Climate Change: Picturing the Science [Paperback]

Gavin Schmidt (Author), Joshua Wolfe (Author), Jeffrey D. Sachs (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2009

An unprecedented union of scientific analysis and stunning photography illustrating the effects of climate change on the global ecosystem.

Going beyond the headlines, this work by leading NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt and master photographer Joshua Wolfe illustrates as never before the ramifications of shifting climate. Photographic spreads show retreating glaciers, sinking villages in Alaska’s tundra, and drying lakes. The text follows adventurous scientists through the ice caps at the poles to the coral reefs of the tropical seas. Marshaling data spanning centuries and continents, the book sparkles with cutting-edge research and visual records, including contributions from experts on atmospheric science, oceanography, paleoclimatology, technology, politics, and the polar regions. As Jeffrey D. Sachs writes in his powerful foreword, “Climate Change is a tour de force of public education.”

160 color illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Schmidt, a climate scientist at NASA, and photographer Wolfe seek to advance public education about human-induced climate change in a combination of arresting images and lucid explanations of the science of global warming and the pursuit of global cooperation in adopting new, sustainable ways of living. With contributions by 16 scientists, engineers, writers, activists, and photographers, Schmidt and Wolfe address a host of observable changes, from the melting of ice and permafrost at the poles to the rising of sea levels in cities such as Venice and Miami. From discussions of increasing drought, forest fires, and extreme storms to the deadly buildup of industrial and agriculture chemicals, the coverage is clear and bracing. And it’s inspiring to learn about the work of these cutting-edge experts as they marvel over the finely calibrated checks and balances of  the earth’s systems, elucidate the ways human-induced climate change is making the planet less conducive to life, and chronicle inventive approaches to averting environmental catastrophe. In the midst of sobering reportage, the authors manage to appeal to our fascination with epic challenges. --Donna Seaman

Review

The first book anyone seeking a layman's understanding of the science of global warming should read…one of the most reasonable, unflappable, pleasantly humorous and least stuffy experts in any subject that we've met. (Jerry Beilinson - Popular Mechanics )

Gavin Schmidt, a NASA climatologist, has in many ways become the news media’s conscience on climate science, exposing exaggeration and opinion in climate coverage…[a] no-nonsense approach. (Laura Shin - The New York Times )

A rich photographic record of a warming world. (Peter Dizikes - Salon )

A broad diversity of images that are, in many cases, truly arresting…informative discussions of the key issues in climate science and policy…The numerous ‘Cool, I didn't know that!’ moments are an enjoyable aspect…[A]n important contribution. (Bill Hewitt - Nature Reports )

[A] masterful account of the science of climate change…It will leave you both in awe of the Earth we inhabit and of the science itself, with all of its uncertainties and incomplete answers. (Seed Magazine )

Breathtaking images. (Popular Science )

[A]n impressive, informative and surprisingly accessible work, leaps and bounds ahead of the half-baked analysis consumers have come to expect from the corporate media…compelling. (Jason Zasky - Failure Magazine )

[A]n inspired work… a compelling and captivating book. (Leonard David - Space Coalition Blog )

A combination of arresting images and lucid explanations of the science of global warming and the pursuit of global cooperation in adopting new, sustainable ways of living….the coverage is clear and bracing....In the midst of sobering reportage, the authors manage to appeal to our fascination with epic challenges. (Donna Seaman - Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Original edition (April 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393331253
• ISBN-13: 978-0393331257
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fair, Understandable Explanation of the Current Science, July 24, 2009

By 

Scott A. Mandia (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Climate Change: Picturing the Science (Paperback)

As noted by the authors, this book was structured around a medical metaphor of symptoms, diagnosis, and possible cures. The book is a collection of essays from scientists from many fields: climatology, meteorology, biology, geology, oceanography, chemistry, climate modeling, environmental politics, astrophysics, and other fields, so it becomes clear to the reader how climate change has impacted all aspects of planet Earth. The authors have summarized the latest research in climate science in a style that makes the information very accessible to the non-scientist.

The authors also make it clear what is well known vs. what is not well known in the rapidly evolving field of climate science. A very fair representation of the current science.

For those looking for more actual data, there are better books, but this book is an excellent resource for the general public and I have listed it on my Global Warming Website linked below.

Scott A. Mandia, Professor - Physical Sciences
[...]

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific, but accessible, July 5, 2009

By 

David R. Cassatt (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Climate Change: Picturing the Science (Paperback)

This book provides an excellent introduction to the science behind climate change and the options we have available to us. Climatologist Gavin Schmidt of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and photographer Joshua Wolfe have collected a variety of scientists, photographers, science historians and science writers who tell and show the story of what may be the biggest challenge facing us. Difficult concepts are explained clearly for the reader just trying to sort out the conflicting information that is out there, but there is also something for those who have kept up with the science. The authors do not try to show a false balance, but do explain where the uncertainties lie.

There are a number of books that are worth reading; what makes this book of particular value is the striking photography; from the "bathtub rings" of Lake Meade to the destruction caused by bark beetles. The pictures of scientists in the field and in their labs and offices (Wally Broecker's office is truly notable) are a nice touch. The writing, although contributed by different authors, is excellent and the chapters are well-integrated. The chapters that stand out to this reviewer are 1. "Taking the Temperature of the Planet" by Peter deMenocal, 6. "Climate Drivers" by Tim Hall and 7. "Studying Climate" by Drs. Schmidt and deMenocal. The essays and photo-essays that follow many of the chapters provide further snippets of information.

One quibble I have is that the book does not provide extensive notes. The reader is directed to books, web sites and the IPCC reports, but some original sources and scientific review papers would help the more advanced reader. But the strengths of the book are such that his book belongs up there with other excellent climate-related books such as Elizabeth Kolbert's "Field Notes from a Catastrophe", David Archer's "The Long Thaw" and Joseph Romm's "Hell and High Water". It is truly worth a read.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Showing the real effects of climate change, June 15, 2009

By 

Future Watch Writer (Washington, D.C. Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Climate Change: Picturing the Science (Paperback)

This book brings to life the fact that climate change is not an intellectual theory. It's happening right now as you read this all around the world. Even worse is the fact that the pace of climate change is picking up speed, faster than the worst predictions of most experts. For other books like this I would recommend Extreme Ice Now: Vanishing Glaciers and Changing Climate: A Progress Report and the PBS documentary Extreme Ice.