Description
Product description
Review
“I love it. Earle understands the big climate picture and paints it with exceptional clarity.” — James Hansen, director, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Columbia University Earth Institute
“People interested in climate change, which these days should be everyone, need a basic understanding of the science of why Earth’s climate is the way it is, and why it sometimes changes. Earle’s book makes that complicated story easy to grasp. It’s a model for clear science writing, and it forcefully awakens readers to what’s at stake and what needs to be done.”
— Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Power
“An informative, succinct, and fascinating read — Steven Earle offers a unique and detailed account of Earth’s climate history. His innate story-telling ability, coupled with his remarkable talent for making complex scientific information accessible, makes this page-turner a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Earth’s climate system.”
— Andrew Weaver, professor, University of Victoria, lead author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, second, third, fourth, and fifth Assessment Reports, former chief editor, Journal of Climate
“An engaging tour through the complex natural processes at play in writing the Earth’s long history of natural climate change to our present climate emergency. This primer will give campaigners, policymakers, and concerned citizens a more thorough understanding of climate science and renewed conviction to go all in on applying the brakes, leaving fossil fuels behind, and embracing a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future.”
— Tom Green, Senior Climate Policy Advisor, David Suzuki Foundation
From the Back Cover
What’s natural, what’s caused by humans, and why climate change is a disaster for all.
I love it. Earle understands the big climate picture and paints it with exceptional clarity.
— JAMES HANSEN, director, Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Columbia University Earth Institute
A model for clear science writing that forcefully awakens readers to what’s at stake and what needs to be done.
— RICHARD HEINBERG, Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute, author, Power
A Brief History of the Earth’s Climate is an accessible myth-busting guide to the natural evolution of the Earth’s climate over 4.6 billion years, and how and why human caused climate change is different and much more dangerous.
Richly-illustrated chapters cover the major historical climate change processes including evolution of the sun, plate motions and continental collisions, volcanic eruptions, ocean currents and cycles, sunspots, and Earth’s orbital variations, as well as human-caused global warming. Content includes:
- Understanding natural geological processes that shaped the climate
- How human impacts are now rapidly changing the climate
- Tipping points and the unfolding climate crisis
- An overview of the implications of the COVID pandemic for climate change
- What we can do to limit the damage to the planet and ecosystems
- Countering climate myths peddled by climate change science deniers.
A Brief History of the Earth’s Climate is essential reading for everyone who is looking to understand what drives climate change, counter skeptics and deniers, and take action on the climate emergency
A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the Earth’s climate system.
— ANDREW WEAVER, professor, University of Victoria, former chief editor, Journal of Climate
An engaging tour through the complex natural processes at play.
— TOM GREEN, Senior Climate Policy Advisor, David Suzuki Foundation
Steven Earle, PhD, has taught university Earth Science for almost four decades and is author of the widely used textbook, Physical Geology. He participates in community engagement with climate change solutions on Gabriola Island, Canada, where he lives with his family.
About the Author
Steven Earle, PhD, has worked in the Earth Sciences, has developed and taught university Earth Science courses for almost four decades, and is author of the widely used university textbook, Physical Geology, now in its second edition. He participates in climate change research and community engagement with climate change solutions including low-carbon transport initiatives, heating systems, and land stewardship. He lives with his family on a sustainable farm on Gabriola Island, Canada.
What’s natural, what’s caused by humans, and why climate change is a disaster for all.
A Brief History of the Earth’s Climate is an accessible myth-busting guide to the natural evolution of the Earth’s climate over 4.6 billion years, and how and why human-caused global warming and climate change is different and much more dangerous.
Richly illustrated chapters cover the major historical climate change processes including evolution of the sun, plate motions and continental collisions, volcanic eruptions, changes to major ocean currents, Earth’s orbital variations, sunspot variations, and short-term ocean current cycles. As well as recent human-induced climate change and an overview of the implications of the COVID pandemic for climate change. Content includes:
- Understanding natural geological processes that shaped the climate
- How human impacts are now rapidly changing the climate
- Tipping points and the unfolding climate crisis
- What we can do to limit the damage to the planet and ecosystems
- Countering climate myths peddled by climate change science deniers.
A Brief History of the Earth’s Climate is essential reading for everyone who is looking to understand what drives climate change, counter skeptics and deniers, and take action on the climate emergency.
Tony Edwards –
Written with Heart
Katharine Hayhoe clearly knows climate change and also presents other aspects of the debate very well.
Arkoptrix –
A book to be recommended for non-specialists
I’ve been looking around for a book on climate science I could recommend to people without much formal science training.I’ve found one.In 164 pages Steven Earle, a college teacher of Earth Science for about 40 years answers questions like:What are oxygen and nitrogen not greenhouse heat trapping gasses while carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases are?What are tipping points and why is positive feedback worse than negative feedback?If there are both natural and human caused influences on climate how do we know the human fingerprint is on the current trigger?Really well written and the 40 years of answering student questions has prepared him well to explain a subject a lot of people avoid pursuing beyond stories in the media.
Noah –
Great explanation of climate change mechanisms for the layman
I learned a lot from this book and found the explanations sufficiently detailed to be enlightening, but not overwhelmingly complex for someone who isn’t a scientist. I was looking for a book that discussed climate changes with a historical context in order to gain some perspective on the significance of the current climate shifts. A Brief History of the Earth’s Climate was just what I was looking for. I am very grateful to the author for writing it.
Joao Darosa –
Great book!
great book! easy to read without jargon. I learn a lot of nature from this book.