Climate Change: Observed Impacts on Planet Earth
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Climate Change: Observed Impacts on Planet Earth Edited by Trevor M. Letcher
Emeritus Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, South Africa
Elsevier Radarweg 29, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK First edition 2009 Copyright © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone (þ44) (0) 1865 843830; fax (þ44) (0) 1865 853333; email:
[email protected] Alternatively you can submit your request online by visiting the Elsevier web site at http://elsevier.com/locate/permissions, and selecting Obtaining permission to use Elsevier material
Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Climate change : observed impacts on planet Earth / edited by Trevor M. Letcher. 1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978 0 444 53301 2 1. Climatic changes. 2. Climatic changes Environmental aspects. 3. Global environmental change. I. Letcher, T. M. (Trevor M.) QC903.C56 2009 551.6 dc22 2009006502 ISBN: 978 0 444 53301 2 For information on all Elsevier publications visit our website at elsevierdirect.com
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Contents
Foreword Preface Contributors Introduction
xiii xv xix xxiii
Part I Possible Causes of Climate Change 1. The Role of Atmospheric Gases in Global Warming R. P. Tuckett 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Introduction Origin of the Greenhouse Effect: ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’ Effects The Physical Chemistry Properties of Greenhouse Gases The Lifetime of a Greenhouse Gas in the Earth’s Atmosphere General Comments on Long Lived Greenhouse Gases Conclusion References
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2. The Role of Widespread Surface Solar Radiation Trends in Climate Change: Dimming and Brightening S. Cohen 1. Introduction 2. Solar Radiation and its Measurement 3. Trends in Surface Solar Radiation or Global Dimming and Brightening 4. The Causes of Dimming and Brightening 5. The Influence of Solar Radiation Changes (Dimming and Brightening) on Climate 6. Conclusions References
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