Energy, Environment, and Climate [Paperback]

Richard Wolfson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0393927636 | ISBN-13: 978-0393927634 | Publication Date: February 16, 2008 | Edition: 1

In this new study of energy use and global climate change, Richard Wolfson outlines basic science concepts as well as specific, contemporary applications in energy production and their environmental consequences.

Energy, Environment, and Climate is structured on the premise that climate change is the dominant energy-related environmental issue of the twenty-first century. Traditional concerns like pollution and conservation of energy resources are covered with clear, scientific explanations. Unique to this text, a full five chapters—about one-third of the content—are devoted to climate and an understanding of the energy/climate link. Included are over 250 photographs and illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Wolfson is Benjamin F. Wissler Professor of Physics at Middlebury College, where he also teaches environmental studies. He holds a BA from Swarthmore, an MS in environmental studies from the University of Michigan, and Ph.D. in physics from Dartmouth. His research involves solar astrophysics and terrestrial climate change. Wolfson’s books include introductory physics texts as well as Nuclear Choices: A Citizen’s Guide to Nuclear Technology (MIT Press 1993) and Simply Einstein: Relativity Demystified (W.W. Norton 2003). He has produced four video courses for The Teaching Company: Einstein’s Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Nonscientists (1995 & 1999); Energy and Climate: Science for Citizens in the Age of Global Warming (1996); Physics in Your Life (2004); and Earth’s Changing Climate (2007).

Product Details

• Paperback: 532 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (February 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393927636
• ISBN-13: 978-0393927634
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,642 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Climatology
  • #29 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Rivers
  • #33 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Weather

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darn near perfect, July 13, 2011

By 

Christopher T. Dahle (Del Norte, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Energy, Environment, and Climate (Paperback)

I'm reading this textbook for a graduate school class in environmental biology for educators. I have worked through the first 10 chapters and have completed most of the exercises, review questions, and research problems in each chapter.

So far, I think Dr. Wolfson has fairly, accurately, and thoroughly presented basic facts about humanity's use of energy, the consequences of that use, the alternatives currently available, or technologically possible, and the costs and benefits of both our current energy supplies and proposed alternatives.

Dr. Wolfson does not display any bias toward any particular view of climate change or energy use. He instead provides the student with the mathematical tools needed to quantitatively analyze a broad body of well documented facts.

My only criticism is a mild one. Dr. Wolfson does say that his text requires only high school level algebra skills. I think that is accurate. Anyone who did reasonably well in high school algebra should be able to follow the text.

However, I do wish that in the beginning chapters, as he worked through the conversions and calculations of power, energy, and work, his examples had been just a bit more mathematically detailed. I could follow his explanations, but having not needed to do any dimensional analysis for the last 30 years, I was a bit sketchy on keeping my factors and labels straight as I worked through his examples and then tried to do the exercises. In some of his examples, he implies the completion of steps that he assumes his readers already understand.

In others, he lays out mathematical solutions in a narrative form that is tough to follow, and while I was able to work through things like:

(1/5 Btu/h/ft^2/degF)(1000ft^2)(70degF -45degF)= 5000 Btu/h

It would have been a bit easier to follow if it had been laid out more clearly in factor/label format, at least for the first few chapters. Maybe the best way to address this would be for the publisher to supplement the "answers to selected exercises" found in the text with a slightly more detailed solutions guide on their website.

Altogether though, this is a well written text. The layout of the pages leaves adequate room for sufficiently detailed marginalia. It contains a number of tables and figures that are well worth tabbing for future reference and the questions, exercises, and research problems are an outstanding guide for a student who is serious about learning the material.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, October 27, 2009

By 

Gilbert G. Faellaci "Jazzman" (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Energy, Environment, and Climate (Paperback)

I purchased this product because I have a DVD lecture series by the auther, Richard Wolfson, from the Teaching Company. The auther is a fantastic lecturer and can get his point across via the written word. I love it.