Overview
From an American hero and dedicated scientist: A compelling introduction to the changes taking place in Earth's climate, written for the audience that matters most to our planet's future.
Beginning with Sally Ride's unique, astronaut's-eye view of Earth's fragile atmosphere, Mission: Planet Earth describes how water, air, and other climate systems shape our world, and how a disruption in one part of the system can spread through the entire planet. Drawing on the latest scientific research and presenting a clear, even-handed account of the current state of climate studies, illustrated with helpful diagrams and stunning photographs of and from the front lines of climate change, here is a celebration of Earth's natural complexity—and a call to action for a new generation.
Synopsis
From an American hero and dedicated scientist: A compelling introduction to the changes taking place in Earth's climate, written for the audience that matters most to our planet's future.
Beginning with Sally Ride's unique, astronaut's-eye view of Earth's fragile atmosphere, Mission: Planet Earth describes how water, air, and other climate systems shape our world, and how a disruption in one part of the system can spread through the entire planet. Drawing on the latest scientific research and presenting a clear, even-handed account of the current state of climate studies, illustrated with helpful diagrams and stunning photographs of and from the front lines of climate change, here is a celebration of Earth's natural complexity—and a call to action for a new generation.
Children's Literature
A legendary astronaut and a distinguished science educator have teamed up to produce a sobering and unsparing examination of the causes and consequences of global climate change. This is not a book for the weak-minded or the faint-hearted. While the scientific explanations for climate change are presented in a lucid and engaging way (e.g., following the journey of one imagined water molecule as it travels for centuries around the planet), and while helpful diagrams and striking photos are included, the book is filled with text, and the text is filled with information. And all the information leads inexorably to the inescapable conclusion that "Earth's climate is changing—and it's changing now. The evidence is all around. The air and oceans are warming. Earth's ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising, and storms are more intense." If you have ever wondered why thawing permafrost should matter to you, Ride and O'Shaughnessy will tell you. This may be the most frightening book you will ever read, made all the more frightening because its authors are so careful in their reasoning, and so clear in their argumentation. Purchase this together with the companion book, Mission: Save the Planet, so that young readers can channel their despair into positive, and perhaps even planet-saving, action. Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D.