Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene

Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene, Second Edition, Six Volume Set, once again provides a topical-based synthesis of the unprecedented rise of humanity’s ecological footprint, the result of exponential population growth, coupled with run-away consumption of the planet’s finite ecosystem services. This new edition captures our current understanding of the actual effects of human population growth on the world’s resources, whether climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, soil erosion, poor air quality, or undrinkable water. Since publication of the first edition, the Anthropocene has been even more widely debated among scientists, humanists, conservationists, industry leaders, politicians and others over precisely when it began, what to call it, if it should be an official geological epoch, whether it can be contained in time, and how it will affect future generations. Sustainability has been a growing issue for the Earth's ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Humans are now using up the world's natural resources at an unsustainable rate. This is causing huge problems for the natural ecosystems, agricultural systems, and water supplies, especially in the Global South. Climate change research, through field observation and remote sensing, has enabled improved understanding of its effects, allowing us to project future effects and the adaptation measures they require. These are essential topics - all of which are fully covered in the encyclopedia. Given the high degree of public and media attention on these topics, a revised edition is timely. With over 200 concise and focused chapters written by leading scholars in the field, this reference work is uniquely positioned to make this knowledge accessible to a wide, global audience.