Over 4.5 billion years, Earth’s climate has transformed tremendously. Before our more temperate recent past, the planet swung from one extreme to another—from a greenhouse world of sweltering temperatures and high sea levels to a “snowball earth” in which glaciers reached the equator. During this history, we now know, living things and the climate have always influenced and even shaped each other. But the climate has never changed as rapidly or as drastically as it has since the Industrial Revolution.
In this lively and entertaining book, Donald R. Prothero explores the astonishing connections between climate and life through the ages, telling the remarkable stories of the scientists who made crucial discoveries. Journeying through the intertwined evolution of climate and life, he tackles questions such as: Why do we have phytoplankton to thank for the air we breathe? What kind of climate was necessary for the rise of the dinosaurs—or the mammals, their successors? When and how have climatic changes caused mass extinctions? Prothero concludes with the Ice Ages and the Holocene, the role of climate in human history, and the perils of anthropogenic climate change. Understanding why the climate has changed in the past, this timely book shows, is essential to grasping the gravity of how radically human activity is altering the climate today.
"Delegates at COP28 continue their discussions on how to limit and make preparations for future climate change. These discussions, their success or failure will have consequences for all of humanity. Decisions made today will have implications for all future generations too. The publication of a new book that documents the history of our planet’s climate and its connection to life on Earth provides context and delivers a fresh perspective.
The Story of Earth’s Climate in 25 Discoveries is written by Donald R. Prothero. He is an incredibly talented American palaeontologist and geologist with a gift for communication. As adjunct professor of geological sciences at California State Polytechnic University (Pomona, California), the author is well qualified to explain the intimate connection between climate and life on Earth. However, unlike many scientists, Donald R. Prothero’s engaging writing style permits the general reader to understand and grasp sometimes difficult concepts." - Everything Dinosaur
"Paleontologist, Donald Prothero, takes on the hefty task of recounting how life and climate have shaped each other during Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history. The chapter on the end-Cretaceous extinction is a knockout. Prothero has a big problem with the notion that an asteroid impact was the sole cause of this mass extinction, and also with what he sees as an excessive focus on dinosaurs at the expense of other groups. The whole tone and pace shifts as Prothero moves into fifth gear and explains why it is a bit more complicated than ‘big rock hits, everything dies.’ [The book] is rich from concepts, stories and characters – and there is always another apocalypse just a few pages away." - New Scientist
"A clearly-written book that everyone should read." - Trilobite Tales
"In this lively and entertaining book, Donald R. Prothero explores the astonishing connections between climate and life through the ages, telling the remarkable stories of the scientists who made crucial discoveries. This timely book shows, is essential to grasping the gravity of how radically human activity is altering the climate today." - Yale Climate Connections
"A palaeoclimatology chronicle with character, this book successfully continues Prothero's approach of tackling earth science topics in 25 interesting chapters." - NHBS
"Informative… accessible and interesting." - The Inquisitive Biologist
Формат: Скан PDf
In this lively and entertaining book, Donald R. Prothero explores the astonishing connections between climate and life through the ages, telling the remarkable stories of the scientists who made crucial discoveries. Journeying through the intertwined evolution of climate and life, he tackles questions such as: Why do we have phytoplankton to thank for the air we breathe? What kind of climate was necessary for the rise of the dinosaurs—or the mammals, their successors? When and how have climatic changes caused mass extinctions? Prothero concludes with the Ice Ages and the Holocene, the role of climate in human history, and the perils of anthropogenic climate change. Understanding why the climate has changed in the past, this timely book shows, is essential to grasping the gravity of how radically human activity is altering the climate today.
"Delegates at COP28 continue their discussions on how to limit and make preparations for future climate change. These discussions, their success or failure will have consequences for all of humanity. Decisions made today will have implications for all future generations too. The publication of a new book that documents the history of our planet’s climate and its connection to life on Earth provides context and delivers a fresh perspective.
The Story of Earth’s Climate in 25 Discoveries is written by Donald R. Prothero. He is an incredibly talented American palaeontologist and geologist with a gift for communication. As adjunct professor of geological sciences at California State Polytechnic University (Pomona, California), the author is well qualified to explain the intimate connection between climate and life on Earth. However, unlike many scientists, Donald R. Prothero’s engaging writing style permits the general reader to understand and grasp sometimes difficult concepts." - Everything Dinosaur
"Paleontologist, Donald Prothero, takes on the hefty task of recounting how life and climate have shaped each other during Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history. The chapter on the end-Cretaceous extinction is a knockout. Prothero has a big problem with the notion that an asteroid impact was the sole cause of this mass extinction, and also with what he sees as an excessive focus on dinosaurs at the expense of other groups. The whole tone and pace shifts as Prothero moves into fifth gear and explains why it is a bit more complicated than ‘big rock hits, everything dies.’ [The book] is rich from concepts, stories and characters – and there is always another apocalypse just a few pages away." - New Scientist
"A clearly-written book that everyone should read." - Trilobite Tales
"In this lively and entertaining book, Donald R. Prothero explores the astonishing connections between climate and life through the ages, telling the remarkable stories of the scientists who made crucial discoveries. This timely book shows, is essential to grasping the gravity of how radically human activity is altering the climate today." - Yale Climate Connections
"A palaeoclimatology chronicle with character, this book successfully continues Prothero's approach of tackling earth science topics in 25 interesting chapters." - NHBS
"Informative… accessible and interesting." - The Inquisitive Biologist
Формат: Скан PDf
https://www.yakaboo.ua/ua/the-story-of-earth-s-climate-in-25-discoveries-how-scientists-found-the-connections-between-climate-and-life.html