Currents of Change
Currents of Change
$96.99
USDDroughts, hurricanes and floods are generated worldwide by the periodic warming and cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean's surface waters. El Niño's impacts are now widely known, but the equally serious consequences of its counterpart, La Niña, are only now being highlighted. Although both phenomena have generally been associated with death and destruction, there are benefits in understanding more about their occurrence, their strength and their impacts worldwide, so that their worst effects can be forecast and mitigated. This new edition of Currents of Change explains in simple terms what El Niño and La Niña are and how they can be forecast. Examining for the first time the major El Niño of 1997–1998, this book explores what we can learn from past events, what we can do to ameliorate the worst excesses of these phenomena and how climate change might affect them in future decades.
- Excellent introduction to a complex subject, written in simple readable terms for the general reader and specialist alike
- Covers La Niña as well as El Niño events, together with most recent 1997–1998 El Niño
- Very well reviewed in first edition, this new updated edition is much improved
Reviews & endorsements
"Currents of Change contains a wealth of detail beyond what can be covered in this review.... This second edition will serve as a launching point and an indispensible reference for those interested in the physical or social issues related to climate." Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
"A captivating book that explains in simple terms what El Niño is, how it works, and why societies are interested in it." EOS
"Glantz delivers more than a description of a major climatic phenomenon and its impacts: he presents a case study of science at work and also shows how to make a book readable..." Earthwatch Magazine
"Compulsory reading for politicians and funding agency heads everywhere...should appeal to anyone interested in the human dimension of climate." Weather
"Glantz, renowned expert on the societal impacts of El Nino, has produced a readable new edition (1st ed., CH,Mar'97) of his book. No prior knowledge of the topic is assumed of the reader, and the text is clear and informative...good index, a detailed reference section, and clear figures." Choice July 2001
Product details
December 2000Paperback
9780521786720
268 pages
229 × 152 × 15 mm
0.4kg
65 b/w illus. 19 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface to second edition
- Preface to first edition
- 1. Introduction
- 2. El Niño
- 3. A tale of two histories
- 4. The biography of El Niño
- 5. The biography of La Niña
- 6. The 1982–1983 El Niño: a case of an anomalous anomaly
- 7. Forecasting El Niño
- 8. Forecasting the 1997–1998 El Niño
- 9. Teleconnections
- 10. El Niño's ecological impacts: The Galapagos
- 11. Methods used to identify El Niño
- 12. El Niño and health
- 13. The media, El Niño and La Niña: a study in media-rology
- 14. Why do ENSO events continue to surprise us?
- 15. What people need to know about El Niño
- 16. Usable science
- Appendix
- References.
