Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary
- Book Review,
by Raymond S. Bradley
From Book News, Inc.
Allows specialists in any of the subdisciplines investigating past climate to understand at least the basics of what is happening in other areas of the field. Covers paleoclimatic reconstruction, climate and climatic variation, dating methods, ice cores, marine sediments and corals, non-marine geological and biological evidence, pollen analysis, dendroclimatology, documentary data, and paleoclimate models. Appends calculations and web-based resources. Updated throughout from the 1985 edition. All the front matter mistakenly identifies the volume number as 64. Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR
William R. Green, The Leading Edge, April 2000
"Paleoclimatology is a definite "must-have" for anyone working in climate studies and highly recommended for anyone seriously interested in our climate."
Review
Praise for the First Edition
"[The first edition of Quaternary Paleoclimatology] is THE REFERENCE FOR QUATERNARY PALEOCLIMATES, especially for dating, methodologies, and an overview of our knowledge of the history and evolution of Quaternary environments. Ray Bradley is uniquely situated to undertake this second edition because of his broad knowledge...and his recent and current leadership roles in the national and international research community, which ensures that he is totally up to date."
-J. Kutzbach, Center for Climatic Research, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
"There is no question about the author's competence as a paleoclimatologist [or] his ability to complete the task.... The book [is] a comprehensive compilation of approaches to paleoclimatology.... The approaches and methods employed for Quaternary studies are well covered in the book."
- J.P. Kennett, Chair, Department of Geological Sciences, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA (letter; February 2, 1998)
Review
Praise for the First Edition
"[The first edition of Quaternary Paleoclimatology] is THE REFERENCE FOR QUATERNARY PALEOCLIMATES, especially for dating, methodologies, and an overview of our knowledge of the history and evolution of Quaternary environments. Ray Bradley is uniquely situated to undertake this second edition because of his broad knowledge...and his recent and current leadership roles in the national and international research community, which ensures that he is totally up to date."
-J. Kutzbach, Center for Climatic Research, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
"There is no question about the author's competence as a paleoclimatologist [or] his ability to complete the task.... The book [is] a comprehensive compilation of approaches to paleoclimatology.... The approaches and methods employed for Quaternary studies are well covered in the book."
- J.P. Kennett, Chair, Department of Geological Sciences, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA (letter; February 2, 1998)
Book Description
Raymond S. Bradley provides his readers with a comprehensive and up-to-date review of all of the important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, dating and paleoclimate modeling. Two comprehensive chapters on dating methods provide the foundation for all paleoclimatic studies and are followed by up-to-date coverage of ice core research, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating, tree rings and historical records. New methods using alkenones in marine sediments and coral studies are also described. Paleoclimatology, Second Edition, is an essential textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students studying climatology, paleoclimatology and paleooceanography worldwide, as well as a valuable reference for lecturers and researchers, appealing to archaeologists and scientists interested in environmental change.
* Contains two up-to-date chapters on dating methods
* Consists of the latest coverage of ice core research, marine sediment and coral studies, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, tree rings, and historical records
* Describes the newest methods using alkenones in marine sediments and long continental pollen records
* Addresses all important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction
* Includes an extensive chapter on the use of models in paleoclimatology
* Extensive and up-to-date bibliography
* Illustrated with numerous comprehensive figure captions
Book Info
Provides a contemporary overview of the field of paleoclimatology which has become a major field in earth systems research and of vital importance to concerns over future global changes.
From the Back Cover
Praise for the first edition:
"An indispensable work of reference for scientists and students alike."
--Quarternary Science Reviews
"There can be little doubt that overall this book is a great success in the way the information is assimilated, explained and placed in a global context."
--Journal of Quarternary Science
"A book which ought to be read as a primer by anyone with a critical interest in the field."
--Earth Surface Processes and :Landforms
"Unrivaled in the sophistication with which it examines a wide range of methods."
--K.W. Butzer, Journal of Archeological Science
"A resounding success... indispensable reading for anyone involved in paleoclimatic reconstruction or paleoclimatic modeling."
--L.D.D. Harvey, University of Toronto
In the fourteen years since the highly successful first edition of Paleoclimatology was published, there have been many advances in the principles and methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, dating, and paleoclimate modeling. The Second Edition has been extensively rewritten and updated to reflect these advances.
Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quarternary is the only book that:
* Covers all the important methods of dating
*Addresses all the important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction
*Reviews the use of models in paleoclimatology
*Contains an extensive and up-to-date bibliography of over 1,700 references
*Is abundantly illustrated with comprehensive figure captions
About the author
Ray Bradley is Professor and Head of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has authored/edited five books and published more than 100 articles on climatology and climate change over a wide range of time scales.
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