Experimenting on a Small Planet: A History of Scientific Discoveries, a Future of Climate Change and Global Warming

This book is a comprehensive introduction to climate science and global change, written by a geologist who has investigated Earth's climate from warm times to today's changing climate. It explores how humans are conducting an uncontrolled experiment that is leading to unanticipated changes, and how the weather is becoming increasingly chaotic as the planet warms faster than ever before. It includes information from diverse fields to provide a broader view of this developing drama and is written for the layman with little knowledge of science or mathematics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 1001 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book is a comprehensive introduction to climate science and global change, written by a geologist who has dedicated his life to studying Earth's climate, from the warm prehistoric era when dinosaurs roamed to the present-day changing climate. Author Bill Hay takes readers on a journey to understand the intricate workings of the climate system. He explores how humans are unintentionally conducting a grand, uncontrolled experiment, leading to unforeseen changes. We trace the interconnected path of seemingly unrelated discoveries in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and mathematics, which have contributed to our current understanding of how our planet functions. Hay explains why the weather is becoming increasingly chaotic as our planet warms at a faster rate than ever before in its geologic history. He speculates on potential future outcomes and suggests that nature may intervene with unexpected course corrections. While the book is designed for laypersons with limited scientific or mathematical knowledge, it incorporates information from various disciplines to offer a broader perspective to those actively working in the field of climatology. Experimenting on a Small Planet is a must-read for anyone with a genuine interest in global warming and climate change, as it addresses one of the most critical and complex issues of our time. This new edition includes up-to-date data from climate science as of 2021, enhancing its relevance and usefulness for educators and teachers. Additionally, numerous PowerPoint slides are available for download, enabling lecturers and teachers to effectively utilize the book as a foundation for climate change education.

Weight: 2462g
Dimension: 279 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030763411
Edition number: 3rd ed. 2021