Book•
Global warming: The Greenpeace report
01 Jan 1990-
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the science behind the Greenhouse effect, Steven Schneider biogeochemical feedbacks in global warming, David Schimmel modelling stabilization of the greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere, Mick Kelly.
Abstract: Part 1 Science: the science behind the Greenhouse effect, Steven Schneider biogeochemical feedbacks in global warming, David Schimmel modelling stabilization of the Greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere, Mick Kelly. Part 2 Impacts: the impacts of global warming, George Woodwell lessons from the climates of the past, Brian Huntley the health impacts of global warming, Andrew Haines. Part 3 Policy responses: policy responses to global warming, Jose Goldemberg energy efficiency in combatting global warming, Amory Lovins renewable energy production in combatting global warming, Carlo LaPorta transport policy in combatting global warming, Michael Walsh nuclear power in the abatement of global warming, Bill Keepin an integrated policy plan for a low-energy, non-nuclear future - the example of Sweden, Birgit Bodlund, et al emissions of Greenhouse gases from agriculture and the scope for their reduction, Ann Ehrlich deforestation and reafforestation, Norman Myers deforestation in Brazil, Philip Fearnside international debt - the scale of the problem, and its relevance to international policymaking in abating global warming, Susan George less developed countries in the international policy response to global warming, Kiliparti Ramakrishna.
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TL;DR: The late Quaternary records indicate the modes and mechanisms of environmental variation and biotic responses at timescales of 101-104 years as mentioned in this paper. But these patterns of change are characteristic of terrestrial plants and animals but may not represent all other lifeforms or habitats.
Abstract: The environmental and biotic history of the late Quaternary represents a critical junction between ecology, global change studies, and pre-Quaternary paleobiology. Late Quaternary records indicate the modes and mechanisms of environmental variation and biotic responses at timescales of 101–104 years. Climatic changes of the late Quaternary have occurred continuously across a wide range of temporal scales, with the magnitude of change generally increasing with time span. Responses of terrestrial plant populations have ranged from tolerance in situ to moderate shifts in habitat to migration and/or extinction, depending on magnitudes and rates of environmental change. Species assemblages have been disaggregated and recombined, forming a changing array of vegetation patterns on the landscape. These patterns of change are characteristic of terrestrial plants and animals but may not be representative of all other life-forms or habitats. Complexity of response, particularly extent of species recombination, depends in part on the nature of the underlying environmental gradients and how they change through time. Environmental gradients in certain habitats may change in relatively simple fashion, allowing long-term persistence of species associations and spatial patterns. Consideration of late Quaternary climatic changes indicates that both the rate and magnitude of climatic changes anticipated for the coming century are unprecedented, presenting unique challenges to the biota of the planet.
685 citations
Book•
01 Oct 2008
TL;DR: Garnaut Climate Change Review as mentioned in this paper examines the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy, the costs of adaptation and mitigation, and the international context in which climate change is experienced and negotiated.
Abstract: Professor Ross Garnaut was commissioned by all of the Governments of Australia's Federation to examine the impacts of climate change on Australia and to recommend policy frameworks to improve the prospects of sustainable prosperity. The Garnaut Climate Change Review is one of the most important reports to be published in Australia for many years. It examines the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy, the costs of adaptation and mitigation, and the international context in which climate change is experienced and negotiated. It analyses the elements of an appropriate international policy response, and the challenges that face Australia in playing its proportionate part in that response. The Garnaut Climate Change Review is highly relevant to the global problem that is climate change. It considers what policies the international community should adopt in responding to climate change, and urges humanity to act now, and in concert, to develop the required policy response in time.
660 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases the rates of both fine root production and mortality, and that nitrogen greatly influenced the proportional allocation of carbon to leaves vs. fine roots.
Abstract: summary
In most natural ecosystems a significant portion of carbon fixed through photosynthesis is allocated to the production and maintenance of fine roots, the ephemeral portion of the root system that absorbs growth-limiting moisture and nutrients. In turn, senescence of fine roots can be the greatest source of C input to forest soils. Consequently, important questions in ecology entail the extent to which increasing atmospheric CO2 may alter the allocation of carbon to, and demography of, fine roots. Using microvideo and image analysis technology, we demonstrate that elevated atmospheric CO2 increases the rates of both fine root production and mortality. Rates of root mortality also increased substantially as soil nitrogen availability increased, regardless of CO2 concentration. Nitrogen greatly influenced the proportional allocation of carbon to leaves vs. fine roots. The amount of available nitrogen in the soil appears to be the most important factor regulating fine root demography in Populus trees.
323 citations
01 Jan 2016
TL;DR: Biodiversity, the vast array of nonhuman organisms of our planet, should be valued for four general reasons as mentioned in this paper, as attested to by activities as diverse as gardening, making of nature films, and ecotourism.
Abstract: Biodiversity, the vast array of non-human organisms of our planet, should be valued for four general reasons. First, we (and many others) believe that, as the dominant species on Earth, Homo sapiens has an ethical, stewardship responsibility towards humanity's only known living companions in the universe. Second, as attested to by activities as diverse as gardening, making of nature films, and ecotourism, biodiversity has esthetic values. Third, humanity has derived many direct economic values from biodiversity, including all of its food and many of its medicines and industrial products. The potential of nature's genetic library for providing more of these benefits is enormous. Fourth, and most important from an anthropocentric perspective, plants, animals, and microorganisms help to supply human beings with an array of free ecosystem services, without which civilization could not persist. These include such things as controlling the gaseous mix of the atmosphere, generating and maintaining soils, controlling pests, and running biogeochemical cycles. The present extinction episode caused by human activity seriously jeopardizes the ethical, aesthetic, direct economic and life-support values of biodiversity; it may be the single most important externality associated with human economic activity.
304 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared several products derived from the MODIS to field measurements of fraction photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) and plant area index (PAI) for a deciduous broadleaf forest in northern Wisconsin in 2002.
288 citations