Palaeobiology II

Palaeobiology II

Author: Derek E. G. Briggs

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2008-04-15

Total Pages: 600

ISBN-13: 0470999284

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Palaeobiology: A Synthesis was widely acclaimed both for its content and production quality. Ten years on, Derek Briggs and Peter Crowther have once again brought together over 150 leading authorities from around the world to produce Palaeobiology II. Using the same successful formula, the content is arranged as a series of concise articles, taking a thematic approach to the subject, rather than treating the various fossil groups systematically. This entirely new book, with its diversity of new topics and over 100 new contributors, reflects the exciting developments in the field, including accounts of spectacular newly discovered fossils, and embraces data from other disciplines such as astrobiology, geochemistry and genetics. Palaeobiology II will be an invaluable resource, not only for palaeontologists, but also for students and researchers in other branches of the earth and life sciences. Written by an international team of recognised authorities in the field. Content is concise but informative. Demonstrates how palaeobiological studies are at the heart of a range of scientific themes.


Ecological Climatology

Ecological Climatology

Author: Gordon B. Bonan

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2008-09-18

Total Pages: 1209

ISBN-13: 1107268869

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This book introduces an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and climate change. It reviews basic meteorological, hydrological and ecological concepts to examine the physical, chemical and biological processes by which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. The textbook is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying ecology, environmental science, atmospheric science and geography. The central argument is that terrestrial ecosystems become important determinants of climate through their cycling of energy, water, chemical elements and trace gases. This coupling between climate and vegetation is explored at spatial scales from plant cells to global vegetation geography and at timescales of near instantaneous to millennia. The text also considers how human alterations to land become important for climate change. This restructured edition, with updated science and references, chapter summaries and review questions, and over 400 illustrations, including many in colour, serves as an essential student guide.


Global Biogeochemical Cycles in the Climate System

Global Biogeochemical Cycles in the Climate System

Author: Ernst-Detlef Schulze

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2001-08-10

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 0080507409

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The interactions of biogeochemical cycles influence and maintain our climate system. Land use and fossil fuel emissions are currently impacting the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur on land, in the atmosphere, and in the oceans.This edited volume brings together 27 scholarly contributions on the state of our knowledge of earth system interactions among the oceans, land, and atmosphere. A unique feature of this treatment is the focus on the paleoclimatic and paleobiotic context for investigating these complex interrelationships.* Eight-page colour insert to highlight the latest research* A unique feature of this treatment is the focus on the paleoclimatic context for investigating these complex interrelationships.


Climate Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem Modeling

Climate Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem Modeling

Author: Gordon Bonan

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-02-21

Total Pages: 459

ISBN-13: 1108611397

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Climate models have evolved into Earth system models with representation of the physics, chemistry, and biology of terrestrial ecosystems. This companion book to Gordon Bonan's Ecological Climatology: Concepts and Applications, Third Edition, builds on the concepts introduced there, and provides the mathematical foundation upon which to develop and understand ecosystem models and their relevance for these Earth system models. The book bridges the disciplinary gap among land surface models developed by atmospheric scientists; biogeochemical models, dynamic global vegetation models, and ecosystem demography models developed by ecologists; and ecohydrology models developed by hydrologists. Review questions, supplemental code, and modeling projects are provided, to aid with understanding how the equations are used. The book is an invaluable guide to climate change and terrestrial ecosystem modeling for graduate students and researchers in climate change, climatology, ecology, hydrology, biogeochemistry, meteorology, environmental science, mathematical modeling, and environmental biophysics.


Global Environmental Change

Global Environmental Change

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1999-09-14

Total Pages: 621

ISBN-13: 0309174325

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How can we understand and rise to the environmental challenges of global change? One clear answer is to understand the science of global change, not solely in terms of the processes that control changes in climate and the composition of the atmosphere, but in how ecosystems and human society interact with these changes. In the last two decades of the twentieth century, a number of such research effortsâ€"supported by computer and satellite technologyâ€"have been launched. Yet many opportunities for integration remain unexploited, and many fundamental questions remain about the earth's capacity to support a growing human population. This volume encourages a renewed commitment to understanding global change and sets a direction for research in the decade ahead. Through case studies the book explores what can be learned from the lessons of the past 20 years and what are the outstanding scientific questions. Highlights include: Research imperatives and strategies for investigators in the areas of atmospheric chemistry, climate, ecosystem studies, and human dimensions of global change. The context of climate change, including lessons to be gleaned from paleoclimatology. Human responses toâ€"and forcing ofâ€"projected global change. This book offers a comprehensive overview of global change research to date and provides a framework for answering urgent questions.


World in Transition

World in Transition

Author: Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen (Germany)

Publisher: Earthscan

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 482

ISBN-13: 9781853838026

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* Comprehensive assessment from the leading German environmental scientists of the state of the world's living resources or biosphere * Covers all aspects of the subject: biodiversity and genetic diversity, landscape and ecosystems, its role in the Earth's system and human impacts on it * Reviews global policies and research strategies on the biosphere and advocates urgent policy actions * A major, authoritative contribution to environmental science and policy Biodiversity- the planet's natural capital- is undergoing a dramatic collapse: its " Sixth Extinction". The losses, which are do to human activities and overexploitation of the biosphere, are irreversible. They are undermining the basis of future well-being and prosperity, including genetic resources and food production, climate stability, and coastal and soil protection. The scientists of the German Advisory Council on Global Change have produced an authoritative and alarming analysis of the state of the biosphere. They show that the time remaining for remedial action is fast disappearing and they set out a range of initiatives to be undertaken at different levels. Among their main urgent recommendations are: * protecting 10-20% of the global land area * an Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity to provide scientific advice * conservation of the diversity of cultivated as well as wild plant species * greater multilateral cooperation and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity The volume makes a highly significant contribution to the scientific and policy debates on these critical issues. It will be essential reading for those engaged with them.


Global Change and Protected Areas

Global Change and Protected Areas

Author: Guido Visconti

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-04-11

Total Pages: 510

ISBN-13: 0306480514

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High mountains can be considered as particularly appropriate environments to detect effects ofclimate change on natural biocoenoses in a global scale for the following reasons: Firstly, ecosystems at the l- temperature limits of plant life are generally thought to be especially sensitive to climate change [1][2][3]. An already ongoing upward shift of vascular plants at high summits in the Alps, determined by the Austrian IGBP-research [4][5][6][7][8], is most likely a response to the atmospheric warming since the 19th century. Secondly, high mountains still comprise the most natural ecosystems in many countries, being largely untouched by human settlements and agricultural influences, Therefore, climatic effects on ecosystems can be studied without masking effects from human land use. Thirdly, high mountain ranges are present in virtually every major zonobiome of the earth. The research initiative GLORIA aims to establish an urgently needed global monitoring network, by using high mountain ecosystems as sensitive indicators, as required in the “IGBP-Mountain Workplan” [9]. Moreover, a deeper understanding of assemblagemechanisms andassemblage processes in vegetation patterns as a contribution to ecological theory can be expected. This paper gives a short general overview about GLORIA and a first outline about the concept, method, and some few results of the “Multi Summit-Approach”, one of the basic intentions within the proposed network. It aims to encourage the involvement of high mountain researchers and research co-ordinators in a detailed discussion of the proposed research activities and in a co-operation within the planned global monitoring network.


Biogeography

Biogeography

Author: C. Barry Cox

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2010-05-10

Total Pages: 521

ISBN-13: 0470637943

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Biologists searching for a resource that explores all of the exciting changes that have occurred recently in the field will turn to this eighth edition. It offers insight into the multidisciplinary nature of the field, presenting a sound historical base, up-to-date coverage, and a look at the latest controversies. The authors evaluate conflicting theories and provide a reasoned judgment as to which is preferable. In a new chapter the authors examine marine biogeography, so that biologists can compare and analyze the data, patterns and problems arising from continental, marine and island biogeography.


Understanding Climate Change Feedbacks

Understanding Climate Change Feedbacks

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-01-02

Total Pages: 167

ISBN-13: 0309090725

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During the past decade, scientists have learned much about the complex natural processes that influence climate variability and change, and our ability to model climate has increased significantly. We also have begun to better identify those parts of the climate system that are particularly important and not well understood and that therefore limit our ability to project the future evolution of Earth's climate. One of these critical areas is our understanding of the role of feedbacks in the climate system and their role in determining climate sensitivity. Feedbacks are processes in the climate system that can either amplify or dampen the system's response to changed forcings. This study looks at what is known and not known about climate change feedbacks and seeks to identify the feedback processes most in need of improved understanding. It identifies key observations needed to monitor and understand climate feedbacks, discusses ways to evaluate progress in understanding climate feedbacks, recommends ways to improve climate modeling and analysis for climate feedbacks research, and identifies priority areas for research.