Witness To A Changing Earth : A Geologist’s Journey Learning About Natural and Human-caused Global Change

This book is of interest to all of you willing to gain perspective both in time and in depth about the global environmental crises we are facing in the Anthropocene as well as pondering potential solutions. Humans are dominating the Earth’s environment and causing global changes in the most recent geologic time called the Anthropocene. Global changes are caused by both natural events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, or caused by humans like global warming and pollution of air, water, and soil. The author documents all types of global changes, beyond climate change, pointing out the risks for humanity when all these changes combine in time. Hans Nelson describes global changes while traveling through an earth scientist’s 60-year global journey. Throughout his memoirs, the author provides many humorous examples of adventures taking place during the scientific studies on land and at sea. He makes suggestions for a sustainable planet and shows that humans worldwide in the past, and can in the future, work together on solutions for global change problems. Students can use this book to learn about the many aspects of global change and methods that marine geologists use to obtain data on geologic hazards, resources, and environmental changes. Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Author 1 Introduction References Part I The Journey 2 First Lessons in Global Change 2.1 Youth Adventures 2.2 Beginning Biological Lessons 2.3 Broadening My Horizons 2.4 Crater Lake Turning Point 2.5 Storm of a Century 2.6 The Deep Sea PhD 2.7 Sea Legs and Tsunami 2.8 Around the World in 180 days References 3 Alaskan Lessons 3.1 Earthquake and Ignored Geologic Warnings 3.2 Looking for Offshore Gold 3.3 Hard and Humorous Logistics Lessons 3.4 Mercury Pollution 3.5 Encounters with Bear and Walrus 3.6 Assessing Hazards for Petroleum Development 3.7 Risks at Sea and on Shore 3.8 Gas in the Sea Bottom 3.9 Ships Crew—The Good and the Bad 3.10 Budget Cuts and Last Cruises 3.11 A Ship with no Captain References 4 Global Lessons 4.1 Crater Lake and Volcanic Hazards 4.2 A Flying Boat at Crater Lake 4.3 Politics and Science 4.4 Tiller Whales 4.5 Disappearing Walrus 4.6 Mediterranean Sea 4.7 Gulf of Mexico 4.8 Gulf of Mexico Hazards 4.9 Lake Baikal Russia 4.10 Russian Adventures 4.11 Corsica and Var France 4.12 Antarctic Natural World 4.13 Earthquakes and Hazards 4.14 New Millennium Studies References Part II Earth in Peril 5 Climate Change Patterns 5.1 Climate and Global Warming Background 5.2 Increased Greenhouse Gases 5.3 Acid Ocean 5.4 Rising Ocean Temperature and Sea Level 5.5 Diminishing Polar Ice, Mountain Glaciers, Permafrost 5.6 Past 20 years of Record-Breaking Temperatures 5.7 Worse Extreme Weather Events 5.8 Increasing Extinction Rates 5.9 Natural Versus Human-Caused Climate Change 5.10 Message to Global Warming Deniers and Skeptics References 6 Other Global Changes 6.1 The Importance of Combined Global Changes 6.2 Energy and Global Warming 6.3 The Energy Future 6.4 Air Pollution 6.5 Water Pollution and Limited Supply 6.6 Soil Pollution and Farmland Loss 6.7 Radioactive Pollution of Air, Water and Soil 6.8 Ocean Pollution, Fisheries and Coastal Habitat Loss 6.9 Population Growth 6.10 Lake Tanganyika and Combined Global Change References Part III Our Choice 7 Solutions for a Sustainable Earth 7.1 Status of Global Change Education 7.2 Revolution in Education 7.3 Saving Our Planet 7.4 Sustainable Earth Take Home Points 7.5 Solutions for Global Change 7.5.1 International Agreements 7.5.2 National and Local Agreements 7.5.3 Technology and Education 7.5.4 Media Coverage 7.6 The Future for Humans References Further Reading and Information Index