world where the news media tends to look for those types of sensational, be-all and end-all solutions, we seem less excited [or even cognizant] as a people by the concept that many contributions from different fields [sequestration, efficiency, CO2-neutral technologies] can work together to have a great impact. At least this point [which Volk also tempers by calling for policy-motivated research efforts] allows us to feel empowered to act now.

I also appreciated the psychological connection Volk makes to illustrate the current carbon crimes committed by developed countries on those mostly-tropical, developing countries. Volk compares the current reaction to CO2 emissions with the hypothetical reaction to a country placing mirrors into outer space to cool the planet. It is a really interesting scenario to help the reader put into perspective the difference between acting on something directly to cause change, and acting remotely or indirectly.

All in all a great read that poses so many more great questions, but gives you a solid block of knowledge to stand on when thinking about CO2 and climate change. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the most serious environmental challenge of our time, and it is both accessible and academic.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animating complex carbon systems, December 19, 2008

By 

Amelia Amon "AmonTechnica" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CO2 Rising: The World's Greatest Environmental Challenge (Hardcover)

If you want to understand the carbon cycle or communicate to a skeptic about why co2 is a growing problem, this is the book. The scope, breadth, & depth of Volk's knowledge and research are impressive. But to tell a captivating story, he invents carbon atom characters: Dave (for David Keeling, who first recorded the 'Keeling curve' of rising co2); and some carbon atoms newly released by burning fossil fuels, Coaleen, Oiliver and Methaniel; and Icille, long-trapped in a frozen air bubble. Volk describes their travels through the biosphere, correlating them with geological time, human cultural history, and current energy strategies.

The story-telling analogies are helpful in making complex systems clear and understandable. Volk goes on to explain potential individual and governmental responses to growing co2 levels. The book doesn't advocate any one technical fix, other than clear thinking and immediate large-scale action. The intent is that an informed public understanding of natural systems and balances could go a long way toward better policy and consumer decisions.