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How much of global warming is due to human activities? How far will it be possible to adapt to changes of climate? John Houghton's definitive, full colour, guide to climate change answers these questions and more by providing the best and latest information available, including the latest IPCC findings. The simple, logical flow of ideas gives an invaluable grounding in the science, as well as the physical and human impacts of climate change for undergraduate students across a wide range of disciplines. Accessible to both scientists and non-scientists, the text avoids mathematical equations and includes more technical material in boxes, while simple figures help students to understand the conclusions the science leads to without being overwhelmed by vast amounts of data. Questions for students to consider and test their understanding are included in each chapter, along with carefully selected further reading to expand their knowledge.
Preface
1. Global warming and climate change
2. The Greenhouse effect
3. The Greenhouse gases
4. Climates of the past
5. Modelling the climate
6. Climate change for the twenty-first century and beyond
7. The impacts of climate change
8. Why should we be concerned?
9. Weighing the uncertainty
10. A strategy for action to avoid dangerous climate change
11. Energy and transport for the future
12. The Global Village
Glossary
Index
Sir John Houghton CBE, FRS is a former Chairman of the Scientific Assessment Working Group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Chairman of the UK s Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Vice President of the World Meteorological Organisation, President of the Royal Meteorological Society, and Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Oxford University. He was Chief Executive of the UK Meteorological Office from 1983 to his retirement in 1991. As well as the previous editions of this book, he is author of The Physics of Atmospheres (Cambridge University Press, in three editions), and has published numerous research papers and contributed to many influential research documents. Sir John and his wife Sheila live in Wales.
Reviews of the previous edition:
"It is difficult to imagine how Houghton's exposition of this complex body of information might be substantially improved upon [...] Seldom has such a complex topic been presented with such remarkable simplicity, directness and crystalline clarity [...] Houghton's complete briefing is without doubt the best briefing the concerned citizen could hope to find within the pages of a pocketable book."
– John Perry, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
"I can recommend (this book) to anyone who wants to get a better perspective on the topic of global warming [...] a very readable and comprehensive guide to the changes that are occuring now, and could occur in the future, as a result of human action [...] brings the global warming debate right up to date [...] Read Houghton's book if you really want to understand both the scientific and political issues involved."
– William Harston, The Independent
"[...] precise account of the science, accompanied by figures, graphs, boxes on specific points, and summaries at the end of each chapter, with questions for students [...] ranges beyond the science into the diplomacy, politics, economics and ethics of the problem, which together present a formidable challenge to human understanding and capacity for action."
– Sir Crispin Tickell, The Times Higher Education Supplement
"[...] a widely praised book on global warming and its consequences."
– The Economist
"[...] an interesting account of the topic for the general reader."
– Environmental Assessment
"[...] very thorough and presents a balanced, impartial picture."
– Jonathan Shanklin, Journal of the British Astronomical Association
"I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone concerned about global warming. It provides and excellent essentially non-technical guide on scientific and political aspects of the subject. It is an essential briefing for students and science teachers."
– Tony Waters, The Observatory
"For the non-technical reader, the best program guide to the political and scientific debate is John Houghton's book Global Warming: The Complete Briefing. With this book in hand you are ready to make sense of the debate and reach your own conclusions."
– Alan Hecht, Climate Change
"This is a remarkable book [...] It is a model of clear exposition and comprehensible writing [...] Quite apart from its value as a background reader for science teachers."
– Andrew Bishop, Association for Science Education
"Global Warming remains the best single-volume guide to the science of climate change."
– Greg Terrill, The Times Literary Supplement
"This very readable and informative book is valuable for anyone wanting a broad overview of what we know about climate change, its potential impacts on society and the natural world, and what could be done to mitigate or adapt to global warming. To this end, discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter. The paperback edition is an especially good value [...] Houghton's compact book is an accessible, well-researched, and broadly based introduction to the immensely complicated global warming problem."
– Dennis L. Hartmann, University of Washington
"I have no hesitation in endorsing this important book."
– Wilfrid Bach, International Journal of Climatology
