Global Warming

by Brian C. Black, Gary J. Weisel

Overview

Tracing scientific ideas about the structure of Earth, Global Warming creates an intellectual portrait of the shifts in thinking that have led to the current controversy, enabling readers to make up their own minds on this important issue.

Global Warming takes one of the hot-button issues of our time and surveys it in historical context, creating an intellectual portrait of the multi-century shifts in thinking that have led to gradual acceptance of the concept. The book summarizes pertinent aspects of geology, earth science, and climate science in easy-to-read terms. It then frames this background in terms of cultural and social shifts, including the Industrial Revolution, conspicuous consumption, and modern environmentalism. In addition, a study of the ebb and flow of cultural and political reception relates the issue to religious and social ideas.

The information presented here will enable the reader to understand the scientific case stating that human activity has caused an unprecedented warming in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Technical and political objections to this thesis are also covered, so that readers may form their own opinions on this critical subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313345227
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/02/2010
Series:	Historical Guides to Controversial Issues in America
Pages:	188
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Brian C. Black is professor of history and environmental studies at Penn State, Altoona.

Gary J. Weisel is associate professor of physics and history of Science at Penn State, Altoona.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 What We Know: A Brief History of the Earth and Its Climate
2 How We Know: A Brief History of Global Warming Research
3 How Did We Get Here?
4 Domestic Politics and Ethics Regarding the Environment
5 The International Response
6 Present and Future Policy Options
Epilogue: Integrating Global Warming into Federal Action
Selected Resources
Index

Editorial Reviews

Highly recommended. All levels of readership.” —Choice

“This volume will be most useful to advanced students, especially those in AP or IB programs” —School Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher

Gr 10 Up—Black and Weisel discuss climate processes, Earth's geology, past climates and how scientists determine if the Earth is warming, modern industry and its impact on the environment, national and international responses to global warming, the Kyoto Protocol, and more. The epilogue summarizes the authors' hope that the public, business sectors, and government are becoming more environmentally aware and ready to act with regard to global warming. Each of the six chapters begins with an overview and contains many quotes and references. The science sections will be arduous reading for some, as will be the vocabulary. This volume will be most useful to advanced students, especially those in AP or IB programs.—Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

School Library Journal