Sudden and Disruptive Climate Change

by Maccracken, Michael C.; Moore, Frances; Topping, John C., Jr.

• ISBN13: 9781844074778
• ISBN10: 1844074773
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-01-30
• Publisher: ROUTLEDGE

Summary

While changes in emissions and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are generally projected to be slow and smooth, there are increasing indications that the intensity and impacts of climate change on the environment and society could, at least on a regional basis, be abrupt and bumpy. Surprising and nonlinear responses are likely to result as warming exceeds certain thresholds, inducing relatively rapid changes in, for example, the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, atmospheric wind and precipitation patterns, coastal inundation, the occurrence of wildfire, and the ranges of plant and animal species. Written and edited by a transdisciplinary group of internationally respected researchers, this book explores the possibilities of such changes and their significance for our society. In addition to covering the status of the science in a number of the critical areas, it also provides indications that there is a significant potential (and need) for action to limit human-induced perturbations, which can occur more rapidly than governments are currently moving.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction	p. 1
The Potential for Rapid Changes to the Weather and Climate	p. 7
Introduction to Part I	p. 8
Ten Reasons Why Climate Change May he More Severe than Projected	p. 11
Potential Increased Hurricane Activity in a Greenhouse Warmed World	p. 29
Potential Effects of Weather Extremes and Climate Change on Human Health	p. 39
The Potential for Rapid Melting of Ice and Amplification of Sea Level Rise	p. 45
Introduction to Part 2	p. 46
Changes in Polar Sea Ice Coverage	p. 49
Changes in the Greenland Ice Sheet and Implications for Global Sea Level Rise	p. 63
Why Predicting West Antarctic Ice Sheet Behavior is So Hard: What We Know, What We Don't Know and How We Will Find Out	p. 75
The Potential for Dramatic Changes in Coastal Regions	p. 81
Introduction to Part 3	p. 82
The Potential for Significant Impacts on Chesapeake Bay from Global Warming	p. 85
The Northern Gulf of Mexico Coast: Human Development Patterns, Declining Ecosystems and Escalating Vulnerability to Storms and Sea Level Rise	p. 101
Threats and Responses Associated with Rapid Climate Change in Metropolitan New York	p. 119
Increasing the Resilience of Our Coasts: Coastal Collision Course of Rising Sea Level, Storms, Coastal Erosion and Development	p. 143
Preparing and Protecting American Families from the Onslaught of Catastrophe	p. 153
The End of Evolution? The Potential for Rapid Changes in Ecosystems	p. 159
Introduction to Part 4	p. 160
Where Will Ecosystems Go?	p. 163
Increasing Vulnerability of Alaska's Boreal Forest as a Result of Climate Warming and the Changing Fire Regime	p. 175
Polar Bears in a Warming Arctic	p. 193
The Potential for Accelerating Action to Limit Climate Change	p. 205
Introduction to Part 5	p. 206
International Action to Buffer Against the Rapid Onset of Climate Change	p. 211
A Moral and Profitable Path to Climate Stabilization	p. 217
Moving Toward Climate Stabilization: Iceland's Example	p. 231
Climate Impacts in the Developing World: A Case Study of the Small Island States	p. 237
Stimulating a Clean Energy Revolution	p. 241
Recycling Energy to Reduce Costs and Mitigate Climate Change	p. 247
Addressing Climate Change: Religious Perspectives and Initiatives	p. 259
Climate Solutions on Today's Campuses: How Today's Students Must Drive a Modern Industrial Revolution	p. 269
Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions: The Role of Greenhouse Gas Offsets	p. 283
Appendices
Index
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