Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, The Earth System Physical and Chemical Dimensions of Global Environmental Change

by MacCracken, Michael C.; Perry, John S.; Munn, Ted

• ISBN13: 9780470853603
• ISBN10: 0470853603
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-15
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Volume One of this Encyclopedia deals with the physical and chemical dimensions of the Earth system, including for example the atmosphere, the oceans, the cryosphere, and those aspects of the land surface particularly relevant to interactions with other components of the Earth system. It focuses on the most dynamic aspects of the system, on the factors and processes that produce change, and on the programs and individual scientists most concerned with measuring and understanding change. The volume begins with a group of extended review essays, followed by shorter articles on various aspects of the history, current state, and possible future states of the Earth system, including the interactions among the components of this system. Expert contributions feature on: * Historical trends in various environmental indicators, both in the past century and extending back through geological time * What we have learned, and the tools used to gain knowledge about the functioning of this complex system, from field programs to model simulations * Effects of human intervention on climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion * Details of organized international observing, data management, and research programs in the Earth sciences * brief biographies of a selection of leading scientists This volume represents a uniquely valuable source of focused, timely, and authoritative information relating to the issues of global environmental change. It has been constructed broad enough in scope to illuminate every corner of the relevant geophysical sciences, while remaining concise and readily usable by the non-specialist.

Author Biography

Editor-in Chief
Professor Ted Munn, Associate, Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto, Canada. He has over 50 years research/teaching experience in the areas of boundary layer meteorology, environmental impact assessment, environmental management and policy formulation. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE). Wiley publish their research monographs (52 titles published to date).

Associate Editors
Professor Michael MacCracken (Volume 1) - Director of the Office of the US Global Change Research Programme (USGCRP), Washington DC, USA. He is a world-renowned academic with over 30 years teaching and research experience in climate modelling.

Dr John S Perry (Volume 1)

Professor Harold A Mooney (Volume 2) - Paul S Achilles Professor of Environmental Biology, Stanford University, USA. He has over 30 years experience in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. He is Secretary General of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and past President of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.

Dr Joseph Canadell (Volume 2) - GCTE International Project Office, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra, Australia.

Professor Ian Douglas (Volume 3) - Professor of Physical Geography, University of Manchester, UK. He has over 30 years experience looking at environmental problems, specializing in tropical geomorphology, hydrology and urban environmental management. He is President of Section E Geography of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and past Co-Chairman of SCOPE.

Dr Mostafa Tolba (Volume 4) - President, International Center for Environment and Development, Egypt. He has led more than 1000 international projects in various areas of environmental planning, management and sustainable development and was Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for over 17 years.

Mr Peter Timmerman (Volume 5) - Programme Co-ordinator and Research Director, International Federation of Institutes for Advanced Study (IFIAS) and Research Associate, Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Toronto, Canada. He has published widely in the area of environmental ethics.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change.

Preface to Volume One.

The Earth System.

Earth System Processes.

Earth System History.

Earth Observing Systems.

The Global Temperature Record.

Models of the Earth System.

Model Simulations of Present and Historical Climates.

Projection of Future Changes in Climate.

Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone

International Organizations in the Earth Sciences.

Alphabetic listing of articles.