The Oxford companion to global change /

Climate change is a major international challenge and accordingly the subject of a tremendous number of books in recent years. This new Oxford Companion is a worthy addition to this body of literature. This encyclopedia focuses on the natural and human-induced effects of the changing climate upon the environment, emphasizing the most urgent topics, such as the overall cause, warming Arctic, rising sea levels, and regional weather changes. This illustrated book features 200-plus articles written by reputable scholars. The articles offer a comprehensible explanation of complex issues based on the most recent scientific reports. They contain bibliographies (some with Web sites) for those seeking recent authoritative data. Some of the scientific explanations included are based on reports from the International Panel on Climate Change, and others on peer-reviewed research. This volume updates the Encyclopedia of Global Change (2002), ed. by Goudie. Given the high level of interest in and enormity of the topic, the continually developing scientific data, and the shifting political situation surrounding climate change, libraries should purchase this new volume, either in paper or online. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. C. W. Bruns California State University--Fullerton