Facts on File Science Library - A Change in the Weather

At present, climate change is a controversial topic. A Change in the Weather, a new volume in the Dangerous Weather set, looks at climate change and its consequences with a fair, critical eye. It examines the major controversies and locates them in the broader context of the climatic changes that have taken place in the past. Beginning with a definition of climate change, this volume provides a general account of the way the atmosphere and oceans work to produce climates, along with an outline of the astronomical and other influences that affect climatic changes. It then describes different types of climates that have prevailed in the past and explains the way past climates are studied. An important topic covered is the greenhouse effect and the history of this idea, which leads into an overview of the present concern over global warming induced by an enhanced greenhouse effect.

For middle school and high school students, teachers, and general readers, A Change in the Weather is filled with interesting facts on climate and climate change, providing a current and comprehensive survey of the issues surrounding this important topic. Special features provide a comparison between the atmospheres of Earth, Venus, and Mars; information on George Hadley and Hadley cells; discussion of why the Arctic is warmer than the Antarctic; a look at adiabatic cooling and warming and latent heat; coverage of the Vostok, GRIP, and GISP projects; and an overview of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.