Global Change

The rapid growth in the study of the Earth, its environs and life in the biosphere has progressed to the point where it is now possible to think seriously of fashioning a bold, holistic investigative approach that will deepen and strengthen our understanding of the planet's subtle, and often synergistic, physical, chemical and biological processes. Global Change, the proceedings of a symposium sponsored by the International Council of Scientific Unions in September 1984, addresses this possibility through its multidisciplinary collection of papers, presented by an impressive list of active researchers from all over the world. The oceans, atmosphere; lithosphere, hydrosphere, biota and the solar - terrestrial domain are examined as a single system, in order to make a comprehensive exploration of the interaction between the physical and living world. A prospective approach is predominant throughout which, it is hoped, will ultimately lead to a sound scientific, global strategy for dealing with environmental crises.