By Kristen Dow and Thomas E. Downing
Earthscan
www.earthscan.co.uk
8-12 Camden High Street
London, England NW1 OJH
+44 (0)20 7387 8558
The Atlas of Climate Change is a 112-page softcover book on the changes in our global climate, the causes and effects of the changes, and what we can do about them. The book begins with a glossary of terms. Part 1 explores signs and observations consistent with the authors' point of view on climate change. Part 2 discusses the Greenhouse Effect. Part 3 talks about industrialization and agriculture, fossil fuels, methane, and other gases as possible sources of greenhouse gases. Part 4 lists ways in which climate change could adversely affect our ecosystems, water, food, health, and communities. Part 5 enumerates international and local responses to these issues. Part 6 challenges the reader to personal and public action. Part 7 is a table of the countries of the world and their respective populations, weather-related disasters, and various gas emissions. At the end of the book is a list of sources and an index.
The colorful, attractive maps and charts make this book an interesting read. It is compact and well organized, and the authors explain global warming well. An intriguing note on format: all the chapter titles are in the top right-hand corner of the right page, and most of the text is on the left page. This makes it easy to flip through and quickly scan the topics.
The thesis of The Atlas of Climate Change is based on a lot of speculation as far as what these trends might eventually cause to happen to our world. Words such as "might," "may," and "possible" are used often, and there is a lack of evidence to support the theories.
Due to the technical vocabulary and complicated ideas, this book would be most appropriate for high school and above. It would be particularly useful to a student who wanted to better understand this particular point of view or one who wanted to debate this controversial theory.
Product review by Kathy Gelzer, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC, December 2006
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