The Change in the Weather : People, Weather, and the Science of Climate

Rating:
Summary: clear, complete and well organized
Review: Everybody talks about the weather and lately a lot of people are convinced that it is changing. William Stevens is a NY Times journalist and he has been following the weather for over a decade now. He has spoken to all the major meteorologists and if anybody is entitled to talk about the weather, it's Mr Stevens. His book is thorough but never boring. He has his own views, as the title shows, but he is never out of focus. If you want to know about the state-of-the-art in weather-science, here is a book that is accessible and gives enough food for your own thoughts.

Rating:
Summary: Are We Causing Global Warming?
Review: I read this book because I wanted a better understanding of the whole global climate change debate. On the plus side, the author does a good job of explaining the difficulty in determining if the climate is changing. He convinced me that global warming is occurring. The weight of the evidence appears to be overwhelming in this regard, although it's not clear if it's just short term variation or the beginning of a long-run trend. The author discusses how a scientific model shows a human cause for warming, but I'm not entirely convinced. But the models seem to be improving rapidly, and it may not be long before the evidence is overwhelming. My biggest complaint is that the author did not place human influences into context. For example, how does the release of CO2 from burning fossil fuels compare to natural releases such as forest fires? How does deforestation affect global warming? If the planet is warming, doesn't that imply more plants, including plankton, which convert CO2 into oxygen, thus offsetting the impact? The author mentions that quantification of the carbon cycle is not well understood, but an understanding of it is critical to understand global warming. The author suggests that consequences of inaction could be severe, but he uses mostly anecdotal information and speculation because scientific information is lacking. Quite frankly, I'm not convinced that action is necessary. Science does not seem far enough along to warrant changing behavior to fend off problems that may never occur. And if the models are right and global warming will cause serious consequences I expect them to occur gradually. I have faith that future generations will be in a much better position to deal with these problems than we are today.

Rating:
Summary: Are We Causing Global Warming?
Review: I read this book because I wanted a better understanding of the whole global climate change debate. On the plus side, the author does a good job of explaining the difficulty in determining if the climate is changing. He convinced me that global warming is occurring. The weight of the evidence appears to be overwhelming in this regard, although it's not clear if it's just short term variation or the beginning of a long-run trend. The author discusses how a scientific model shows a human cause for warming, but I'm not entirely convinced. But the models seem to be improving rapidly, and it may not be long before the evidence is overwhelming. My biggest complaint is that the author did not place human influences into context. For example, how does the release of CO2 from burning fossil fuels compare to natural releases such as forest fires? How does deforestation affect global warming? If the planet is warming, doesn't that imply more plants, including plankton, which convert CO2 into oxygen, thus offsetting the impact? The author mentions that quantification of the carbon cycle is not well understood, but an understanding of it is critical to understand global warming. The author suggests that consequences of inaction could be severe, but he uses mostly anecdotal information and speculation because scientific information is lacking. Quite frankly, I'm not convinced that action is necessary. Science does not seem far enough along to warrant changing behavior to fend off problems that may never occur. And if the models are right and global warming will cause serious consequences I expect them to occur gradually. I have faith that future generations will be in a much better position to deal with these problems than we are today.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Survey
Review: The Change in the Weather was pretty much the book I was looking for. With evidence building about past global climate based upon ice core samples, pollen studies to determine changing fauna over time, soil stratification and so on, I was interested in a survey that described earth's history of climate change. It may be too soon to have a complete picture, I learned, but a great deal is offered here, along with climatic effects on humankind and vice versa. The book has a lot to recommend it as an introduction to a current and important topic.

I enjoyed the early sections of the book which present a synopsis of the formation of the earth, early life forms and, ultimately, climate's influence on human development, agriculture, civilization, and modern society. Even if you are familiar with more detailed analysis of these events, as I am, the journey was nice. Along the way, you get a good feel for dramatic historical changes due to climate (and a sense of what could lie ahead).

There is a history of the study of meteorology that was new to me that put into perspective how the science of weather evolved. The science here is not detailed, but it is a good survey. We see a bit on the state of computerized weather modeling today as well. Then we get into today's issues on global warming, greenhouse gasses and the possible effects. This is good stuff and the major weather events described from the last decade or two bring back instant recognition and recall, pointing out, I think, how aware of and affected by these events we really are. An interesting point is that global warming could result in higher over night temperatures and higher lows rather than high temperatures. The book ends describing the attempts by world governments to come together to determine responsible actions (a sorry likelihood).

Another strength is Stevens's fairly unbiased approach to the later topics of global warming, carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuels, and so on, which can generate powerful emotions and heated argument. If you are looking for hard science, atmospheric mathematics formulas, and fluid mechanics, this isn't the place. But if you are interested in today's weather on a broader scope, this is very good. While I was reading the book, here in Milwaukee we had back to back days with record high temperatures, and, for the first time recorded, a tornado touched down in Wisconsin in March--right out of the book!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Survey
Review: The Change in the Weather was pretty much the book I was looking for. With evidence building about past global climate based upon ice core samples, pollen studies to determine changing fauna over time, soil stratification and so on, I was interested in a survey that described earth's history of climate change. It may be too soon to have a complete picture, I learned, but a great deal is offered here, along with climatic effects on humankind and vice versa. The book has a lot to recommend it as an introduction to a current and important topic.

I enjoyed the early sections of the book which present a synopsis of the formation of the earth, early life forms and, ultimately, climate's influence on human development, agriculture, civilization, and modern society. Even if you are familiar with more detailed analysis of these events, as I am, the journey was nice. Along the way, you get a good feel for dramatic historical changes due to climate (and a sense of what could lie ahead).

There is a history of the study of meteorology that was new to me that put into perspective how the science of weather evolved. The science here is not detailed, but it is a good survey. We see a bit on the state of computerized weather modeling today as well. Then we get into today's issues on global warming, greenhouse gasses and the possible effects. This is good stuff and the major weather events described from the last decade or two bring back instant recognition and recall, pointing out, I think, how aware of and affected by these events we really are. An interesting point is that global warming could result in higher over night temperatures and higher lows rather than high temperatures. The book ends describing the attempts by world governments to come together to determine responsible actions (a sorry likelihood).

Another strength is Stevens's fairly unbiased approach to the later topics of global warming, carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuels, and so on, which can generate powerful emotions and heated argument. If you are looking for hard science, atmospheric mathematics formulas, and fluid mechanics, this isn't the place. But if you are interested in today's weather on a broader scope, this is very good. While I was reading the book, here in Milwaukee we had back to back days with record high temperatures, and, for the first time recorded, a tornado touched down in Wisconsin in March--right out of the book!

Rating:
Summary: Involving, revealing examination of climatic forces.
Review: This survey of people, weather and climate changes examines questions behind today's climatic forces, considering how human actions have contributed to climate and contrasting scientific reality with beliefs about the climate. An involving, revealing account armchair readers will appreciate.