The amount of material published on environmental issues continues to grow, comprised of broad generalizations aimed at non-specialists in the field. This edition of "Global Environmental Issues" fills the gap between technical literature and general articles for popular reading. The book takes an interdisciplinary approach to issues such as global warming, ozone depletion, drought and acid rain--those which raise the greatest concern, and emphasizes both their societal and environmental components. While the book is grounded in a sound scientific base, it presents the work in as non-technical manner as possible. The unifying theme is the climatological aspect, and this unique approach is continued in this revised edition. While the main theme is climatological, the contributions of socio-economic, political and cultural elements to these issues are also examined and held in account. "Global Environmental Issues" is a valuable edition of a unique and accessible work on a topic of worldwide concern.

List of figures, List of tables, Preface, Acknowledgements, List of acronyms, 1 SETTING THE SCENE, 2 THE ATMOSPHERE, 3 DROUGHT, FAMINE AND DESERTIFICATION, 4 ACID RAIN, 5 ATMOSPHERIC TURBIDITY, 6 THE THREAT TO THE OZONE LAYER, 7 THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND GLOBAL WARMING, 8 PRESENT PROBLEMS, FUTURE PROSPECTS, Glossary, Bibliography, Index