Biometeorology for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change: (1 Biometeorology)

Biometeorology continues to grow as a discipline. It is increasingly recognised for its importance in providing science of relevance to society and well being of the environment. This book is the first in a new book series on Biometeorology. The purpose of the new series is to communicate the interdisciplinary philosophy and science of biometeorology to as wide an audience as possible, introduce scientists and policy makers to the societal relevance of and recent developments in its s- fields and demonstrate how a biometeorological approach can provide insights to the understanding and possible solution of cross-cutting environmental issues. One such cross-cutting environmental issue is climate change. While the literature on the science of climate change, climate change mitigation and the impacts of climate change is voluminous, that on adaptation to climate change is meagre in comparison. The purpose of this book is to partly redress this imbalance by providing insights from a biometeorological perspective. The book acknowledges that society has a long history of adapting to the impacts associated with climatic variability and change but makes the point that climate change poses a real threat to already strained coping systems. Therefore there is a need to realign human use systems with changing climate conditions.

Table of Contents:
Research Frontiers.- Biometeorology for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change.- Adaptation and Thermal Environment.- Heat/Health Warning Systems: Development, Implementation, and Intervention Activities.- Malaria Early Warning Systems.- Pollen, Allergies and Adaptation.- Plant Biometeorology and Adaptation.- Response of Domestic Animals to Climate Challenges.- Adaptation in the Tourism and Recreation Sector.- Adaptation and Water Resources.- Psychological Perspectives on Adaptation to Weather and Climate.- Perspectives.- Human Adaptation within a Paradigm of Climatic Determinism and Change.- The Status and Prospects for Biometeorology. 

Review :
From the reviews: "This edited 12-chapter volume ... focuses on adaptation to climate change. ... This reviewer found the book easily readable and very exciting, and particularly enjoyed the specific methods ... and recommendations for decision-makers. This well-organized work with the most up-to-date knowledge from biometeorology is a valuable reference for graduate students, scientists working on climate change/ecosystem responses/micrometeorology, and managers in natural resources. It is also an excellent resource for undergraduates interested in advancing their careers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (J. Chen, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), 2009) "This book will appeal both to researchers within the field of human biometeorology ... and to other meteorologists wishing for a thorough introduction to issues around human responses to weather and climate. ... We are not aware of any other book available that provides such a thorough and accessible summary of current knowledge in human biometeorology ... . We recommend this book to graduate students and scientists in the general area of meteorology ... ." (Jon Warland and Jennifer Vanos, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, January, 2012)