Environmental Change: Key Issues and Alternative Perspectives

Environmental Change: Key Issues and Alternative Approaches describes and explains the significance of past and contemporary environmental and climatic change. It outlines the conceptual framework for studies of environmental change by posing key questions and presenting the results of relevant research. It provides a non-specialist introduction to models in environmental change research and to the study of past environmental changes. Covering the last 400 000 years, special emphasis is placed on past periods of rapid warming, the nature of climatic variability over the last 1000 years and the dramatic and accelerating changes in the Earth system heralded by the industrial revolution. The book is extensively referenced and illustrated. This book provides a balanced, non-specialist basis for understanding and exploring the scientific issues underlying global change for advanced undergraduates in geography, environmental, earth, biological and ecological sciences.

Table of Contents:
1. Defining and exploring the key questions; 2. An introduction to models and modelling; 3. The palaeo-record: approaches, timeframes and chronology; 4. The palaeo-record: archives, proxies and calibration; 5. Glacial and interglacial worlds; 6. The transition from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene; 7. The Holocene; 8. The Anthropocene – a changing atmosphere; 9. The Anthropocene – changing land; 10. The Anthropocene: changing aquatic environments and ecosystems; 11. Changing biodiversity; 12. Detection and attribution; 13. Future mean global temperatures and sea-level; 14. From the global to the specific; 15. Impacts and vulnerability; 16. Sceptics, responses and partial answers.

About the Author :
Frank Oldfield is an Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Geography, University of Liverpool.

Review :
'This is a remarkable text. It takes both method and data and subjects them to rigorous analysis ... there are numerous books on the global warming debate but this is the first seen that actually looks in detail at the substance behind the article. This is a definite 'must buy' for both institutional and personal shelves.' British Ecological Society '... an essential guide for advanced undergraduates and researchers who are concerned with this broad subject ... a valuable contribution to our comprehension of climate changes that have impacted the world, through its focus on recent evidence and references and in-depth consideration of the underlying forcing factors that control the Earth system ... an extensive bibliography of recent papers that are easily accessible to students as well as a good and comprehensive index ... leaves the reader with an in-depth perception of the issues, and may even inspire future policy makers.' The Holocene 'The potential use of the book is unlimited for curious citizens, politicians, bankers, engineers, geologists, or academicians. It is intensely illustrated with clearly presented graphics.' Environmental Geology '... this book is a worthwhile contribution to the literature; those engaged in environmental change research would do well to heed the messages about margins of error, checks and balances, and cross-disciplinary integration; those who might engage in environmental change research should find inspiration and a challenge in what is a fascinating and crucial field of enquiry.' Environmental Conservation 'It is very widely referenced; it is authoritative; it is up to date; it brings together research from many different sub-disciplines and regions ... In many ways it is an excellent book. Indeed, I would suggest that it has no peer ... essential reading for researchers, students and others closely interested in environmental science ... as a wide-ranging and thoughtful examination of past and future environmental change there is no other volume that matches it in scope, authority or critical evaluation ' Journal of Quaternary Science 'Earth's climate 50 and 100 years from now ill be influenced by decisions that we make today and tomorrow. Informed people will make wise choices, and to this end Environmental Change: Key Issues and Alternative Approaches, makes an important contribution.' Polar Record