Rising Seas: Past, Present, Future
- ISBN-10
- 0231519206
- ISBN-13
- 9780231519205
- Category
- Science
- Pages
- 360
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2013-03-19
- Publisher
- Columbia University Press
- Author
- Vivien Gornitz
Description
The Earth's climate is already warming due to increased concentrations of human-produced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the specter of rising sea level is one of global warming's most far-reaching threats. Sea level will keep rising long after greenhouse gas emissions have ceased, because of the delay in penetration of surface warming to the ocean depths and because of the slow dissipation of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide. Adopting a long perspective that interprets sea level changes both underway and expected in the near future, Vivien Gornitz completes a highly relevant and necessary study of an unprecedented age in Earth's history. Gornitz consults past climate archives to help better anticipate future developments and prepare for them more effectively. She focuses on several understudied historical events, including the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Anomaly, the Messinian salinity crisis, the rapid filling of the Black Sea (which may have inspired the story of Noah's flood), and the Storrega submarine slide, an incident possibly connected to a sea level occurrence roughly 8,000 years old. By examining dramatic variations in past sea level and climate, Gornitz concretizes the potential consequences of rapid, human-induced warming. She builds historical precedent for coastal hazards associated with a higher ocean level, such as increased damage from storm surge flooding, even if storm characteristics remain unchanged. Citing the examples of Rotterdam, London, New York City, and other forward-looking urban centers that are effectively preparing for higher sea level, Gornitz also delineates the difficult economic and political choices of curbing carbon emissions while underscoring, through past geological analysis, the urgent need to do so.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
By Karen C. TimberlakeThis new edition introduces more problem-solving strategies and new conceptual and challenge problems. Also, each Chapter Review has been enhanced with Learning Goals to reinforce the mastery of concepts for students.
-
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
By Karen TimberlakeThis laboratory manual contains 42 experiments for the standard sequence of topics in general, organic, and biological chemistry.
-
Basic Chemistry
By Karen C. TimberlakeThe book guides students through basic chemistry problem solving with engaging visuals and a focus on developing the math skills necessary to be successful in the course.
-
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: Structures of Life, eBook, Global Edition
By Karen C. TimberlakeThe full text downloaded to your computer With eBooks you can: search for key concepts, words and phrases make highlights and notes as you study share your notes with friends eBooks are downloaded to your computer and accessible either ...
-
Basic Chemistry
By Karen C. Timberlake, William E. TimberlakeBasic Chemistry
-
Basic Chemistry, Books a la Carte Edition
By Karen C. TimberlakeBasic Chemistry, Books a la Carte Edition
-
Essential Laboratory Manual for General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
By Karen C. TimberlakeEssential Laboratory Manual for General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
-
Basic Chemistry, Global Edition
By Karen C. Timberlake, Bill TimberlakeThe main objective in writing this text is to make the study of chemistry an engaging and a positive experience for students by relating the structure and behaviour of matter to real life.
-
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry: An Integrated Approach
By Karen C. Timberlake, Laura D. Frost, Todd S. DealThe eText pages look exactly like the printed text, and include powerful interactive and customization functions. This is the product access code card for MasteringChemistry with Pearson eText and does not include the actual bound book.
-
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
By Karen C. TimberlakeHealth, Environmental, and Green Chemistry Notes throughout the text relate chemistry chapters to real-life topics in health, the environment, and medicine that are interesting and motivating to students.