INDICE: Global Environmental Change - Outline.1 Introduction.The Earth system is experiencing dramatic environmental change: biogeochemical, ecological, climatic. Some change is natural, but most can be attributed to human activity. The interconnections and feedbacks among natural and human systems greatly complicate our ability to foresee the consequences of our actions. 1.1 Context of changes.• Environmental change not unique to modern time.• Alarm arises from likely impacts and potential to foresee (and avert) harmful change.• Our role as custodians for larger tapestry of biological diversity.• Particular responsibility of industrial nations: those responsible for changes are not those most vulnerable to its impacts1.2 Purpose of book.• Basic information on major aspects of Earth system changes and their causes.• Road map for those who wantto pursue further study.• Highlight connections between fields that are oftencompartmentalized.• References to current scientific literature, web resources.• Stimulate informed action to minimize harmful impacts2 The physical climate system 2.1 Radiation 2.1.1 Earths radiative balance 2.1.1.1 Natural variations in radiative forcing 2.1.1.2 Albedo; forcings vs feedbacks 2.1.2 Greenhousegases: 2.1.2.1 CO2, CH4, N2O, chlorofluorocarbons, O3 2.1.2.2 Basic information on each: sources/sinks, residence times, recent histories 2.1.3 Tropospheric aerosols 2.1.3.1 Sources and types 2.1.3.2 Radiative effects: direct, semidirect, indirect 2.1.3.3 Atmospheric hydrologic impacts 2.1.3.4 Observations andhuman/ecological impacts: plumes off Asia and Africa; remote air quality impacts; coral disease vector? 2.1.4 Stratospheric ozone depletion 2.1.4.1 Background: O3 distribution; Mechanisms of production and destruction 2.1.4.2 Observations (Antarctic) seasonal dependence, extent and amplitude of depletion. 2.1.4.3 Chemistry: O3 destruction by chlorofluorocarbons; Cl reservoir compounds; roles of Br and N2O 2.1.4.4 Relationships with global warming: radiatively active gases; relate to stratospheric temperatures 2.1.4.5 Global depletion of stratospheric O3 2.1.4.6 Montreal protocol (plus amendments) and the projected recovery of Antarctic ozone hole.BOX: comparing the policy responses to ozone depletion and climate change2.2 The modern climate system 2.2.1 Surface ocean and atmosphere 2.2.1.1 Atmospheric Hadley circulation 2.2.1.2 Surface ocean currents 2.2.1.3 Natural climate patterns/systems: the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), monsoons, annular modes, multidecadal modes 2.2.1.4 Thermohaline/deep ocean circulation 2.2.1.5 Climate extremes: tropical storms, drought, flood, heat wave.BOX: Forecasting ENSO and its impacts2.3 Paleoclimatology: climatelessons from the past 2.3.1 Paleoclimate introduction 2.3.1.1 Motivations 2.3.1.2 Methods 2.3.2 Temperature reconstructions 2.3.2.1 Past 2 millennia: Late 20th century is warmer than any recent period 2.3.3 Drought 2.3.3.1 Megadroughts a naturally occurring phenomenon 2.3
- ISBN: 978-1-4051-6258-6
- Editorial: Wiley-Blackwell
- Encuadernacion: Rústica
- Páginas: 320
- Fecha Publicación: 11/03/2011
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés