Documents & Readers

An unsorted collection of papers and websites found in the Internet either full of facts or good readings and appropiate to bring someone into action.

Dr. James E. Hansen
Case for Vermont (Expert report submitted to the United States District Court)
Dr. James E. Hansen Sep. 2006
... Large uncertainty would probably always accompany a purely model-based estimate of climate sensitivity. Fortunately, the Earth's history provides more accurate knowledge of global climate response to known climate forcings. This empirical information is our best measure of climate sensitivity. The combination of empirical data from the Earth's history with climate modeling studies allows better understanding of historical climate changes and provides research tools that are needed to reliably project the effects of human-made climate forcings on future climate. ...
 
Climate Change Futures (Health, Ecological and Economic Dimensions)
The Center for Health and the Global Environment Harvard Medical School Nov. 2005
... At the same time, recovery, adaptation and prevention open the door to enormous opportunities. Developing a diversified portfolio of safe, well-distributed and nonpolluting energy sources, with hybrids and complementing technologies, can fortify energy security, bolster public health, promote economic activity and help stabilize the climate. Bold initiatives and innovative measures spearheading a well-funded, well-insured clean energy transition may be just the components needed to build a sustainable engine of growth for the 21st century. ...
 
Remote Sensing Tutorial
Evidence for Global Warming (part of Remote Sensing Tutorial)
Dr. Mitchell K. Hobish
At first glance, the themes considered under the purview of Earth System Science (ESS) might seem to be a hodgepodge of unrelated subjects. While the actual interrelationships may at first glance seem unconnected on this page, it does give several examples of some of the frequently cited topics in different subjects under study (e.g., volcanic eruptions, ocean parameters (particularly sealevel rise), the Greenhouse effect, polar temperatures; El Niño; the Ozone Hole), while showing how observations from space contribute to monitoring these phenomena. Of special interest are the predicted changes in temperatures, sugar maple distribution, and grain yield, regionally or globally, if the current mean carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere is doubled.
 
Eating up the Amazon (The Truth behind the Bean)
Greenpeace International April 2006
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. It is home to nearly 10% of the world's mammals1 and a staggering 15% of the world's known land-based plant species, with as many as 300 species of tree in a single hectare. The region is also home to about 220,000 people from 180 different indigenous nations3 who live deep in the rainforest, along with many more traditional forest-dependent communities. The rainforest provides these people with everything from food and shelter to tools and medicines, and plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of indigenous peoples.
 
Impacts of a Warming Arctic (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment)
Cambridge University Press 2004
The Arctic is of special importance to the world and it is changing rapidly. It is thus essential that decision makers have the latest and best information available regarding ongoing change in the Arctic. This report is a plain language synthesis of the key findings of the Arctic Climate Assessment (ACIA), designed to make the scientific findings accessible to policymakers and the broader public. The ACIA is a comprehensively researched, fully referenced, and independetly reviewed evaluation of arctic climate change and ist impact for the region and the world. It has involved an international effort by hundreds of scientists over four years, and also includes the special kowledge of indignous people.