Review by Choice Review
This book's title is a good summary of its contents. In 12 chapters authors Cotton and Pielke review attempts to modify weather; the effect of urban settings on climate; and the physical effects that govern climate (clouds, solar energy inputs, etc.). They then apply these concepts to theories of nuclear winter and greenhouse warming. The writing is clear and easy to follow. No math is used, but the level of explanation is high through the use of graphs and many good diagrams. The book was prepared in 1992, and its extensive bibliography was not updated to 1995, an unfortunate omission in such a rapidly expanding field. There is only passing reference to the ozone depletion problem, another unfortunate omission in a book on the topic of human impact on climate. Appropriate for those in fields outside meteorology who seek an understanding of climatic factors important in determining average temperature. Upper-division undergraduate; graduate; two-year technical program students. T. T. Arny; University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
