The Two–Mile Time Machine – Ice Cores, Abrupt Climate Change & Our Future: Ice Cores, Abrupt Climate Change, and Our Future

Alley, the author of this informative, entertaining and thought-provoking book, is one of the world’s leading climate research scientists.Yes, informative, because it describes in great clarity the major mechanisms of constantly changing climate over hundreds of thousands of years. And yes, entertaining, through Alley’s description of the daily hardships, challenges and excitement of drilling into the ice-sheet in sub-zero temperatures in central Greenland, and then carefully analysing a two-mile long, 5-inch diameter ice-core. And thought-provoking too, through his carefully detailed analyses of the possible effects of future climate change – and whether human activities have a significant impact on the changes.Whilst tackling a complex, scientific subject, The Two-Mile Mile Machine is not written for scientists, instead Alley aims to inform the non-scientific reader of one the most incredibly important issues of today by using his practical experience in the Arctic and Antarctic.Alley’s handling of these complex issues of constant climate change is so refreshing. His descriptions of the analyses of the layers in the ice-core, and of the ocean conveyers, especially the North Atlantic and the impact of ice-melts from the Hudson Bay and Canada, are particularly helpful to understanding the history and probable causes of climate change in the northern hemisphere – especially northern Europe. Highly recommended – whether you are a climate change sceptic or fully convinced of anthropogenic global warming.The author leaves you with his best assessment, based on current understanding, of whether or not anthropogenic activities are likely to affect our climate. Credit to Alley, he leaves the reader’s final decision to you! Oh, and even though this book was written back in 2000, the results of Alley's ice-core research are still relevant to today's climate change debate.

Great book, will definitely be good for climate change skeptics. Easy to read with some basic scientific knowledge though can still read comfortably without in-depth knowledge of physics etc. I studied this for a university essay, very good. My lecturers recommend this book so that says it all.

A thorough explanation of why the earth goes through ice age cycles. I have given this book to several people who are interested but everyone should understand the concepts laid out in this book.

～グリーンランドの氷床コア研究についての話が半分、その後気候変動の話、気候変動の社会へのインパクトで半分、と言った内容です。気候変動の話は、グリーンランドとの繋がりから察せられるように、ブロッカーのベルトコンベアモデルに則った北部大西洋の海洋と関連した話が中心です。気候変動の社会の影響については、謙虚に過ぎるぐらいの筆致ですが、それ～～が現実（判らないことだらけ）と言うものでしょう。日本語訳が出版されていますが、英語も平易で地球科学・環境科学に興味のある学生、院生に広く勧められる本だと思います。値段も易いしね。～

No one can dispute Alley's credentials in climatology. He is one of the most experienced in glaciology which is where most of what we know about the history of climate comes from. Here in plain language he describes how climate works and how drilling into ice tells us about climate's past. That past reveals larger and faster changes than civilized man has ever seen. The causes are many and complex. But we are far from knowing all of those causes and how they react with each other. We can be certain, however that significant climate change is not the result of a simplistic phenomenon.Alley writes as a scientist, not as a politician or advocate. He welcomes dissent and like all good scientists realizes that it is the road to progress. Try this. "What are the odds that natural or human activities will trigger an abrupt climate change big enough, fast enough, and soon enough to matter in economic discussions? The simple answer again is that we do not know." .... "Much knowledge is needed before we can begin to predict the known light switch, and it remains possible, though unproven, that "chaos" in the system will render such predictions difficult or impossible". "Nature certainly can start the climate jumping again. But can humans? The answer is 'maybe".I have read dozens of books on climate change and have studied it for nineteen years. If you want the best general book on this subject, one that tries to make a complex science understandable, that even uses real humor, then read this. It is a book that is clear on its science. That is so because it is not dirtied up with politics, social advocacy or secular religion. After reading it, think for yourself. Then you will realize that scientific forecasts for the future of climate are merely the opinions of some scientists and those opinions are all over the place.Opinions are not science. Clear, falsifiable conclusions based on real evidence are. Such does not exist for the future of our climate. One should not confuse the elevation of some scientific opinion to authority with science itself. Science arose in opposition to authority. If you are truly interested in the real nature and status of the science of climate, read this.