Climate change is acknowledged as being one of the most important areas of research today. Increasing global temperatures will impact all of us to a greater or lesser extent. From the point of view of research it is an enormously important and complex subject. However, little attention is paid to its relationship to astronomy, the sun in particular but not exclusively.
Though directed at an astronomically inclined readership, and providing some less well-known astronomically related information, studies and concepts, this book will also appeal to a broader public, who need to understand the subject of climate change and learn of all the various theories and possible solutions.
Climate change is one of the most hotly debated issues of today. Increasing global temperatures will impact all of us. There are more questions than answers, however, and sweeping statements on the subject made by public figures, often with little scientific understanding, only furtherconfuses public opinion.Astronomical factors, apart from passing references to the Sun, are given short shrift in relation to climate change. However, they might be amongst the major determinants of it. A presentation of those that have been studied that some scientists suspect might be involved are featured in this book. Included is an in-depth look at the physics of climate itself, the potential effects of the Sun, solar storms, sunspots, solar variability, the magnetosphere, solar cycles, influences of nearby planets, orbital factors, cosmic rays, possible galactic influences, monitoring from space, even climate change elsewhere in the solar system, and much more.The greatest challenge climate change scientists face is determining actual world climate statistics and analyzing the historical record. Another challenge lies in evaluating all of the various theories that have been proposed. Is the current climate crisis completely human-induced, as somevery credible sources say, or only partly human-induced.? Is carbon dioxide even the real threat? If not, what is?Astronomy and the Climate Crisis is a serious attempt to reconcile the various scientific climate change studies, highlighting in particular the astronomical factors that are possibly hidden culprits. This book can help you to becomeinformed and join the debate. You might be very surprised at what you find out!
From the reviews:
"This book thoroughly covers the ways in which global warming has been studied and conclusions drawn. ? The book reveals the great amount of research conducted on climate change and its causes, and one needs some exposure to astronomy to gain an understanding of much of it. Overall, a valuable addition to the literature; useful for libraries serving schools at the graduate level of study. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and above." (A. R. Upgren, Choice, Vol. 50 (8), April, 2013)
