Sudden and disruptive climate change : exploring the real risks and how we can avoid them / edited by Michael C. MacCracken, Frances Moore and John C. Topping, Jr.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

MacCracken, Michael C.

Moore, Frances.

Topping, John C.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Climatic changes--Social aspects.

Climatic changes.

Physical Description:

xvii, 326 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; Sterling, VA : Earthscan, [2008]

Summary:

While changes in emissions and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are projected to be slow and smooth, the intensity and impacts of climate change on the environment and society could be abrupt and erratic. Surprising and nonlinear responses are likely to occur as warming exceeds certain thresholds, inducing relatively rapid and disruptive changes in the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, precipitation intensity and patterns, coastal inundation, the occurrence of wildfire, the ranges of plant and animal species and more.

Written by a transdisciplinary group of internationally respected researchers, this book explores the possibilities of such changes, their significance for society and efforts to move more rapidly to limit climate change than current government measures.

Contents:

Part 1 The Potential for Rapid Changes to the Weather and Climate 7

1 Ten Reasons Why Climate Change May be More Severe than Projected / A. Barrie Pittock 11

2 Potential Increased Hurricane Activity in a Greenhouse Warmed World / Judith A. Curry 29

3 Potential Effects of Weather Extremes and Climate Change on Human Health / Devra Lee Davis, John C. Topping, Jr 39

Part 2 The Potential for Rapid Melting of Ice and Amplification of Sea Level Rise 45

4 Changes in Polar Sea Ice Coverage / Claire L. Parkinson 49

5 Changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet and Implications for Global Sea Level Rise / Eric Rignot 63

6 Why Predicting West Antarctic Ice Sheet Behavior is So Hard: What We Know, What We Don't Know and How We Will Find Out / Robert Bindschadler 75

Part 3 The Potential for Dramatic Changes in Coastal Regions 81

7 The Potential for Significant Impacts on Chesapeake Bay from Global Warming / Michael S. Kearney 85

8 The Northern Gulf of Mexico Coast: Human Development Patterns, Declining Ecosystems and Escalating Vulnerability to Storms and Sea Level Rise / Virginia Burkett 101

9 Threats and Responses Associated with Rapid Climate Change in Metropolitan New York / Malcolm Bowman, Douglas Hill, Frank Buonaiuto, Brian Colle, Roger Flood, Robert Wilson, Robert Hunter, Jindong Wang 119

10 Increasing the Resilience of Our Coasts: Coastal Collision Course of Rising Sea Level, Storms, Coastal Erosion and Development / Bruce C. Douglas, Stephen P. Leatherman 143

11 Preparing and Protecting American Families from the Onslaught of Catastrophe / Admiral James M. Loy 153

Part 4 The End of Evolution? The Potential for Rapid Changes in Ecosystems 159

12 Where Will Ecosystems Go? / Anthony C. Janetos 163

13 Increasing Vulnerability of Alaska's Boreal Forest as a Result of Climate Warming and the Changing Fire Regime / Eric S. Kasischke, F. Stuart Chapin III 175

14 Polar Bears in a Warming Arctic / Andrew E. Derocher 193

Part 5 The Potential for Accelerating Action to Limit Climate Change 205

15 International Action to Buffer Against the Rapid Onset of Climate Change / Sir Crispin Tickell 211

16 A Moral and Profitable Path to Climate Stabilization / John C. Topping, Jr, Erin Frey 217

17 Moving Toward Climate Stabilization: Iceland's Example / President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson 231

18 Climate Impacts in the Developing World: A Case Study of the Small Island States / Nasir Khattak 237

19 Stimulating a Clean Energy Revolution / Christopher Flavin 241

20 Recycling Energy to Reduce Costs and Mitigate Climate Change / Thomas R. Casten 247

21 Addressing Climate Change: Religious Perspectives and Initiatives / Denis Hayes and panelists 259

22 Climate Solutions on Today's Campuses: How Today's Students Must Drive a Modern Industrial Revolution / Dan Worth 269

23 Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions: The Role of Greenhouse Gas Offsets / Alexia Kelly 283.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1844074773

9781844074778

1844074781

9781844074785

OCLC:

154754148