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This book provides a synthesis of the past decade of research into global changes that occurred in the earth system in the past. Focus is achieved by concentrating on those changes in the Earth´s past environment that best inform our evaluation of current and future global changes and their consequences for human populations. The book stands as a ten year milestone in the operation of the Past Global Changes (PAGES) Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). It seeks to provide a quantitative understanding of the Earth´s environment in the geologically recent past and to define the envelope of natural environmental variability against which anthropogenic impacts on the Earth System may be assessed. A set of color overhead transparencies based on the figures in the book is available free on the PAGES website (www.pages-igbp.org) for use in teaching and lecturing.

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The Societal Relevance of Paleoenvironmental Research.- The Late Quaternary History of Atmospheric Trace Gases and Aerosols: Interactions Between Climate and Biogeochemical Cycles.- The History of Climate Dynamics in the Late Quaternary.- The Late Quaternary History of Biogeochemical Cycling of Carbon.- Terrestrial Biosphere Dynamics in the Climate System: Past and Future.- The Climate of the Last Millennium.- The Role of Human Activities in Past Environmental Change.- Challenges of a Changing Earth: Past Perspectives, Future Concerns.- Appendix A - The Past Global Changes (PAGES) Program.- Appendix B - The PAGES Data System.- References.- Acknowledgments.

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From the reviews:

"This is a comprehensive overview and thorough summary of paleoclimate research, presented with an eye firmly on the ball of future climate change. ... This book will sit adjacent to the ever-growing collection of IPCC Scientific Assessment volumes on my bookshelf. ... There are lots of well thought-out and nicely crafted figures in each, ideal for presentation to a lay audience or a class. ... I´m planning a graduate reading seminar next quarter based on this book. Surely this is the sincerest form of praise." (David Archer, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, April, 2005)

"This book is a major addition to the field of climate science. ... Every chapter is written by highly knowledgeable experts in a crisp and well-focused style. ... The high quality and consistent tone of the chapters reflect hard work by the editors and contributors. ... The graphics are excellent, and the price is reasonable. ... This handsome and informative volume is a superb summary of the range of research that will achieve that goal." (William F. Ruddiman, Journal of Quaternary Science, Vol. 20 (3), 2005)

"The editors and authors have successfully taken on the daunting task of defining the emerging field of paleoenvironmentology. ... The volume is an essential reference for any scientists actively involved in the study of past environmental changes. The volume is written in an accessible enough manner for non-specialists ... interested in learning more about the lessons that can be drawn from studying past changes in our environment." (Michael E. Mann, Eos, Vol. 84 (40), 2003)

"The book is written by a team of recommended scientists who carefully synthesized the important modern literature. ... Regarding its scientific content, richness and its degree of compilation the book is exemplary. ... I would like to recommend, for future studies, to continue to strengthen the interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists in order to get a more comprehensive diagnosis on the relevant synoptic scale dynamical processes. ... This excellent book is recommended to all scientists or laypersons interested in past and future climate and global change." (H. Wanner, Meteorologische Zeitschrift, Vol. 12 (6), 2003)

"It stands as a synthesis of our current knowledge and understanding about forcing factors and records of climate change throughout the Holocene. It very much succeeds in this through its thorough analyses of the subject and the high quality of its diagrams ... . The book is also a very useful source of up-to-date references on Holocene change. ... provides an excellent synthesis of its subject, for researchers as well as for advanced undergraduates following courses in environmental change." (Harriet Allen, The Holocene, Vol. 14 (3), 2004)

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