Introduction to Modern Climate Change

Product Description
The third edition of this introductory textbook for both science students and non-science majors has been brought completely up-to-date. It reflects recent scientific progress in the field, as well as advances in the political arena around climate change. As in previous editions, it is tightly focussed on anthropogenic climate change. The first part of the book concentrates on the science of modern climate change, including evidence that the Earth is warming and a basic description of climate physics. Concepts such as radiative forcing, climate feedbacks, and the carbon cycle are discussed and explained using basic physics and algebra. The second half of the book goes beyond the science to address the economics and policy options to address climate change. The book's goal is for a student to leave the class ready to engage in the public policy debate on the climate crisis.
Review
‘Andrew Dessler is that rare breed of scientist who can contribute at the leading edge of scientific discovery while adeptly explaining the science and its implications to lay audiences. With his newly revised edition of Introduction to Climate Change, Dessler provides a comprehensive, up-to-date and engaging account of the science, the impacts, and the policy dimensions of the climate crisis. Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and this textbook is the ideal choice to ensure students are informed about it.’ Michael Mann, Penn State University, author of The New Climate War and Dire Predictions
‘In a world dominated by headlines, Dr. Andrew Dessler’s Introduction to Modern Climate Change delivers a fresh take on something we’re all craving: fundamentals. The book begins with the physical science basis for climate change, from blackbody radiation to the fluxes and reservoirs of the carbon cycle, before delving into hot topics, from feedbacks to exponential growth. Dessler delivers a robust and much-needed framework for addressing modern global environmental change.’ Hari Mix, Santa Clara University
‘Introduction to Modern Climate Change has been my text of choice for a general education class on the topic. It provides students with the foundations of climate physics, places modern variations in the context of the geologic record, establishes the man-made nature of current trends and (uniquely for textbooks on this matter) discusses the economic and political dimensions of the problem, and how best to respond to it. This new edition brings a significant upgrade by adding the most up-to-date numbers from the IPCC and the Paris Agreements, as well as a greatly expanded set of engaging graphics, conveying the information most pertinent to this existential crisis. I heartily recommend this approachable textbook to any student or scholar.’ Julien Emile-Geay, University of Southern California
‘Introduction to Modern Climate Change is essential reading for anyone interested in anthropogenic global warming. Andrew Dessler's textbook is easily accessible for students from a range of backgrounds, as no prior knowledge of Earth Science is needed. It is the first resource I add to my reading lists, and the new color figures enhance it further. There are also important updates concerning the policies of climate change, such as the impact of the Trump Administration and the Paris Agreement.’ Matt Smith, University of Worcester
‘… an excellent textbook for the general audience of undergraduates … In the third edition there are more exercises than in earlier editions, allowing the instructor to emphasize those exercises depending on the particular department providing the course … An important update is the transition to colored graphics throughout the book, which bring to life the arguments in the text … Dessler is a very gifted writer for the general reader … In this book he engages the reader with relevant analogies from everyday life … Most importantly his presentation is clear. His arguments are strong and