Review by Choice Review
This work is the most recent contribution from the US Global Change Research Program, and represents a substantive improvement over previous assessments. The improvement results from the use of a wider range of climate models, a succinct introduction to climate science, and an explicit consideration and discussion of uncertainty in climate projections, as well as an identification of research areas where scientific understanding is limited. The book describes projected climate changes and impacts for different sectors, and follows with more specific regional analyses focused on projections in the context of current environmental stresses. The general conclusion is that although the impacts of climate change are already occurring, larger future impacts can be minimized through mitigation of climate change, primarily via reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The strength of this publication lies in its readability. The current state of climate science and the understanding of regional impacts are derived from peer-reviewed literature and presented in nontechnical terms. This volume is likely to remain relevant until the next generation of climate models enhances our understanding of near-term (decadal) climate change and provides more certain projections for the remainder of this century. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, professionals, and general readers. J. Schoof Southern Illinois University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
