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Klappentext Respected NASA climatologist Claire Parkinson brings much-needed balance and perspective to the highly contentious issue of climate change. Offering a knowledgeable overview of global warming! the author lays out a compelling argument that our understandings and models are inadequate for confident climate predictions. Using fascinating vignettes! Parkinson traces 4.6 billion years of Earth history! human impacts! and the frequent mismatch between intentions and consequences since science and technology have be wielded to solve environmental problems. Part I: The Earth System and Its Ever-Changing Nature Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: 4.6 Billion Years of Global Change Chapter 3: Abrupt Climate Change Part II: The Human Factor Chapter 4: A Short History of Human Impacts Chapter 5: The Future: Why Some People Are So Concerned while Others Aren't Part III: Good Intentions and Geoengineering Chapter 6: Good Intentions Gone Awry Chapter 7: Geoengineering Schemes Chapter 8: The Record on Smaller-Scale Attempted Modifications Part IV: Further Cautionary Considerations Chapter 9: The Possible Fallibility of Even a Strong Consensus Chapter 10: The Unknown Future: Model Limitations Chapter 11: Compounding Social Pressures Part V: Avoiding Paralysis despite Uncertainty Chapter 12: What Are the Alternatives? Chapter 13: Closing Plea
