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Global warming and its threats are real. As scientists unlock the mysteries of the past and analyze today’s contributing activities, they warn that future generations may be in jeopardy. There is overwhelming evidence that human activities are changing the world’s climate. For thousands of years, the Earth’s atmosphere has changed very little; but today, there are problems in keeping this balance. Because people burn fossil fuels to heat their homes, run their cars, produce electricity, and manufacture products, more greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere at an alarming rate.
The full-color Viva-Facts On File Global Warming set explores the concept that each person is a member of a global family, and as such, we all share a responsibility in fixing the problem. This timely seven-volume set covers all of the important climatic issues that need to be addressed in order to understand the problem—from fossil fuels and pollution to changing ecosystems. Aimed at scientists, scholars and students, this set builds a solid foundation of knowledge to help readers solve critical issues in effective ways.
Volume 1: CHANGING ECOSYSTEMS: Effects of Global Warming
Global warming has increased dramatically during the last century at an unnatural rate, which makes specialists believe that humans contribute to the real cause of global warming today. Many activities humans are involved in—from burning fossil fuels for energy to massive deforestation—are contributing to the atmospheric warming at an alarming rate. Experts believe that in the future humanly induced damage will cause severe problems in the distribution of species and their critical habitats, increase the occurrence of severe weather and droughts, contribute to rising sea levels, and trigger a host of health and quality-of-life impacts that will affect everyone on Earth. Unfortunately, no ecosystem will escape the impact of human-induced global warming.
Changing Ecosystems looks at this serious issue and the far-reaching effects it is having right now, and will have in the future, on every ecosystem on Earth. It is crucial that readers understand the relevant issues now so they can prevent this problem before it is too late and many species and habitats are gone forever. By discussing the effects of global warming on ecosystems, this new volume enlightens students on the many ways they can become more eco-responsible now and in the future.Contents: Preface • Acknowledgments • Introduction • Signs and Effects of Global Warming • The Effects of Global Warming on Ecosystems • Scientific Findings • Observed and Expected Effects on Ecosystems • Why a Few Degrees Matter • Results of Global Warming on Ecosystems • Ecosystems, Adaptation, and Extinction • Biodiversity and Ecosystems • The Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystems • Impacts, Vulnerability, and Adaptation • Preservation Issues • The Impacts of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change • Impacts to Forests • Temperate Forests • Birds, Gardens, and Global Warming • Katrina and the Carbon Balance • Boreal Forests • Tropical Forests • Adaptation • Impacts to Rangelands, Grasslands, and Prairies • The Importance of Grasslands • Impacts of Global Warming • Some Surprises • Grasslands around the World • Adaptation • Impacts on Polar Ecosystems • Arctic Ecosystems • Arctic Impacts • The Bear Facts • The Threatened and Endangered Species Act • TESS • Permafrost • Shifting Vegetation Zones • Antarctic Ecosystems • Wildlife • Adaptation • Impacts to Desert Ecosystems • Desert Habitats • Drought • Threatened Deserts • Desertification • The Straight Facts about Desertification • Heat Waves • Wildfires • Southern California on Fire • Impacts to Mountain Ecosystems • Mountain Ecosystems in Danger Worldwide • Lack of Water Storage • Glaciers and Flooding • A Species Threatened: The Rocky Mountain Pika • Challenges in Alpine Regions • Economic Challenges • Case Study—White Mountains, New England • Major Cities Target Global Warming • Impacts to Marine Ecosystems • Temperate Marine Environments • Tropical Marine Environments • Freshwater Environments • Why Estuaries Are Important to the Environment • Conclusions—Where to Go from Here • Adaptation • Conclusions Drawn/Lessons Learned • Ways to Help • Chronology • Glossary • Further Resources • Index Volume 2: CLIMATE MANAGEMENT: Solving the Problem
Whether people argue that global warming is caused by natural phenomenon or that it is caused by humans—or both—it is one of the most controversial topics in the scientific world today. There are varying opinions between scientists about the effects of global warming because so many interrelated factors are involved, making it difficult to pinpoint specific impacts and make changes accordingly. The Earth’s climate is an extremely complicated system, and climatologists must conduct research daily in order to improve their understanding of all the interrelated components.Climate Management focuses on changing human behavior as the first step toward a positive management system that will benefit current society and those to come. This new full-color resource explores human psychology and how cultural value systems, politics, and news dissemination affect people’s opinions, thereby driving public response. Informing readers on how global warming affects national security and terrorism and why its progression is a very real threat to everyone’s future, this accessible resource presents various conservation programs that have been developed and looks at what is and isn’t working. Climate Management also outlines the importance of public education and the role it plays in the future.Contents: Preface • Acknowledgments • Introduction • The Beginning of Global Warming Management • The Human Link • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol • The Impacts of Warming in the United States and Canada • The U.S. Response and International Reactions • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change • IPCC Reports • The U.S. Political Arena • The Current Political Climate • President Obama and His Outlook on Global Warming • National Security and Terrorism • Current Legislation • Cap and Trade and Other Mitigation Strategies • Cap and Trade • State Mitigation Projects • Economics of Mitigation • The International Political Arena • An Expert’s Warning • The Evolution of International Cooperation • The Role of International Organizations • The Progress of Individual Countries • Global Warming, Human Psychology, and the Media • Human Psychology and Cultural Values • The Power of the Media • Keeping a Journalistic Balance • Scientists’ Mindsets and Data Change • The Stand on the Debate • Understanding Modern Climate • The Far Right—Skeptics of Global Warming • The Middle Ground • The Far Left—Believers in Global Warming • Green Energy and Global Warming Research • The Environmental Benefits of Green Energy • Solar Energy • New Ways to Store Solar Energy • Geothermal Energy • Wind Energy • Hydropower • Energy from Biomass • Biofuel Crop Bans in Europe • Ocean Energy • Global Warming Research • Climate Modeling • The Modeling Challenge—A Brief History • Fundamentals of Climate Modeling • Watching Earth’s Climate Change in the Classroom • Modeling Uncertainties and Challenges • Practical Solutions That Work—Getting Everyone Involved • Taking Action • Practical Solutions to Global Warming • The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize • Suggested Solutions That Are Not So Practical • Prioritizing Adaptation Strategies • Simple Activities Everyone Can Do • The Future: What Lies Ahead • A Look toward the Future • Winners and Losers • New Technologies • The Final Choice • Chronology • Glossary • Further Resources • IndexISBN - 9788130915845
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Pages : 1732
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