This book introduces an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and climate change. It reviews basic meteorological, hydrological and ecological concepts to examine the physical, chemical and biological processes by which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. The textbook is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying ecology, environmental science, atmospheric science andgeography. The central argument is that terrestrial ecosystems become important determinants of climate through their cycling of energy, water, chemical elements and trace gases. This coupling between climate and vegetation is explored at spatial scales from plant cells to global vegetation geography and at timescales of near instantaneous to millennia. The text also considers how humanalterations to land become important for climate change. This restructured edition, with updated science and references, chapter summaries and review questions, and over 400 illustrations, including many in colour, serves as an essential student guide. INDICE: Preface; 1. Introduction; Part I. The Earth System: 2. Components of the earth system; 3. Global cycles; Part II. Global Physical Climatology: 4. Atmospheric radiation; 5. Atmospheric general circulation and climate; 6. Earth's climates; 7. Climate variability; 8. Climate change; Part III. Soil Processes: 9. Soil physics; 10. Soil biochemistry; Part IV. Hydrometeorology: 11. Water balance; 12. Watershed hydrology; 13. Surface energy fluxes; 14. Turbulent fluxes; 15. Soil moisture and the atmospheric boundary layer; Part V. Biometeorology: 16. Leaf energy fluxes; 17. Leaf photosynthesis; 18. Plant canopies; Part VI. Terrestrial Plant Ecology: 19. Plant strategies; 20. Populations and communities; 21. Ecosystems; 22. Vegetation dynamics; 23. Disturbances and landscapes; 24. Global biogeography; Part VII. Terrestrial Forcings and Feedbacks; 25. Land surface processes in climate models; 26. Seasonal-to-interannual variability; 27. Land use and land cover change; 28. Coupled climate-vegetation dynamics; 29. Carbon cycle-climate feedbacks; 30. Urbanisation; Index; Colour plates.
- ISBN: 978-0-521-69319-6
- Editorial: Cambridge University
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 568
- Fecha Publicación: 18/09/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés