From the catastrophic impact of drought and avalanches, to concerns about the effects of El Nino and La Nina, this book aims to raise questions and reveal wonders of the Earth's climate. The text explores and explains this complex story and looks closely at the individual climatic zones, from the frigid climes of the polar ice caps to the scorching heat of the world's deserts. After explaining what makes each zone unique, the author explores how the climate has influenced the development of human and plant life, such as human adaptation to living in extreme cold or heat or the immense diversity of plant species found in the rainforests. Special feature spreads illustrate how the elements interact to create effects that may be felt not just locally, but thousands of miles away too. Technical aspects of the climate are graphically explained, and their subtle effects on the environment and human life are illustrated. The future of the planet is explored, including the influence climate can have on our health and the possibility of our controlling the weather.
From the catastrophic impact of drought and avalanches, to concerns about the effects of El Nino and La Nina, this book aims to raise questions and reveal wonders of the Earth's climate. The text explores and explains this complex story and looks closely at the individual climatic zones, from the frigid climes of the polar ice caps to the scorching heat of the world's deserts. After explaining what makes each zone unique, the author explores how the climate has influenced the development of human and plant life, such as human adaptation to living in extreme cold or heat or the immense diversity of plant species found in the rainforests. Special feature spreads illustrate how the elements interact to create effects that may be felt not just locally, but thousands of miles away too. Technical aspects of the climate are graphically explained, and their subtle effects on the environment and human life are illustrated. The future of the planet is explored, including the influence climate can have on our health and the possibility of our controlling the weather.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Maße
Höhe: 298 mm
Breite: 232 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84000-135-8 (9781840001358)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Part 1 Climate in motion: the earth in space; the atmosphere in motion; oceans and currents; the water cycle and biosphere; clouds; the impact of volcanoes; the sunspot cycle?; atmospheric electricity; the Gaia principle. Part 2 Climate records: current measuring system; weather satellites; weather forecasting; historical records; proxy records; ice ages; continental drift; catastophes. Part 3 Polar regions: the Arctic climate; the Antarctic climate; Aurorae; ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland; coping with extreme cold; the ozone hole; sea ice; ice cores. Part 4 Tundra and taiga: climate of tundra and taiga; extremes of temperature; tundra flora and fauna; northern forests; snow cover; permafrost and exploitation of the Arctic. Part 5 Mountain regions: climate of the mountains; avalanches; mountain vegetation; living in the mountains; the threat of tourism; mountain glacies. Part 6 Mediterranean regions: climate of the Mediterranean; Mediterranean winds; Mediterranean vegetation; Mediterranean diet; a history of deforestation. Part 7 Temperate regions: climate of temperate regions; depressions and anticyclones; agriculture and farming; the impact of urbanization; unusual spells of weather; global ocean circulation patterns; the little ice age. Part 8 The prairies: climate of steppes and prairies; thunderstorms; tornadoes; plant life and hardiness; dust bowl years. Part 9 The tropics: climate of the tropics; the monsoon; tropical storms and hurricanes; the biodiversity of life; living with heat and humidity; the destruction of the tropical rainforests; the El Nino effect; cycles and long-term forecasts. Part 10 Desert regions: climate of the deserts; albedo and radiative effects; renewable energy; living in hot dry conditions; the Sahel drought; are the deserts expanding?; dust clouds and airbourne particles. Part 11The future: modelling the climate; the cost of climate change; future food production; climate and health; weather modification; the next 100 years; rising sea levels; monitoring for the future.
