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Throughout the Earth's history, the climate and biosphere have evolved together through a complex chain of interactions, making possible the extraordinary variety of ecosystems and life. These interactions also largely determine the response of the atmosphere to increasing quantities of greenhouse gases caused by human activity. Since the climate system has great inertia, this means that we will have to long bear the consequences of our past and present actions, perhaps in the form of unprecedented climate change. In this book, opinions from experts in different areas provide a detailed snapshot of the current "hotspots" in the mechanisms affecting climate system on our planet. By addressing and clarifying key topics of current climate research, it contributes to a clearer understanding of the factors underlying the debate over global warming
From the contents: What we know about the Climate System? A brief review of current research.- Why Global Warming is a Controversial Issue.- El Nino: A Predictable Climate Fluctuation.- Climate Information Systems and Their Applications.- An Introduction to Ocean Climate Modelling.- An Introduction to Linear Predictability Analysis.- Carbon Cycling over Lands and Oceans.- Changes in the Global Carbon Cycle and Ocean Circulation on the Millennial Time Scale.- Understanding Future Climate Change Using Paleorecords.- The Indian Monsoon and its Relation to Global Climate Variability.- Interactions between the Tropics and Extratropics. A bit on theory, results and prospects for future predictability.
From the reviews: "The book comprises 11 essays in 2 parts written by a total of 13 authors. The rational for editing another collection on the basic problems of our climate system is the dramatic change that climate research has undergone in the last decade. ! The book reaches its goal in that a couple of hot spots are identified and professionally discussed ! . it is a valuable voice in the growing global choir of climate researchers who seek for a consensus ! ." (M. Hantel, Meteorologische Zeitschrift, Vol. 14 (1), 2005) "This book provides detailed views of 'hot spots' in the dynamics of our climate system. The eleven chapters are well written by international experts in different areas. The aim of the book is to give a brief overview of recent advances in climate research ! . The book is very readable and provides information overviews and glimpses that serve as appetizers to a wide range of environmental-science topics with great relevance to understanding past, present, and future climates." (Derek Winstanley, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, January, 2004)
