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Book Cover
E-book
Author Scholes, R. J., author

Title Climate change : briefings from Southern Africa / Bob Scholes, Mary Scholes and Mike Lucas
Published Johannesburg : Wits University Press, 2015

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Description 1 online resource (xiv, 199 pages) : illustrations (some colour), colour maps
Contents Front Cover ; Title Page ; Copyright Page; Acknowledgements; Table of Contents; Foreword; Acronyms and abbreviations; Preface; How do governments assess climate change?; Sidebar: Climate change sceptics and scientific reasoning; Section 1: Earth system science:The processes that underlie climate change; Introduction ; 1. Why is Earth habitable?; Sidebar: Heat radiation; 2. How do greenhouse gases regulate Earth's temperature?; 3. Is water vapour the most important greenhouse gas?; 4. Why are clouds the wild card in climate change?; 5. Is climate change just part of a long-term natural cycle?
Sidebar: Milankovic cycles6. Are climate variations just due to volcanoes or other Earth processes? ; 7. How do El Niño and La Niña events affect South African weather?; 8. How hot might it get in South Africa this century?; 9. How might the rainfall in Southern Africa change in the twenty-fi rst century?; 10. Are extreme weather events related to climate change?; 11. How do land-use changes and deforestation affect global warming?; 12. What is South Africa's contribution to global warming? ; 13. What happens to carbon dioxide emissions?
14. Can ecosystems keep sucking up carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning?15. Could ocean currents slow down or change direction?; 16. Is there any chance of runaway global warming?; Section 2: Consequences of a changing climate for the Southern African environment; Introduction; 1. How resilient are ecosystems to climate change? ; 2. How will South Africa's plants respond to climate change? ; 3. Could rising carbon dioxide concentrations boost plant growth? ; 4. Is bush encroachment caused by global change? ; 5. Will South Africa's land animals cope with climate change?
6. Are South Africa's birds taking flight?7. Will South Africa run out of water?; 8. How will climate change affect freshwater ecosystems? ; 9. How much, and how fast, will sea level rise?; 10. What is ocean acidification?; Sidebar: The chemistry of ocean acidifi cation and calcification; 11. How will ocean acidification affect marine organisms? ; 12. How is climate change affecting South Africa's coastal seas? ; 13. How is our marine life responding to climate change?; Sidebar: Is the African penguin a victim of climate change?; 14. Will coral reefs survive climate change?
15. Are South Africa's Prince Edward Islands vulnerable to climate change?16. How are Antarctica and the Southern Ocean responding to climate change? ; Sidebar: Why is South Africa so involved in Antarctica?; Section 3: Consequences of a changing climate for society; Introduction; 1. Is the South African economy vulnerable to climate change? ; 2. How will climate change affect agriculture?; 3. Will there be enough food to eat?; 4. Do cow farts really cause global warming? ; 5. How will forestry in South Africa respond to climate change?
Summary Climate change affects us all, but it can be a confusing business. In this book, three scientists with several decades of experience in assessing the potential effects of climate change for the southern African region share their insights. Complex issues are dealt with in plain language, without oversimplification and with attention to accuracy. The material is up-to-date as is possible in such a fast-developing field. Climate Change: Briefings from Southern Africa takes the form of 55 'frequently-asked' questions', each with a brief and clear reply. It is illustrated with colour diagrams and photographs, and examples are tailored to the regional context. The authors' introduction provides an overview of current national and international policies aimed at regulating climate change. The content is divided into four sections, which take the reader through the science of how climate system works; the projected impacts in southern Africa during the twenty-first century; what this means for the South African economy and society; and what can be done to avoid harm. The briefings can be read alone or in sequence. The year 2015 is regarded as a watershed for global climate change action if a global average temperature rise of more than two degrees abbove the pre-Industrial level is to be avoided. This book provides compelling evidence that the impact on agriculture, fisheries, water resources, human health, plants and animals as well as sea levels will be dangerous. However, the book ends on a positive note by offering advice on how the world can avoid such bleak outcomes, while allowing a good life for all. The volume is aimed at interested non-scientists, including business people, decision-makers, ordinary citizens and students
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 190-193) and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Climatic changes -- Africa, Southern
Climatic changes -- Social aspects -- Africa, Southern
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Infrastructure.
SOCIAL SCIENCE -- General.
SCIENCE -- Environmental Science.
Climatic changes
Climatic changes -- Social aspects
Southern Africa
Form Electronic book
Author Scholes, Mary, author
Lucas, Mike, author
ISBN 1868149234
9781868149230
9781868149216
1868149218