Product Description
John Houghton's market-leading textbook is now in full color and includes the latest IPCC findings, making it the definitive guide to climate change. Written for students across a wide range of disciplines, its simple, logical flow of ideas gives an invaluable grounding in the science and impacts of climate change and highlights the need for action on global warming. Is there evidence for climate changing due to human activities? How do we account for recent extremes of weather and climate? Can global electricity provision and transport ever be carbon free? Written by a leading figure at the forefront of action to confront humanity's most serious environmental problem, this undergraduate textbook comprehensively explores these and other issues, allowing students to think through the problem, assess the data and draw conclusions on the action that should be taken, by governments, by industry and by each and every one of us.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 13 reviews)

Beneath the scientific pretense, woefully little evidence proving the theory by Richard Gibson (Woodland Hills, CA)

2 Stars
May 29, 2009
As readers of my reviews know, I am skeptical about the theory that civilization is in danger because CO2 emissions are causing catastrophic levels of global warming. Of the books that I have read, the skeptical books are of higher quality than the pro-global warming books. For some time, I have been looking for a solid statement of the science that supports the Al Gore theory. At first, this book looked like it provided the science that Gore does not. John Houghton is a qualified scientist, and he knows this field. The book is filled with cool charts, graphs and photos. It contains a great deal of information. It is grounded in the scientific literature. Despite this, however, this book is not science. It is a "briefing" in the sense that lawyers use the word "briefs." It is a sustained argument for one point of view. It never takes the other side seriously. It is an advocacy piece. Let us be clear what the argument is about. No one disputes that a lot of CO2 is going into the air. No one disputes that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. The questions are: (1) is the globe, in fact, warming; and (2) if so, is this warming caused by CO2? Beneath all of the charts, graphs and photos, Houghton has two pieces of evidence, and two pieces of evidence only, for the Al Gore theory. First, global temperature rose from 1970 to 2000. Second, scientists have constructed computer models which suggest that, if CO2 levels keep rising, the globe will get warmer. That is it; that is ALL the evidence that Houghton has. The rise in temperature from 1970 to 2000 is suggestive, but, in itself, proves little. Temperature fell from 1940 to 1970. Temperature has stayed about the same since 2000. In short, the trend lines are all over the place. There is, it is true, a long-term rise in temperature since the 19th century, but given that the 19th century was the end of a cooling period -- called the "Little Ice Age" -- one would expect temperature to rise since then. As for the computer models, Houghton makes no effort to prove that they work. Instead, he simply asserts that they work. He says, "I am a big deal scientist. I say the models work. Accept it." This is an appeal to authority. This is not an appeal to reason. Here is what an appeal to reason would look like. If someone like Houghton seriously wanted to persuade a non-believer of the accuracy of the computer models, he would give us examples of the models working. For example, take one of the models, as it exists today. Feed into it raw data from the 1980s. See if it is able to predict the weather of the 1990s. The advantage of this approach is that, since we know what happened in the 1990s, such an approach tests whether the model actually works or not. If the model can accurately "predict" the past, then the model has some credibility There are other ways to show that the models work. Houghton uses none of them. I assume that, if he had any arguments like these, he would use them. He is, after all, an advocate. I trust him to find all of the arguments for his position. If he has nothing to show that the models work, except pounding on his chest and telling us to believe them, then I assume there is no evidence that the models work.

Global Warming by KSC

5 Stars
September 13, 2008
Product was exactly how it was described, in great condition with little to no marks on the inside. thanks!

Propaganda disguised as science by Warren Norred (Arlington, TX)

1 Stars
February 28, 2008
You have to admire a writer like this, who can tidy up all the assumptions in global warming so they disappear in the 'facts'. Who needs to question such an authority!? I mean, if you disagree with Mr. Houghton (we don't use titles of nobility in this country, fyi), well, you are obviously just a dense neanderthal! So instead of really examining whether humans are causing significant global warming, let's just assume it, and then hype the issues that follow. These self-righteous government 'scientists' love to play the part of savior, but never disclose how much money they are making while selling their snake-oil from the government. But oh, if you are debating them, they will quickly sneer against you if you are actually living off of money provided by the free market. The book may be just fine for learning what kind of problems occur when global warming occurs, but it might as well be a book about what kind of problems might occur if a big meteor hits Earth, or aliens attack, and it is just about that relevant. This book is great pabulum for the sheeple.

Yes, It Really Is A Good Complete Briefing on Global Warming by Glenn Gallagher (Sacramento, CA)

5 Stars
January 18, 2008
The title of the book "Global Warming - The Complete Briefing" is aptly named, as it is an excellent briefing, or primer, on the subject of global warming. The book avoids the politics of global warming, which can grow tiresome to those of us who actually work in the climate change field. Instead, the book focuses on the basic science behind global warming, and is a very balanced, non-partisan approach to causes, effects, uncertainties, and potential impacts. The reading level of the book is college level science, similar to a beginning or intermediate level physical science or meteorology class. If you are looking for an over-all guide to the science of global warming, this is a great book. If you are looking for a less academic, more popular-culture point of view on global warming, look into "Hell and High Water - Global Warming - The Solution and the Politics and What We Should Do" by Joseph Romm for an eminently enjoyable, easily readable guide to some of political and cultural aspects of global warming.

Excellent resource if you want to know the facts on global warming and climate change by Sydster (Anacortes, WA)

4 Stars
May 20, 2007
I have just gotten half way through this book but am already finding it an excellent source of background information on global warming and climate change. It has a lot of technical information but is written at a level that most people can understand. I'm using it to prepare for a community education class I'll be teaching and finding it most helpful with facts on the science behind global warming. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to delve into the reasons behind what you're hearing in the news. The author is an internationally recognized expert and obviously knows what he's taking about. The book it written in a well balanced way pointing out the uncertainties and sticking to the facts. I'm looking forward to completing the rest of the book this week.

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