USA) - Böcker

Volume One of this Encyclopedia deals with the physical and chemical dimensions of the Earth system, including for example the atmosphere, the oceans, the cryosphere, and those aspects of the land surface particularly relevant to interactions with other components of the Earth system.It focuses on the most dynamic aspects of the system, on the factors and processes that produce change, and on the programs and individual scientists most concerned with measuring and understanding change.The volume begins with a group of extended review essays, followed by shorter articles on various aspects of the history, current state, and possible future states of the Earth system, including the interactions among the components of this system.Expert contributions feature on: Historical trends in various environmental indicators, both in the past century and extending back through geological timeWhat we have learned, and the tools used to gain knowledge about the functioning of this complex system, from field programs to model simulationsEffects of human intervention on climate change and stratospheric ozone depletionDetails of organized international observing, data management, and research programs in the Earth sciencesBrief biographies of a selection of leading scientistsThis volume represents a uniquely valuable source of focused, timely, and authoritative information relating to the issues of global environmental change. It has been constructed broad enough in scope to illuminate every corner of the relevant geophysical sciences, while remaining concise and readily usable by the non-specialist.

Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change deals with the fundamental science that underpins the understanding of quantities and processes that control the basic biogeochemical cycles, and the associated changes in ecosystem physiology and structure under current and predicted human-driven global environmental change. These changes also include the dramatic loss of species, and the world's reorganization of biota towards higher homogenization.Main themes covered includes: spatial scales of the biosphere including species, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, and the Earth system as a wholea description of the most important efforts of a number of international programs, fundamental in the development of thinking in this new field of scienceThe new understanding provided in this volume forms the basic building blocks allowing: integration of the biospheric processes and quantities with the Earth's physical system into one single Earth systemdetection of changes in the world's ecosystems' function and structure, both as already visible impacts of global change and also as indicators of changedevelopment of the capability to predict impacts on the biosphere brought about by global environmental changes over the next few decades to century.The information within this volume will enable scientists to develop the technical capabilities and policy tools to mitigate and adapt to undesirable changes.

Human Genetics concerns the study of genetic forces in man. By studying our genetic make-up we are able to understand more about our heritage and evolution. Some of the original, and most significant research in genetics centred around the study of the genetics of complex diseases - genetic epidemiology. This is the third in a highly successful series of books based on articles from the Encyclopedia of Biostatistics. This volume will be a timely and comprehensive reference, for a subject that has seen a recent explosion of interest following the completion of the first draft of the Human Genome Mapping Project. The editors have updated the articles from the Human Genetics section of the EoB, have adpated other articles to give them a genetic feel, and have included a number of newly commissioned articles to ensure the work is comprehensive and provides a self-contained reference.