THE ENCYCLOPAEDIC DICTIONARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE - Hardcover

Matthews, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340741090 ISBN 13: 9780340741092

Publisher: Routledge, 2001

Synopsis

This volume covers changes affecting the Earth over geological, intermediate and short timescales, including pre-Quarternary, Quarternary, Holocene, historical and modern environmental chages. Recent climatic change is a major focus but other topics covered in detail relate to natural and human-induced changes to the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere. Concepts, theories and issues relating to environmental change are included, as are the diverse sources of evidence of environmental change, the local, regional and global effects of environmental change from poles to the tropics and the approaches and techniques used for reconstructing, dating, monitoring, modelling and predicting change. This involves an interdisciplinary approach extending from the natural environmental sciences into relevant areas of physical, earth, biological, archaeological and social sciences. The dictionary emphasizes the science of environmental change but its social implications are not neglected. Entries range in level from short review articles of around 1000 words which provide an up-to-date introduction to major topics, to concise one or two-sentence definitions of terms likely to be encountered in this field.

About this title

Review

'All in all, The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Environmental Change helps to make sense of the babel that can be so characteristic of the literature and conferences in the environmental sciences and gives excellent support when reading across the disciplines. But beware: if you enjoy following up cross-references, this book may bind your attention longer than you had intended.' (NATURE)

'... a reference work which, because of its comprehensiveness and clarity of layout, prose and illustration, has something to offer everyone who, regardless of background, is concerned with environmental change and with the role played by people in it. This encyclopaedic dictionary can be thoroughly recommended as a gateway to deeper studies.' (THE HOLOCENE)

'The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Environmental Change is a very valuable contribution to the literature on environmental change and the editors are to be congratulated for making an excellent job of such a large and difficult project.' (QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS)

'A valuable feature is the intensity of reference citation throughout; even some brief items have reference lists citing mainly primary sources in the scientific literature. This will be of considerable value to those wishing to follow up particular topics in greater detail ... Most of the references cited have the advantage of being relatively accessible, increasing their usefulness to undergraduate students ... The quality and clarity of writing is extremely high, as are the line drawings and diagrams.' (BRITISH ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN)

... this is very good value. I can strongly recommend this title. (Reference Reviews 2003-10-01)

From the Publisher

This book is an outstanding reference work with contributions from more than 100 international experts in the field of environmental studies. Containing more than 3400 entries, 'The Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Environmental Change' provides definitions and explanations of all the important environmental terms likely to be encountered in this field of study.

The book adopts an interdisciplinary perspective which extends from the natural environmental sciences into relevant areas of the physical, Earth, biological, archaeological and social sciences. This is a major new work which will be an essential sourcebook for anyone interested in the environment, whether at undergraduate, postgraduate or professional level.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0340741090
• ISBN 13: 9780340741092
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 736