Climate: Into the 21st Century
Climate: Into the 21st Century features an unrivalled collection of essays by the world's leading meteorological experts. Compiled by an international team formed under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), these fully integrated contributions provide a perspective of the global climate system across the 20th century. The most arresting and extreme climatic events are described. In addition, the book traces the development of our capabilities to observe and monitor the climate system, and outlines our understanding of the predictability of climate on many time-scales. Lavishly illustrated in colour and written in an accessible and engaging style, this book provides a very readable account of the challenges that climate poses at the start of the 21st Century. It will captivate the general reader interested in climate issues, as well as forming a valuable teaching resource.
- Accessibly written reference volume on all aspects of the climate and its impact on human affairs
- Put together by renowned experts from the World Meteorological Organization and edited by William Burroughs, an experienced author of several popular-level books and student texts.
- Lavishly illustrated in full colour throughout
Reviews & endorsements
'There are remarkably few books that provide a bridge between the weather we experience and the scary predictions for future climates. Climate fills the gap. It explains, in coffee-table-book-sized chunks, the world's climate system and provides an excellent analysis of the growing climatic variability of the 20th century, before heading into the future … There is probably no more complete, single popular volume on where we are with our weather.' Fred Pearce, New Scientist
'… history, handbook, course text, popular science and polemic all rolled into 240 pages of beautifully illustrated narrative, everything presented in colourful and digestible two-page chunks. Could anyone communicate in just 240 pages the fascinating relationship between climate, history, science and society more clearly and boldly than this?' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'… an excellent resource on the state of the climate system, where facts and figures on the causes and impacts of major climate events can easily be found.' Weather
'… splendid new volume commissioned by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and edited by the hugely experienced William Burroughs … This is no book for weather anoraks. It is history, handbook, course text, popular science and polemic all rolled into 240 pages of beautifully illustrated narrative, everything presented in colourful and digestible two page chunks. I defy anyone to communicate in just 240 pages the fascinating relationship between climate, history, science and society more clearly and boldly than this.' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'… an extremely important book that should be on the shelves of anyone who claims the least interest in the subject …'. Journal of Meteorology
'… the first beautiful climate change book for the wide public after a long time … In the decade I have been working on climate change issues, I have not come across a comparable book. it is a must for everybody who has some interest in this field, and I hope the essays will circulate widely.' Climate Change
Product details
July 2003Hardback
9780521792028
240 pages
284 × 228 × 20 mm
1.002kg
50 b/w illus. 350 colour illus. 25 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- Preface
- 1. Our perceptions of climate
- 2. The climate system
- 3. Impacts of varying climate
- 4. Climate for a better society
- 5. The century ahead
- Appendices
- Picture credits
- Maps
- Glossary
- Acronyms
- Chemical symbols, conversion factors and units
- Index.