Bret A. The Energy-Climate Continuum: Lessons from Basic Science and History

Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London, 2014. XII, 169 p. 49 illus., 33 illus. in color. — ISBN: 978-3-319-07919-6, ISBN: 978-3-319-07920-2 (eBook).An entertaining, highly informative introduction to the intimate linkage between the energy and climate debates
Illustrates the basic science behind energy and climate with back-of-the-envelope calculations, that even non-experts can easily follow without a calculator
Thus provides an access to getting an accurate feeling for orders of magnitudes from simple estimations
A conversation starter for some of the most debated topics of today
Compares the actual situation with historic cases of societies at a turning point and finds warning as well as encouraging examples
For everyone, who wants to understand the debates about the energy-climate continuum, this is the must-read introductionThis book puts the debates about the energy-climate continuum on a scientific ground!
It is a must-read for everyone, who wants to understand how intimately the energy and climate debates are linked to each other, and who wants to participate in these omnipresent discussions. Antoine Bret explains in his book how fossil fuels became indispensable for our society. He carefully explains how and why this impacts the earth's climate. And he points out that all available fossil fuels will sooner or later be used up. Therefore, he introduces and discusses the alternatives, which are currently considered.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part explains the problem and where we stand today, the second part critically discusses possible elements of solution. The third part illustrates historic case studies, containing both warning as well as encouraging examples of societies at turning points.
This book is a careful introduction to these topics. The basic science behind the problem and the debates are introduced in an understandable and nicely readable fashion. Facts are illustrated with simple back-on-the-envelope calculations, providing a good feeling for orders of magnitudes. A rich appendix provides additional background information for the interested readers. In this way, the book can even be a valuable resource for introductory university courses in physics, climate science, natural science, and many more subjects.
This book is a real conversation starter, and can be recommended to everyone, specialist or non-specialist, who wants to understand the actual energy-climate debates and maybe even involve.Content Level » Popular/general
Keywords » Carbon Sequestration - Climate Change - Energy Sources - Energy Storage - Fossil Fuels - Green House Gas Emissions - Renewable Energies - The Energy-climate Continuum -Wind, Water and Solar Power
Related subjects » Climate Change Impact - Fossil Fuels - Popular Science - Renewable and Green EnergyTable of Contents