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Reviewed here is the current state of knowledge concerning the relationship between global change and biodiversity of temperate ecosystems. The aim is to improve the ability to conserve biodiversity under conditions of global change.The book focuses on:- The threats posed by global change to biodiversity in temperate ecosystems; - Levels and spatial patterns of diversity in temperate ecosystems; - The impact of global change on genetic diversity; - The effects of disturbance (natural and anthropogenic) on temperate ecosystems; - Existing research priorities and programmes. ... Read more

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Numerous experts including ecologists, geneticists, paleontologists and climatologists, investigate the response of terrestrial organisms to changes in their environment. The volume comprises an introductory and a final chapter by the editors as well as another 35 contributions. These are divided into six sections: 1. past environmental changes - the late-Quaternary; 2. spatial responses to past changes; 3. mechanisms enabling spatial responses; 4. evolutionary responses to past changes; 5. mechanisms enabling evolutionary responses; 6. predicted future environmental changes and simulated responses. The overwhelming and unanimous conclusion of all contributors is that forecasted global environmental changes pose a severe threat to the integrity of ecosystems worldwide and to the survival of at least some species. ... Read more

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This book is an up-to-date synthesis of the biologicallyinterlinked global biogeochemical cycles of C, N, P and S.Processes and models involving theflow of these elements inand between the global reservoirs of ocean, atmosphere,biosphere and land are emphasized.Human-inducedperturbations to the global cycles are discussed andtherole of these space scales of global change is considered,from the geologic to the present and the future. Feedbackmechanisms that enchance orameliorate global change are animportant feature. The book is strongly interdisciplinary inscope. ... Read more

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One of major challenges facing Earth's science in the nextdecade and beyondis the development of an accurate longterm observational data set to study global change. Toaccomplish this, a wide range of observations willberequired to provide both new measurements, not previouslyachievable and measurements with a greater degreee ofaccuracy and resolution than the ones which are presentlyand currently available.Among the parametersthat are currently retrieved fromsatellite vertical sounding observations, temperature andmoisture profiles are the most important for thedescriptionof the thermodynamic state of the medium. Other parameters,like those describing the cloud fields, the surface state orthe conditions close to the surface are also key parametersformeteorology and climatology.A new generation of high spectral atmosphericsounders inthe infrared has recently been designed to provide both newand more accurate data about the atmosphere, land and oceansforapplication to climate studies. Among the importantobservations that these instruments should contribute to theclimate data set are day and night global measurements of:atmospheric temperature profiles; relativehumidityprofiles; cloud field parameters; total ozone burden oftheatmosphere; distribution of minor atmospehric gases(methane, carbonmonoxide and nitrous oxide). ... Read more

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The possible impacts of global warming on transboundary resources such as water and fish and the ability of regional organizations to deal with those impacts are closely examined. Using a historical approach, the ways in which regional organizations have responded to changes in the location and amount of resources are assessed. The book closes in suggesting that policymakers review the possible roles for regional organization in issues related to environmental change. If the climate changes, resources are likely to shift at local and regional levels, possibly leading to interstate conflicts. ... Read more

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The character of the Earth's surface is constantly changing as a result of the interactions of the great circulations of energy, water and materials that create the biogeochemical cycles between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and biosphere.

In addition human actions, from social and environmental interplay - often termed human ecology - have to be seen as part of a whole Earth system, impacting on biogeochemical cycles to produce feedbacks and responses. Some resulting impacts are readily expected, but others are less easily anticipated and all affect global environmental change.

The task of Volume Three of the Encyclopedia is to look at and analyse the interactions, feedbacks and causes from a holistic viewpoint and report upon some of the key aspects of human knowledge that are required for an integrated science.

Coverage includes:

• Human disturbance of the Earth system

• Global land cover and land use

• Global population trends

• Trends in global emissions

• Water use: Future trends, and environmental and social impacts

• Rice and its spread

• Environmental change and human health

• Environmental changes driven by civil conflict and war

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This book presents a coherent survey of modelling in climatology and the environment and the mathematical treatment of those problems. It is divided into 4 parts containing a total of 16 chapters. Parts I, II and III are devoted to general models and Part IV to models related to some local problems. Most of the mathematical models considered here involve systems of nonlinear partial differential equations. The mathematical treatment covers a large range of subjects: existence and uniqueness of well-posed problems, long time behaviour, stability, bifurcation, diagrams of equilibria, conditions for the occurrence of interfaces or free boundaries, numerical algorithms and their implementation, controllability of the problems etc. ... Read more

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Data assimilation is considered a key component of numerical ocean model development and new data acquisition strategies. The basic concept of data assimilation is to combine real observations via estimation theory with dynamic models. Related methodologies exist in meteorology, geophysics and engineering. Of growing importance in physical oceanography, data assimilation can also be exploited in biological and chemical oceanography. Such techniques are now recognized as essential to understand the role of the ocean in a global change perspective.
The book focuses on data processing algorithms for assimilation, current methods for the assimilation of biogeochemical data, strategy of model development, and the design of observational data for assimilation. ... Read more

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This is the first attempt to promote good practice in global change science at schools and universities. Thirty chapters written by practitioners from eleven countries outline present trends, dealing with successful innovations and problems associated with interdisciplinary courses. They are arranged in three principal sections: one setting the scene, the second describing various courses and the third advancing specific teaching strategies and ideas. ... Read more

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This book is to facilitate interactions among researchers in the key areas of field measurements, laboratory studies and modeling who have experience in air chemistry of the continental lower troposphere, the stratosphere and its polar regions. These interactions have become increasingly important since it is apparent that the arctic troposphere plays an important role in environmental concerns with respect to global change. It is a unique chemical reactor influenced by human activity and the Arctic Ocean. In winter industrialized continents contribute gaseous and particulate pollution. It is underlain by the flat Arctic Ocean from which it is separated by a crack-ridden ice membrane 3-4 m thick. Ocean to atmosphere exchange of heat, water vapor and marine biogenic gases influence the composition of the reactor. ... Read more

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Do changes in stratospheric ozone relate to changes in UV-B irradiance and do both relate to life on Earth? This volume presents the latest data available in the basic scientific disciplines associated with these questions. The key topics are the interactive factors between the various research elements and the measurements needed to both validate ozone depletion and monitor UV flux changes in the biosphere. ... Read more

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The book provides an overview of exciting recent developments and advances in our understanding of the role of clouds in climate and atmospheric chemistry.
Topics covered include: Modeling of clouds in GCMs; observations of the microphysical properties of clouds; the water vapor cycle; troposphere/stratosphere exchange; the role of clouds in tropospheric ozone; the regulation of current and paleoclimate by clouds; radiative/convection interactions; anthropogenic sulfate aerosols and the modification of cloud properties. ... Read more

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Concerns about the impact of economic development upon the global environment have increased in recent years. Sustainable development has been proposed as a means of reconciling the pressures between the two, allowing the integration of economic, environmental and social concerns. This book focuses upon the potential to integrate economic and environmental policies at teh local and regional scale. ... Read more

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Volume Five of the Encyclopedia is devoted to the social, political, economic, and spiritual - and thereby human dimensions of global environmental change.

It highlights the profound shifts in human thinking and awareness that are required to "wrap our minds" around the advent of globalization, and our increasing ability to affect natural systems, sometimes to our own benefit.

Because of the complex weave of interaction between humanity and the environment, this volume contains many essays and articles that are more in the realm of probes than fixed descriptions of their topics. Powerful words and powerful ideas, metaphors, myths, beliefs, images and arte-facts - these are all "vehicles" for the creation and shaping of meaning among human beings.

Topics covered include the great political and economic theories, the most influential views of nature from Plato to Rachel Carson, and the historic and literary seedbeds for the rise of environmental thought and practice in our time. Of particular importance are the introductory essays from leading figures in the field, and special efforts have been made throughout to give space to alternative voices and ideas.

Dialogue and diversity are essential to human development, and a reader will be stimulated by this volume towards his or her own thoughtful response to the increasing responsibility for the future of the Earth that has come upon us in our time. ... Read more

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As the realization grew that major changes of key environmental drivers were taking place, such as increased global temperature and atmospheric CO2, Earth system science was challenged to better understand the function of the Earth system as a whole, with the biosphere both as a major driver and recipient of those environmental changes.

Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change deals with the fundamental science that underpins the understanding of quantities and processes that control the basic biogeochemical cycles, and the associated changes in ecosystem physiology and structure under current and predicted human-driven global environmental change.

These changes also include the dramatic loss of species, and the world's reorganization of biota towards higher homogenization.

Main themes covered includes:

• spatial scales of the biosphere including species, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, and the Earth system as a whole

• a description of the most important efforts of a number of international programs, fundamental in the development of thinking in this new field of science

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A comprehensive progress report on the multi-disciplinary field of ocean and climate change research is given. It compiles introductory background papers and leading scientific results on the ocean-atmosphere carbon cycle with emphasis on the ocean's carbon inventory and the various components involved. The relationship between plankton productivity, carbon fixation, oceanic PCO2 and climate change is investigated from the viewpoint of long-term climatic change during the late Quaternary cycles of ice ages and warm ages. The various approaches range from micropaleontology over organic and trace element geochemistry to molecular isotope geochemistry. ... Read more

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This volume explores ice phenomena, ranging from microphysics to its largest size scales and manifestations. It begins with the fundamental molecular basis for the environmentally ubiquitous and yet still scientifically challenging melting and freezing transitions, builds the microscopic foundations for nucleation and growth, and develops the implications of these phenomena as they impact a hierarchy of environmental problems, such as the influence of snow and ice cover on the global climate, the role of stratospheric ice in ozone destruction, the economic effects of frost heave on roads and engineered structures, and the consequences of freezing in environmental damage. These phenomena are studied in different disciplines, including astronomy, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, oceanography, physics, and applied mathematics. ... Read more

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The international community is increasingly confronted with global environmental problems, which lead to distributional conflicts, unresolved equity issues and asymmetric distribution of the costs and benefits of environmental policy. The complexity of such problems requires the development of an international institutional framework, capable of coping with the long-run international aspects of global environmental change.

This book analyses some of the difficulties in the construction of such a framework and offers suggestions on how they might be overcome. The contributions in The Economics of Global Environmental Change address international trade, land-use change, biodiversity preservation, the management of water resources and the composition of water-related conflicts, global warming and strategic aspects of international environmental agreements.

This book provides an in-depth insight to the current state-of-the-art for both economists and non-economists interested in global environmental change. It will also be of great interest to those wanting an introduction to the economic perspective of an increasingly relevant environmental core problem, as well as to students and researchers in political science.

Contributors include: M. Cogoy, J. Eyckmans, M. Finus, E. Fraser, B. Friedl, B. Gebetsroither, M. Getzner, K. Hubacek, T. Kluge, S.A. Mason, A. Muller, K.W. Steininger, C. Van Beers ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Will prove to be of immense and timely interest
The latest edition to the Edward Elgar Publishing series 'New Horizons In Environmental Economics', "The Economics Of Global Environment Change" is co-edited by Mario Cogoy (Professor of international Economics, University of Trieste, Italy) and Karl W. Steininger (Professor of Economics, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz, Austria). Benefitting from the contributions of acknowledged experts in their fields, this informed and informed compendium of information is organized into three main sections beginning with an introduction and overview of the subject of global climate change and its economic implications. Four major papers comprise the section on 'The Economics Dimensions of Global Environmental Change"; three contributions comprise the third section addresses issues related to 'International Cooperation in Global Environmental Change'. The contributors address the issues of distributions conflicts, unresolved equity issues, asymmetric distribution of the coasts and benefits of environmental policy, the d4evelopment of an international institutional framework, long-run international aspects of global environmental change; international trade, land-use change, biodiversity preservation, management of water resources and conflicts, as well as global warming and strategic aspects of international environmental agreements. An impressive and seminal body of work in compliance with the highest standards of research and scholarship making it an essential addition to academic, corporate, governmental, and environmental organization reference collections, "The Economics Of Global Environment Change" will prove to be of immense and timely interest to economists, environmentalists, academicians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the economic impact of global warming. ... Read more

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There is ever increasing concern about both the ozone depletion in the stratosphere and the increase in the ozone concentration in the troposphere. As a consequence, there is growing interest in total ozone surface and satellite observations, surface UV measurements and the interpretation of results to assess potential impacts of UV radiation enhancement on man and the biosphere. The volume analyses problems of total ozone and UV-B variability. Further, it treats tropospheric ozone changes as well as the responsible factors, such as air pollution, chemical and photochemical reactions coupled with air transport. Some key problems of numerical modelling are also discussed. Another subject is the development of remote sensing techniques to retrieve minor optically active components of the atmosphere. ... Read more