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About this book
Clear, well-organised and well-written account of the changes in the earth's natural environment in the past, present and future. This book is divided into six parts which consider: an introduction to the subject; patterns of global climatic change in the distant and recent past and models of the climatic future; effects of climatic change on arctic and marine environments; the hydrological system; tropical environments, humid, arid and savanna; and to conclude, four detailed case studies of change in contrasting environments - desert, estuarine, river and mountain.
Contents
List of Contributors. List of Abbreviations and Acronyms. Preface and Acknowledgements. Part I: The Nature of Environmental Change: 1. The Global Environmental Future: Neil Roberts. 2. Remote Sensing of Environmental Change: Roy Haines-Young. Part II: Global Climate Change: 3. Past Climates and Future Greenhouse Warming: F. Alayne Street-Perrott and Neil Roberts.4. Historic Records and Recent Climatic Change: Mike Hulme. 5. Numerical Modelling of Global Climate: Ann Henderson-Sellers. Part III: Ice and Ocean: 6. Global Warming and Periglacial Landscapes: Eduard A. Koster. 7. Ice Volumes and Climate Change: David Sugden and Nick Hulton. 8. Sea-level Response to Climate: Michael J. Tooley. 9. Tropical Coral Islands - An Uncertain Future?: Tom Spencer. Part IV: The Hydrological System: 10. Surface Water Acidification: Richard W. Battarbee. 11. Reconstructing the History of Soil Erosion: John Dearing. 12. Large-scale River Regulation: Geoff Petts. Part V: The Tropics: 13. Savanna Landscapes and Global Environmental Change: Philip Stott.14. Tropical Moist Forests - Transformation or Conservation?: Peter A. Furley. 15. Land Degradation in the Humid Tropics: Ian Douglas. 16. Dryland Degradation: Andrew Goudie. Part VI: Case Studies of Human Impact: 17. Case 1: Changing Use of the Sahara Desert: Erhard Schulz. 18. Case 2: The Chesapeake Bay Estuarine System: Grace S. Brush. 19. Case 3: China's Yellow River Basin: Edward Derbyshire and Jingtai Wang. 20. Case 4: Deforestation in the Himalaya: Martin J. Haigh. Bibliography. Index.
Customer Reviews
Edited By: N Roberts
531 pages, Maps, figs, b/w photos
Here we have a genuine attempt by the editor and most of the authors to think in terms of truly world-wide processes, such as those to be found in the ocean-atmosphere system, or at least to describe specific local outcomes of global mechanisms. The concepts and technical information are often complex but the language is accessible and the issues tackled are both interesting and very relevant for geography and environmental science courses. Each chapter is well illustrated and has guidance for further reading. International Journal of Environmental Studies "Aimed largely at an undergraduate audience it would do very well as a source for teachers and senior pupils. This is a good book and I can recommend it as the best available offering of this ilk." Geography "Considering the enormity of topics implied by the title, The Changing Global Environment does a good job, providing a useful overview of many important issues." Journal of Paleolimnology