global climate change impacts in the united states: a state of knowledge report from the u.s. global...

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This article was downloaded by: [Umeå University Library] On: 21 November 2014, At: 22:00 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Geography Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjog20 Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program Enid L. Lotstein a a Geography and Earth Systems Science at Bronx Community College and City College of New York/City , University of New York , New York , NY , USA Published online: 24 May 2013. To cite this article: Enid L. Lotstein (2013) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program, Journal of Geography, 112:4, 178-178, DOI: 10.1080/00221341.2013.770905 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221341.2013.770905 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

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Page 1: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program

This article was downloaded by: [Umeå University Library]On: 21 November 2014, At: 22:00Publisher: RoutledgeInforma Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House,37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

Journal of GeographyPublication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjog20

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States:A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. GlobalClimate Change Research ProgramEnid L. Lotstein aa Geography and Earth Systems Science at Bronx Community College and City College of NewYork/City , University of New York , New York , NY , USAPublished online: 24 May 2013.

To cite this article: Enid L. Lotstein (2013) Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of KnowledgeReport from the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program, Journal of Geography, 112:4, 178-178, DOI:10.1080/00221341.2013.770905

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221341.2013.770905

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) containedin the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make norepresentations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of theContent. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, andare not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon andshould be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable forany losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoeveror howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use ofthe Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematicreproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in anyform to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions

Page 2: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program

B O O K R E V I E WGlobal Climate Change Impacts in the United States: A State ofKnowledge Report from the U.S. Global Climate Change ResearchProgramThomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, Thomas C. Peterson, Susan J. Hassol, eds.New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 192 pages. Paper ($60.00).ISBN: 9780521144070.

There are many books available on climate changefor specialized or scientific audiences; many require anunderstanding of algebra or other high-level knowledge,and some focus on one highly specific aspect likepaleoclimatology. Global Climate Change Impacts in the UnitedStates: A State of Knowledge Report from the U.S. GlobalClimate Change Research Program, on the other hand, takesa clear and straightforward approach that makes thetopic accessible to a wide variety of lay readers. Even anengaged high school student studying science, ecology,and current events could find the volume useful. ItsFederal Advisory Team authors include scientists fromthe U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense,Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, andTransportation; the Environmental Protection Agency; theNational Aeronautical and Space Administration; theNational Science Foundation; the Smithsonian Institution;and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The authors aim to share information on climate changewith policymakers—upon completion, the report wassubmitted to the President and Congress—and the public.Despite the plethora of writers from various disciplines andagencies, the document is well organized and unified.

“This report summarizes the science of climate changeand the impacts of climate change on the United States,now and in the future,” the authors state in a sectiontitled “About this Report.” “It is largely based on resultsof the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP),and integrates those results with related research fromaround the world. This report discusses climate-relatedimpacts for various sectors and regions across the nation.It is an authoritative scientific report written in plainlanguage, with the goal of informing public and privatedecision making at all levels.” The authors admirably meetthat goal; they not only provide a history of global andnational climate change—including a concise summaryof the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—anddevote extensive focus to impacts, they also discuss whatsociety can do to reduce climate change and outlinemeasures to cope with impacts.

The report is particularly appropriate for geographycourses because of its topical and regional approaches.The authors review the impacts by resource, water, energysupply and use, transportation, agriculture, ecosystems,and human health and society. They subsequently discussclimate change impacts by region within the UnitedStates, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains,Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska, with separate sectionsfor islands and coasts. The full report is available onlineat www.globalchange.gov/usimpacts. Visiting the site wouldafford instructors an additional opportunity to introducetheir students to the latest scientific information anddata on climate change and is an excellent educationalresource.

“Key Findings” and “Key Messages” are listed clearlyand separately, and “Primary Resources” are highlightedwith a series of colorful icons. Students are not requiredto consult a separate glossary; scientific terms are insteadexplained directly within the text. The report is replete withvivid graphs and maps that explain the reality that currentsociety faces. There are even photographs to engage thosereaders unmoved by graphs and maps, as well as extensivepeer-reviewed scientific references for readers who seekthose sources.

Nonscience majors who must choose one science courseas part of a college general education requirement oftenselect a geography class. In recent years, it has becomepopular for students to select a course on climate changeor global warming to fulfill that requirement. Given thatmany humanities majors are not familiar with terms likeanthropogenic and positive feedback, for example, we have anopportunity as geographic and science educators to furthertheir understanding of this topic and to ensure they willbe informed and socially aware citizens. This authoritativedocument supports these goals in an excellent manner.

Reviewed by Enid L. Lotstein, Adjunct Assistant Professor ofGeography and Earth Systems Science at Bronx CommunityCollege and City College of New York/City University of NewYork, New York, NY, USA.

Journal of Geography 112: 178C©2013 National Council for Geographic Education

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