Changing Climates, Earth Systems and Society

The book examines how climate change has and will deliver impacts on major globalized biophysical and societal themes that will affect the way the world functions. It shows how the Earth sciences contribute to a better understanding of climate change.

The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) was established as a means of raising worldwide public and political awareness of the vast, though frequently under-used, potential the Earth Sciences possess for improving the quality of life of the peoples of the world and safeguarding Earth's rich and diverse environments. The International Year project was jointly initiated in 2000 by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the Earth Science Division of the United Nations Educational, Scienti?c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). IUGS, which is a Non-Governmental Organisation, and UNESCO, an Inter-Governmental Organisation, already shared a long record of productive cooperation in the na- ral sciences and their application to societal problems, including the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) now in its fourth decade. With its main goals of raising public awareness of, and enhancing research in the Earth sciences on a global scale in both the developed and less-developed countries of the world, two operational programmes were demanded. In 2002 and 2003, the Series Editors together with Dr. Ted Nield and Dr. Henk Schalke (all four being core members of the Management Team at that time) drew up outlines of a Science and an Outreach Programme. In 2005, following the UN proclamation of 2008 as the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth, the Year grew into a triennium (20072009).

State-of-the-art analysis of climate change impacts on societal relevant themes Expert authorities discuss relationship of climate with each theme Valuable reference for policy and decision makers

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The book covers state-of-the-art considerations on how climate change has and will deliver impacts on major globalised biophysical and societal themes that will affect the way the world functions.

Human activity has resulted in changes to atmospheric chemistry and land cover, and caused serious decline in biodiversity. Modifying biogeochemical cycles leads to complex feedbacks. The future climate will have impact on food security and agriculture, water supply and quality, storm and cyclone frequency, shoreline stability, biodiversity and the future of biological resources. Earth scientists might be asked to forecast any potential abrupt or environmental surprises. A sound knowledge of the Earth System will improve the chances of achieving this, by developing climate models that will reduce the degree of uncertainty in regional climate prediction.

This volume sets out a framework of research issues that show how the Earth sciences contribute to a better understanding of climate change and suggests where future research will best contribute to the wellbeing of society. The key topics discussed are:

• climate change patterns over the last four glacial cycles;

• the variability in climate over the last 1000 years;

• impact that past climate change has had on societies;

• the role of human activities in climate forcing;

• the role of models in predicting future climate and how we can assess their merit;

• the future and likely future climate trajectories.

Contenu
Setting the Scene: How Do We Get to a Fitting Future?.- Impacts of Climate Change on Terrestrial Ecosystems and Adaptation Measures for Natural Resource Management.- Fire in the Earth System.- Vanishing Polar Ice Sheets.- Climate and Peatlands.- Climate and Lacustrine Ecosystems.- Rivers.- Climate Change and Desertification with Special Reference to the Cases in China.- Climate Change, Societal Transitions and Changing Infectious Disease Burdens.- Don't We All Want Good Weather and Cheap Food?.- Building Capacity to Cope with Climate Change in the Least Developed Countries.- Climate Change Mitigation Policy: An Overview of Opportunities and Challenges.