Climate Process and Change [Hardcover]

Edward Bryant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 1997

This is the first major textbook to encompass the true complexity of climate change. While greenhouse warming dominates most of the literature, Bryant presents numerous reasons for the observed climate change of the past century. He argues that changes in climate, more dramatic than those of the past 150 years, have been a predominant aspect of the Earth's climate over the past two million years. He highlights human impacts on climate other than "greenhouse" gases, including sulphate air pollutants, dust and urban heat islands. He also explains the natural components forcing climate change. Bryant presents, in simple terms, the processes that drive the Earth's present climate system. He outlines the nature and reasons for temperature fluctuations over millennia, including recent human-induced climate change. Finally, he discusses the impact of climate change on human health and the world's ecosystems. This text will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate students as well as a reference for professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is rare these days to find a book about climate change that is indifferent to the popular simplistic view and detached from impassioned warnings of impending environmental disasters. This is what makes Climate Process and Change different from the plethora of publications on the subject. It should be essential reading for all inquisitive undergraduates who are interested in a balanced treatment of an important subject." New Zealand Geographer

"The key feature that sets this text apart is the perspective of climate change on a larger timescale...raising awareness of uncertainties in historial observations, trends, and the complex and nonlinear relationships between observations and theory." Gregory S. Jenkins, EOS

"...could be used as a reference or supplemental textbook for the useful figures, tables, references, and Web sites..." Gregory S. Jenkins, EOS

Book Description

This textbook encompasses the true complexity of climate change. Bryant presents the basic processes behind climate change and outlines the nature and reasons for the dramatic temperature fluctuations over millenia, including recent changes partially related to human activity. Whilst 'greenhouse' warming dominates most of the literature, this text also examines the role of sulphate air pollutants, dust and urban heat islands. Finally the effect of climate change upon human health and the world's ecosystems are discussed.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 225 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521481899
• ISBN-13: 978-0521481892
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,974,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best comprehensive view of this subject I have seen., November 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Climate Process and Change (Hardcover)

Bryant does a great job of describing the climate history of the earth along with the processes which have driven it. His discussion includes changes at the galactic, solar system, and planetary level. Evidence and uncertainties about greenhouse warming as well as potential effects of ozone depletion and nuclear winter. The final section of the book describes health effects of climate change including: droughts and hunger; warming and increase in disease vectors; ozone depletion and skin cancer, eye injury, and impacts on plants. Ample bibliographic data is presented. This is not a populist doomsday book but a valuable survey of the scientific knowledge on the subject.