ISBN : 9780198779308
Changing concentrations of greenhouse gasses are key to our changing climate. Biogochemical Cycles and Climate examines the interaction of the main biogeochemical cycles of the earth with the physics of climate from the perspective of the earth as an integrated system. Biogeochemical cycles play a fundamental role in the Earth's system - they describe the movement of matter and transfer of energy around the planet. This text aims to answer some fundamental questions. How have the cycles of key nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and water changed, both in the geological past and more recently through the impact of humans on the Earth System? How do these cycles interact with each other and affect the physical properties of climate? How can we use this knowledge to mitigate some of the impacts of changing biogeochemistry on climate, and the Earth's habitability and resilience? Understanding the complex interactions of biogeochemistry with the Earth's climate is crucial for understanding past and current changes in climate and above all, for the future sustainable management of our planet.
1 Introduction
2 Climate variability, climate change and Earth system sensitivity
3 Biogeochemistry and climate: the tools
4 The physics of radiation
5 Aerosols and climate
6 Physics and dynamics of the atmosphere
7 Physics and dynamics of the oceans
8 The hydrological cycle and climate
9 The carbon cycle and climate
10 Methane cycling and climate
11 The nitrogen cycle and climate
12 Phosphorus, sulphur, iron, oxygen and climate
13 The future of climate change: Adaptation, mitigation, geo-engineering and decarbonisation
14 Reflections of the anthropocene