Global warming and the future of the earth /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Watts, Robert G.
Imprint:San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA) : Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2007.
Description:1 electronic document (vi, 113 p.) : digital file.
Language:English
Series:Synthesis lectures on energy and the environment, technology, science, and society ; #1
Synthesis lectures on energy and the environment, technology, science, and society ; #1.
Subject:
Format: E-Resource Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/8512806
Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:1598293419 (electronic bk.)
9781598293418 (electronic bk.)
Notes:Series from website.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Oct. 10, 2008).
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers.
Available to subscribers only.
Also available in print.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.
Summary:The globally averaged surface temperature of the Earth has increased during the past century by about 0.7°C. Most of the increase can be attributed to the greenhouse effect, the increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned to produce energy.The book begins with the important distinction between weather and climate, followed by data showing how carbon dioxide has increased and the incontrovertible evidence that it is caused by burning fossil fuels (i.e., coal, oil, and natural gas). I also address the inevitable skepticism that global warming arouses and offer a number of responses to the global warming skeptics. After dealing with the skeptics, I analyze both the current and future effects of global warming. These future effects are based on scenarios or "storylines" put forth by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. In closing, I address the controversial (and grim) suggestion that we have already passed the "tipping point," which is the time after which, regardless of our future actions, global warming will cause considerable hardship on human society. I intend this book to be approachable for all concerned citizens, but especially students of the sciences and engineering who will soon be in a position to make a difference in the areas of energy and the environment. I have tried to frame the debate in terms of what the engineering community must do to help combat global warming. We have no choice but to think in terms of global environmental constraints as we design new power plants, factories, automobiles, buildings, and homes. The best thing for scientists to do is to present what we know, clearly separating what is known from what is suspected, in a non-apocalyptic manner. If matters are clearly and passionately presented to the public, we must be prepared to accept the will of the people. This presents the scientific community with an enormous responsibility, perhaps unlike any we have had in the past.
Standard no.:10.2200/S00098ED1V01Y200709EGY001

MARC

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100 1 |a Watts, Robert G.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n78053685  |1 http://viaf.org/viaf/93590946 
245 1 0 |a Global warming and the future of the earth /  |c Robert G. Watts. 
260 |a San Rafael, Calif. (1537 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 USA) :  |b Morgan & Claypool Publishers,  |c 2007. 
300 |a 1 electronic document (vi, 113 p.) :  |b digital file. 
336 |a text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent  |0 http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/contentTypes/txt 
337 |a computer  |b c  |2 rdamedia  |0 http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/mediaTypes/c 
338 |a online resource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier  |0 http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/carriers/cr 
490 1 |a Synthesis lectures on energy and the environment, technology, science, and society ;  |v #1 
538 |a System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader. 
500 |a Series from website. 
500 |a Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Oct. 10, 2008). 
504 |a Includes bibliographical references. 
505 0 |a Weather and climate (and a little history) -- Are the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increasing? -- The greenhouse effect and the evidence of global warming -- The skeptics: are their doubts scientifically valid -- Impacts: the "so what" question -- The bottom line. 
506 |a Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to subscribers or individual document purchasers. 
506 |a Available to subscribers only. 
520 0 |a The globally averaged surface temperature of the Earth has increased during the past century by about 0.7°C. Most of the increase can be attributed to the greenhouse effect, the increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide that is emitted when fossil fuels are burned to produce energy.The book begins with the important distinction between weather and climate, followed by data showing how carbon dioxide has increased and the incontrovertible evidence that it is caused by burning fossil fuels (i.e., coal, oil, and natural gas). I also address the inevitable skepticism that global warming arouses and offer a number of responses to the global warming skeptics. After dealing with the skeptics, I analyze both the current and future effects of global warming. These future effects are based on scenarios or "storylines" put forth by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. In closing, I address the controversial (and grim) suggestion that we have already passed the "tipping point," which is the time after which, regardless of our future actions, global warming will cause considerable hardship on human society. I intend this book to be approachable for all concerned citizens, but especially students of the sciences and engineering who will soon be in a position to make a difference in the areas of energy and the environment. I have tried to frame the debate in terms of what the engineering community must do to help combat global warming. We have no choice but to think in terms of global environmental constraints as we design new power plants, factories, automobiles, buildings, and homes. The best thing for scientists to do is to present what we know, clearly separating what is known from what is suspected, in a non-apocalyptic manner. If matters are clearly and passionately presented to the public, we must be prepared to accept the will of the people. This presents the scientific community with an enormous responsibility, perhaps unlike any we have had in the past. 
530 |a Also available in print. 
650 0 |a Global warming  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh89000812 
650 0 |a Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85057237 
653 0 |a Carbon dioxide. 
653 0 |a Global warming. 
653 0 |a Greenhouse effect. 
653 0 |a Fossil fuels. 
653 0 |a Energy. 
653 0 |a Skeptics. 
653 0 |a Impacts. 
830 0 |a Synthesis lectures on energy and the environment, technology, science, and society ;  |v #1.  |0 http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2008048401 
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