Kingdom of frost : how the cryosphere shapes life on Earth / Bjørn Vassnes ; translated by Lucy Moffatt.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vassnes, Bjørn, author.

Contributor:

Moffatt, Lucy, translator.

Standardized Title:

Frostens rike. English

Language:

English

Norwegian

Subjects (All):

Cryosphere.

Glaciers--Climatic factors.

Physical Description:

xi, 236 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Vancouver ; Berkeley : Greystone Books, 2020.

Summary:

"An award-winning science journalist explains what Earth's frozen waters tell us about the past, present, and future of humanity. "The Kingdom of Frost," or what scientists call the cryosphere, refers to all of Earth's frozen waters. Glaciers, ice caps, and fields of Arctic snow--the cryosphere is vital to our survival. It supplies us with water and helps cool cities from Bangladesh to Bangkok, Los Angeles to Oslo. In this captivating, eye-opening account, esteemed Norwegian writer Bjørn Vassnes interweaves brilliant climate reporting with the fascinating story of Earth's frozen world. He draws on cultural history and anthropology to tell us how the cryosphere once helped to spark life on Earth--and how it continues to sustain us despite its shrinking size. And he answers pressing questions such as: What will happen if it all disappears?"-- Provided by publisher.

"An award-winning science journalist explains what Earth's frozen waters tell us about the past, present, and future of humanity. "The Kingdom of Frost," or what scientists call the cryosphere, refers to all of Earth's frozen waters. Glaciers, ice caps, and fields of Arctic snow--the cryosphere is vital to our survival. It supplies us with water and helps cool cities from Bangladesh to Bangkok, Los Angeles to Oslo. In this captivating, eye-opening account, esteemed Norwegian writer Bj�rn Vassnes interweaves brilliant climate reporting with the fascinating story of Earth's frozen world. He draws on cultural history and anthropology to tell us how the cryosphere once helped to spark life on Earth--and how it continues to sustain us despite its shrinking size. And he answers pressing questions such as: What will happen if it all disappears?"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 Melting p. 1

2 Between Fire and Ice p. 7

3 The First Snow p. 15

A Closer Look: The Greenhouse Effect p. 17

A Closer Look: Albedo-the Effect of Whiteness p. 23

4 In the Realm of the Snow Queen p. 25

5 Life beneath the Snow p. 37

6 More Than a Hundred Words for Snow p. 43

7 Traces of Ice: The Discovery of Our Frozen Past p. 50

8 Paradise p. 67

9 The Backbone of the Continent p. 79

10 The Alps: When the Cryosphere Becomes Dangerous p. 88

11 The River Goddess and Her Sisters p. 97

12 Toward Nifiheim p. 111

13 The White Continent p. 118

A Closer Look: The Cryosphere Today p. 128

14 Laboratory Earth: Life's Frozen History p. 131

15 Children of the Ice p. 140

16 Out of Eden p. 150

17 When the Ice Returned p. 159

18 Thin Ice: What's Happening to the Cryosphere? p. 168

19 The Roof of the World Is Melting p. 181

20 Invisible Glaciers and Cryoactivists p. 190

21 Frozen Earth p. 196

22 Climate Bombs in the Tundra p. 200

23 Climate Help from the Animal Kingdom p. 204

14 Last Dance? (Is There a Future for the Cryosphere?) p. 214.

Notes:

Translation of: Frostens rike: Kyrosfæren og livet.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781771644549

1771644540

OCLC:

1122912577

Publisher Number:

99984434442