Facing climate change together / [edited by] Catherine Gautier and Jean-Louis Fellous ; preface by D. James Baker.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Gautier, Catherine, 1947-

Fellous, J. L. (Jean-Louis)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Climatic changes.

Hydrologic cycle.

Global temperature changes.

Atmospheric chemistry--Environmental aspects.

Atmospheric chemistry.

Nature--Effect of human beings on.

Nature.

Physical Description:

xv, 257 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Summary:

The vast majority of climate scientists now agree that human-induced climate change is a reality. However, there is much ongoing research and debate over the magnitude, rate and regional distribution of change, and the level of confidence assigned to future climate projections. Nevertheless, our global society is confronted with the urgent and immediate need for a wise response to potential climate change.

This volume brings together scientists from the US and Europe to review the state-of-the-art in climate change science; all of them have extensive experience with climate research and international collaboration. Scientific jargon has been minimized for readers from different backgrounds.

Each chapter provides a description of a particular aspect of the climate problem, its role in current climate change, the impacts that are occurring or may occur in the future, and its societal importance. The introductory chapter is a synthesis of the major findings presented in the book, and draws from the most recent assessment reports of the IPCC.

This book is written for scientists and students in a wide range of fields, such as atmospheric science, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, geology, and socioeconomics, who are not necessarily specialists in climatology, but are seeking an accessible and broad review of climate change issues.

Contents:

1 The global consensus and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change / Richard C. J. Somerville, Jean Jouzel 12

2 Greenhouse effect, radiation budget, and clouds / Catherine Gautier, Herve Le Treut 30

3 Atmospheric aerosols and climate change / Yoram J. Kaufman, Olivier Boucher 49

4 The global water cycle and climate / Moustafa T. Chahine, Pierre Morel 62

5 Climate change effects on the water cycle over land / Eric F. Wood, Katia Laval 74

6 Ocean and climate / Carl Wunsch, Jean-Francois Minster 91

7 Ice and climate / Raymond C. Smith, Frederique Remy 110

8 The changing global carbon cycle: from the holocene to the anthropocene / Berrien Moore III, Philippe Ciais 121

9 Challenges of climate change: an Arctic perspective and its implications / Robert W. Corell 149

10 On some impacts of climate change over Europe and the Atlantic / Jean-Claude Andre 159

11 Atmospheric chemistry and climate interactions / Guy Brasseur, Marie-Lise Chanin 176

12 Observing system for climate / Helen M. Wood, Jean-Louis Fellous 189

13 Climate and society: what is the human dimension? / Roberta Balstad, Jean-Charles Hourcade 204.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-251) and index.

ISBN:

0521896827

9780521896825

OCLC:

182573582

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description