Breakdown of Climate (P) Paperback - 2001

From the publisher

El Nio, the collapse of the Gulf Stream, devastating hurricanes and floods--in recent years, there have been many natural disasters linked to global warming and other climatic changes. Are these events part of a natural cycle? Or have we in fact reached the limits of Earth's ability to maintain these cycles?

It seems our very survival depends on our relationship with Earth's climate. The Breakdown of Climate depicts ways that human activities have influenced weather patterns and created imbalances throughout the natural world--imbalances that pose a very real threat to our health, agriculture, and continued existence on Earth.

The author addresses issues such as deforestation and environmental pollution and explains how they cause widespread damage beyond their places of origin. He shows us the risks associated with certain modern industrial and agricultural practices and suggests alternatives that may help Earth regain its natural equilibrium.

The Breakdown of Climate gives a clear overall picture of climate, from its origins, as we know it, up to the present day, comparing evolutionary cause and effect to human influences. We see how weather systems function and how oceanic currents and tropical forests are vital for maintaining these natural processes. And we come to better understand the self-perpetuating nature of climatic systems and their vital importance for the well being of our planet as a whole.

Amid a seemingly hopeless global scenario, The Breakdown of Climate offers hope to all of us who are genuinely concerned about our climate and the increased violence and frequency of natural disasters today.

Contents:

• The Nature and History of Climate
• Sun, Earth, and Moon
• Ice Ages and Greenhouse Gases
• Winds, Volcanoes, and El Nio
• The Ozone Hole and Health
• The Oceans
• Rocks, Soils, and the Origins of Life
• Gaia--Climate and Life
• When Gaia Fails
• Culture and Climate
• Land Use and Climate
• The Politics of Climate Change
• The Impact of Climate Change