Glacier: Nature and Culture

As major actors in the unfolding drama of climate change, glaciers feature prominently in Earth's past and its future. Wherever on the planet we live, glaciers affect each of us directly. They control the atmospheric and ocean circulations that drive the weather; they supply drinking and irrigation water to millions of people; and they protect us from catastrophic sea-level rise. The very existence of glaciers affects our view of the planet and of ourselves, but it is less than 200 years since we realised that ice ages come and go, and that glaciers once covered much more of the planet's surface than they do now.

An inspiration to artists, a challenge for engineers, glaciers mean different things to different people. Crossing the boundaries between art, environment, science, nature and culture, Glacier: Nature and Culture uniquely considers glaciers from a myriad perspectives, revealing their complexity, majesty and importance, but also their fragility.

Preface

1 Ways of Thinking about Glaciers
2 How Glaciers Work
3 Ice Ages: Glaciers Come, Glaciers Go
4 A Short History of Glacier Science
5 Glaciers and the Big Global System
6 Glacier Economics: Hazards, Resources, Politics
7 Glaciers in Art
8 Glacier Stories and Songs . . . Once upon a Glacier
9 Adventure, Exploration, Inspiration
10 Glaciers and the Future

Some Notable Glaciers
References
Associations and Websites
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index