Providing a concise, up-to-date presentation of current knowledge of climate change and its implications for society as a whole, this new edition has been thoroughly updated and extended to include the latest information. The textbook describes the components of the global climate, considers how the many elements of climate combine to define its behaviour, and reviews how climate change is measured. The book discusses how the causes of climate change can be related to the evidence of change, and modelled to predict future changes. This book is ideally suited for a wide range of introductory courses which consider the impact of a changing climate on the Earth and its inhabitants, within the departments of meteorology, oceanography, environmental science, earth science, geography, agriculture and social science. It will also appeal to a wider audience who wish to get to grips with the gritty issues of climate change.

1. Introduction;

2. Radiation and the Earth's energy balance;

3. The elements of the climate;

4. The measurement of climate change;

5. Statistics, significance and cycles;

6. The natural causes of climate change;

7. Human activities;

8. Evidence of climate change;

9. Consequences of climate change;

10. Modelling the climate;

11. Predicting climate change;

Bibliography;

Glossary;

Index.