Breaking the Ice: Antarctica, climate change and me


Book Description

Antarctica fascinates us with its awe-inspiring beauty, wildlife, and tales of the heroic age of exploration. Often described as the last frontier, this frozen continent is critical to all life on earth. Professor David Vaughan shares the excitement of his first trip to Antarctica, his passion for the ice, and his 40-year quest to solve a scientific conundrum – is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet stable and will climate change drive it into irreversible retreat. For the first time we go behind the scenes to discover what it takes to undertake polar research. “This is a gripping memoir by a pioneer in Antarctic science who did so much to uncover and communicate the rapid changes taking place on Earth’s southernmost continent. There are fascinating, funny and startling stories from forty years of expeditions taking scientific measurements in this most chilly and remote of environments. And there are insightful and moving reflections on the nature of planetary change and the inadequate political response, on collaborating across boundaries for the common good, and on facing a terminal diagnosis.” Professor Peter Stott MBE, Professor in Detection and Attribution, University of Exeter and Science Fellow, Met Office. Author of “Hot Air”.




The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate


Book Description

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.




Antarctic Sea Ice Variability in the Southern Ocean-Climate System


Book Description

The sea ice surrounding Antarctica has increased in extent and concentration from the late 1970s, when satellite-based measurements began, until 2015. Although this increasing trend is modest, it is surprising given the overall warming of the global climate and the region. Indeed, climate models, which incorporate our best understanding of the processes affecting the region, generally simulate a decrease in sea ice. Moreover, sea ice in the Arctic has exhibited pronounced declines over the same period, consistent with global climate model simulations. For these reasons, the behavior of Antarctic sea ice has presented a conundrum for global climate change science. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop in January 2016, to bring together scientists with different sets of expertise and perspectives to further explore potential mechanisms driving the evolution of recent Antarctic sea ice variability and to discuss ways to advance understanding of Antarctic sea ice and its relationship to the broader ocean-climate system. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.







Global Climate Change and Public Health


Book Description

Pulmonary physicians and scientists currently have minimal capacity to respond to climate change and its impacts on health. The extent to which climate change influences the prevalence and incidence of respiratory morbidity remains largely undefined. However, evidence is increasing that climate change does drive respiratory disease onset and exacerbation as a result of increased ambient and indoor air pollution, desertification, heat stress, wildfires, and the geographic and temporal spread of pollens, molds and infectious agents. Preliminary research has revealed climate change to have potentially direct and indirect adverse impacts on respiratory health. Published studies have linked climate change to increases in respiratory disease, including the following: changing pollen releases impacting asthma and allergic rhinitis, heat waves causing critical care-related diseases, climate driven air pollution increases, exacerbating asthma and COPD, desertification increasing particulate matter (PM) exposures, and climate related changes in food and water security impacting infectious respiratory disease through malnutrition (pneumonia, upper respiratory infections). High level ozone and ozone exposure has been linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and acute lower respiratory infection. Global Climate Change and Public Health is an important new volume based on the research, findings, and discussions of US and international experts on respiratory health and climate change. This volume addresses issues of major importance to respiratory health and fills a major gap in the current literature. The ATS Climate Change and Respiratory Health Workshop was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 15, 2010. The purpose of the meeting was to address the threat to global respiratory health posed by climate change. The workshop was attended by domestic and international experts as well as representatives of international respiratory societies and key US federal agencies. Dr. Pinkerton and Dr. Rom, the editors of this title, were co-chairs of the Climate Change Workshop and Symposium.




Breaking the Ice


Book Description

Antarctica fascinates us with its awe-inspiring beauty, wildlife, and tales of the heroic age of exploration. Often described as the last frontier, this frozen continent is critical to all life on earth. Professor David Vaughan shares the excitement of his first trip to Antarctica, his passion for the ice, and his 40-year quest to solve a scientific conundrum - is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet stable and will climate change drive it into irreversible retreat. For the first time we go behind the scenes to discover what it takes to undertake polar research. "This is a gripping memoir by a pioneer in Antarctic science who did so much to uncover and communicate the rapid changes taking place on Earth's southernmost continent. There are fascinating, funny and startling stories from forty years of expeditions taking scientific measurements in this most chilly and remote of environments. And there are insightful and moving reflections on the nature of planetary change and the inadequate political response, on collaborating across boundaries for the common good, and on facing a terminal diagnosis." Professor Peter Stott MBE, Professor in Detection and Attribution, University of Exeter and Science Fellow, Met Office. Author of "Hot Air".




Earth Under Fire


Book Description

Presents an illustrated guide to the effects of climate change and how to lessen the effects of the dependence on fossil fuels.




Rising


Book Description




Clean Air Act


Book Description




Climate Change Politics and Policies in America [2 volumes]


Book Description

This collection of primary sources, illuminated by extensive contextual analysis, provides a comprehensive and balanced survey of the evolution of global climate change policies and politics in the United States. This extensive collection of primary documents examines the history of climate science; various policy prescriptions for addressing the effects of climate change; political fault lines with respect to international efforts to address global warming; claims regarding the influence of industry groups and environmental "radicals" on climate policy and science; and the impact of climate change on other policy areas such as public health, energy, economic development, and wilderness conservation. The set includes excerpts from important scientific papers and government reports, political speeches from presidents and other influential lawmakers, perspectives from environmental activists and conservative think-tanks, editorial essays from leading media figures, provisions of major laws, and more. Together, these documents provide a broad range of perspectives, from scientific fields as well as from political and ideological standpoints that have emerged in response to the debate surrounding climate change. They offer readers a greater understanding of the arguments not only of lawmakers, activists, and scientists leading efforts to fight, mitigate, and adapt to climate change but also of those skeptical of climate change.