Ebook: Global Change and the Earth System: A Planet Under Pressure
- Tags: Climate Change, Biogeosciences, Meteorology/Climatology, Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution, Ecotoxicology
- Series: Global Change — The IGBP Series
- Year: 2005
- Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
The interactions between environmental change and human societies have a long, complex history spanning many millennia, but these have changed fundamentally in the last century. Human activities are now so pervasive and profound that they are altering the Earth in ways which threaten the very life support system upon which humans depend. This book describes what is known about the Earth System and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth System and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth System science in support of global sustainability.
The interactions between environmental change and human societies have a long, complex history spanning many millennia, but these have changed fundamentally in the last century. Human activities are now so pervasive and profound that they are altering the Earth in ways which threaten the very life support system upon which humans depend. This book describes what is known about the Earth System and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth System and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth System science in support of global sustainability.
The interactions between environmental change and human societies have a long, complex history spanning many millennia, but these have changed fundamentally in the last century. Human activities are now so pervasive and profound that they are altering the Earth in ways which threaten the very life support system upon which humans depend. This book describes what is known about the Earth System and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth System and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth System science in support of global sustainability.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
An Integrated Earth System....Pages 1-10
Planetary Machinery: The Dynamics of the Earth System Prior to Significant Human Influence....Pages 11-80
The Anthropocene Era: How Humans are Changing the Earth System....Pages 81-141
Reverberations of Change: The Responses of the Earth System to Human Activities....Pages 143-202
Living with Global Change: Consequences of Changes in the Earth System for Human Well-Being....Pages 203-254
Towards Earth System Science and Global Sustainability....Pages 255-303
Back Matter....Pages 305-336