Engineering Response to Global Climate Change: Planning a Research and Development Agenda
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Summary
This book goes beyond the analysis offered by typical works on this subject to propose real solutions to problems caused by changes in the earth's climate. From new ways to cut energy consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions to discussions of the possibilities of sea walls and climate-altering technologies, Engineering Response to Global Climate Change presents new conceptual tools and suggests research necessary for correcting and alleviating problems caused by global warming.
Engineers are just now being asked to consider the problems of climate change and the possible technological responses. This complete reference covers the whole range of potential impacts of climate change and their engineering solutions. Of special interest is the chapter on geoengineering, which suggests how engineers may someday be able to intervene in planetary processes to reduce the effects of global warming.
Edited by a regional director of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change and offering the collective expertise of a team of expert authors, each renowned in his or her field, this book offers thorough coverage of this important topic from an engineering and technology perspective.
Table of Contents
The Fifth Revolution, R.G. Watts
Introduction
The Nature of the Problem
The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change
Detecting Climate Change
Has the Time Come to Respond?
About This Book
Appendix: A Brief History of the Greenhouse Problem
References
Emissions and Budgets of Radiatively Important Atmospheric Constituents, D. Wuebbles, J. Edmonds, J. Dignon, W. Emanuel, D. Fisher, R. Gammon, R. Hangebrauck, R. Harris, M.A.K. Khalil, J. Spence, and T.M. Thompson
Introduction
Budgets of Radiatively Important Constituents
Reducing the Uncertainties in Greenhouse Gas Budgets
Stabilizing the Atmosphere
References
Energy Demand Reduction, A. Rosenfeld, B. Atkinson, L. Price, B. Ciliano, J.I. Mills, K. Friedman, E. Flynn, M. Hopkins, H. Shaw, J. Wilson, F. Wood, R. Reck, and E. Larson
Introduction
Eight Major Recent Studies of Demand Reduction Potential
U.S. Sectoral Analysis
Achievable Savings and Remaining Barriers
Examples of Successes
Proposed Research Development and Demonstration
International Issues
Summary
References
Energy Supply, M. Hoffert, S.D. Potter, J. Delene, P.E. Glaser, M. Golay, H.M. Hubbard, M. Kadiramangalam, A. Perry, M. Steinberg, and C.-J. Winter
Introduction
Energy and Global Change
Energy Supply and Wealth
Toward a Nonfossil Fuel Civilization
References
Water Resources, W.H. McAnally, P.H. Burgi, D. Calkins, R.H. French, J.P. Holland, B. Hsieh, B. Miller, J. Thomas, W.D. Martin, and J.R. Tuttle
Introduction
Problem Overview
Impacts to the Hydrometeorological Cycle
Water Resources Impacts
Issues
Research and Development
References
Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazards: An Assessment of Impacts and Coastal Engineering Research Needs, A. Mehta, R. Dean, H. Kunz, V. Law, S.-C. Lee, and Z. Tarapore
Synopsis
Introduction
Sea Level Change
Impacts of Relative Mean Sea Level Rise
Impacts of Changes in Episodic Events
Predictive Constraints
Research Needs
Elements of Management Responses
Goal and Recommended Tasks
Concluding Comments
References
Agriculture and Biological Systems, N. Scott, G. Arkin, J. DeShazer, G. Evans, G. Hoffman, J. Jones, and J. Walker
Introduction
Climatic Factors of Importance to Agriculture
Potential Adaptations by Agriculture
Engineering Issues Related to the Impacts of Climate Changes on Agriculture
Reduction of Agriculture's Contribution to Atmospheric Change
Research Goals and Objectives
References
Geoengineering Climate, B.P. Flannery, H. Kheshgi, G. Marland, M.C. MacCraken, H. Komiyama, W. Broecker, H. Ishatani, N. Rosenberg, M. Steinberg, T. Wigley, and M. Morantine
Introduction
The Potential for Climate Modification
Goals and Criteria
Options for Sequestering Carbon
Options for Geoengineering the Climate System
Future Research Actions
References
The Engineering Response to Global Environmental Change, R.G. Watts
Introduction
Energy, Time, and Information
The Social Context of Engineering
Opportunities, Challenges, and Possibilities
A Research and Development Agenda
No Regrets
Opportunities
Challenges
Possibilities
References
Appendix: Author List and Affiliations
Index
Editorial Reviews
"If you have a genuine interest in climate change issues you may wish to make a serious effort to find this book...focuses on realistic responses and realistic time frames...Rigorous arguments are presented, not avoiding recourse to mathematics, chemistry, and physics...substantial space is given both to energy demand reduction and to geo-engineering solutions...addresses the serious matter of climate change causes and responses with appropriate respect for the scales involved, in all respects."-Michael Tobis, University of Wisconsin, Madison
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