The Cryosphere And Global Environmental Change

This is the first textbook to consider all aspects of thecryosphere system in the context of global environmental changedriven by human activity and climate. Considers all six aspects of the cryosphere – ice sheets,glacier ice, permafrost, river and lake ice, sea ice and snow– in the context of global environmental change driven byhuman activity and climate. Describes a new concept of cryosphere transience and landscapetransition which links climate, hydrology, ecology andgeomorphology. Looks at the evidence, process, and patterns of cryospherechange, on local and global scales. Provides a wealth of data to inform the current globalenvironmental change debate. Additional resources for this book can be found at: ahref="http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&bcsId=5064&itemId=140512976X"http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&bcsId=5064&itemId=140512976X/a.

The cryosphere encompasses the Earth's snow and ice masses. It is a critical part of our planet's climate system, one that is especially at risk from climate change and global warming. The Cryosphere provides an essential introduction to the subject, written by one of the world's leading experts in Earth-system science. In this primer, glaciologist Shawn Marshall introduces readers to the cryosphere and the broader role it plays in our global climate system. After giving a concise overview, he fully explains each component of the cryosphere and how it works--seasonal snow, permafrost, river and lake ice, sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves. Marshall describes how snow and ice interact with our atmosphere and oceans and how they influence climate, sea level, and ocean circulation. He looks at the cryosphere's role in past ice ages and considers the changing cryosphere's future impact on our landscape, oceans, and climate. Accessible and authoritative, this primer also features a glossary of key terms, suggestions for further reading, explanations of equations, and a discussion of open research questions in the field.

The cryosphere is that portion of the Earth's surface where water is in solid form. This includes sea ice, river ice, glaciers, permafrost, etc. The cryosphere is an integral part of the climate system with feedbacks and linkages with clouds, moisture fluxes, atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Various physical properties of snow and ice affect the energy exchanges between the surface and the atmosphere. Some of these properties include surface reflectance, thermal diffusivity, latent heat, etc. The environmental change observed in terms of global warming results in major changes to the partitioning of snow and rainfall. It also affects the timing of snowmelt. The field of study dedicated to the study of cryosphere is known as cryology. This book strives to provide a fair idea about this discipline and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this field. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

A comprehensive account of all components of the Earth's cryosphere, including their past characteristics, and future states.

A gripping journey through the icy regions of our changing planet From the Arctic Ocean and ice sheets of Greenland, to the glaciers of the Andes and Himalayas, to the great frozen desert of Antarctica, The White Planet takes readers on a spellbinding scientific journey through the shrinking world of ice and snow to tell the story of the expeditions and discoveries that have transformed our understanding of global climate. Written by three internationally renowned scientists at the center of many breakthroughs in ice core and climate science, this book provides an unparalleled firsthand account of how the "white planet" affects global climate—and how, in turn, global warming is changing the frozen world. Jean Jouzel, Claude Lorius, and Dominique Raynaud chronicle the daunting scientific, technical, and human hurdles that they and other scientists have had to overcome in order to unravel the mysteries of past and present climate change, as revealed by the cryosphere--the dynamic frozen regions of our planet. Scientifically impeccable, up-to-date, and accessible, The White Planet brings cutting-edge climate research to general readers through a vivid narrative. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the inextricable link between climate and our planet's icy regions.

Changing Cold Environments; Implications for Global Climate Change is a comprehensive overview of the changing nature of the physical attributes of Canada's cold environments and the implications of these changes to cold environments on a global scale. The book places particular emphasis on the broader environmental science and sustainability issues that are of increasing concern to all cold regions if present global climate trends continue. Clearly structured throughout, the book focuses on those elements of Canada's cold environments that will be most affected by global climate change – namely, the tundra, sub-arctic and boreal forest regions of northern Canada, and the high mid-latitude mountains of western Canada. Implications are considered for similar environments around the world resulting in a timely text suitable for second and third year undergraduates in the environmental or earth sciences courses.