Books : El Nino in History: Storming Through the Ages
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 551.6
EAN: 9780813020990
Edition: 1st
ISBN: 0813020999
Label: University Press of Florida
Manufacturer: University Press of Florida
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: September 18, 2001
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Studio: University Press of Florida
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Product Description:
Cesar Caviedes provides a comprehensive historical account of El Nino, the fascinating and disruptive weather phenomenon that has affected weather cycles all over the globe for thousands of years. Combining scientific accuracy with readable presentation, he brings together all existing information, references and clues about past El Nino occurrences and their impact on political, military, social, economic and environmental history. This sweeping demonstration of the impact of climatic fluctuation on human history should be fascinating to the scientific community as well as to the general public. From the extraordinary discovery of Easter Island and Pizarro's conquest of the Incas to the defeat of both Napoleon and Hitler in Russia and the sinking of the Titanic, Caviedes shows how this enigmatic phenomenon has swayed the course of history and human affairs. Seaching historical sources, traditional accounts, archaeological findings and geological evidence in North America, South America and Europe, Caviedes discusses at length the toll that El Ninos have taken on populations in various parts of the world and offers an overview of La Nina, the equally feared twin. Presenting basic concepts necessary to understand the oceanic and meteorological processes associated with El Nino, Caviedes explains how air flows from the Pacific Ocean export heat and humidity to distant parts of the world, describes the impact of these climatic variations on ecological systems, and discusses the methods used to track down past episodes of El Nino and La Nina. He also looks back at the origins of the term "El Nino" among regional fishermen in northern Peru during colonial times and presents a compilation of El Nino events that have occurred in recent centuries.
Average Rating: 
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This book, written by Dr. Cesar Caviedes about the historical implications of El Niño, is an excellent source of information and also a valuable teaching tool for undergraduate teaching. I have used the first chapter to explain to the students of an introductory Environmental Science course at Georgetown University the basic oceanic and meteorological processes that are involved and explain El Niño events with great success. The book does not only offer clear explanations, but it also is rich in ... Read More
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Press attribution of the unsusual weather of 1998-99 to El Nino gave hitherto unprecedented notoriety to this profound weather phenomenon, thus leading much of the public to believe that this was something new. It is very ancient.
Because of an interest in the history of sailing ships, this reviewer thought he was knowledgeable about El Nino, which controls the Humboldt Current flowing up the west coast of South America, significantly affecting sailing ships and vital for Peru's fisheries.
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Dr. César Caviedes' recent book entitled El Niño in History is based on numerous historical references that the author has collected over more than 30 years. In the early chapters of the book oceanic and meteorological mechanisms of El Niño and its counterpart, La Niña, are described. The author then identifies and examines numerous events in political, military, social, economic and cultural history that were influenced by El Niño and La Niña. Events include storms and floods, droughts, military ... Read More
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The author explains in very clear language the complicated El Nino phenomenon and its far-reaching ecological, social, economic and political impacts during the last few centuries. The book is an excellent example of how an interdisciplinary approach can shed light on a complex oceanic-meteorological event and its ramifications throughout the world and human history. The author weaves meteorology, oceanography, history, economics, ecology, and political and social sciences in to a rich account of the history ... Read More
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Dear Sir or Madam, While visiting the city of Toronto in Canada recently I came across a new book about the climate phenomenon "El Nino". After having read this book all I can say that this title is excellent, and probably one of the best documented books published lately on this subject. The historical perspective projected by Dr. Caviedes is of great value to people that dedicates time to think about, or, to study all the latest changes in the weather patterns that we all see nowadays, and some of us experience ... Read More
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