Volume One of this Encyclopedia deals with the physical and chemical dimensions of the Earth system, including for example the atmosphere, the oceans, the cryosphere, and those aspects of the land surface particularly relevant to interactions with other components of the Earth system.

It focuses on the most dynamic aspects of the system, on the factors and processes that produce change, and on the programs and individual scientists most concerned with measuring and understanding change.

The volume begins with a group of extended review essays, followed by shorter articles on various aspects of the history, current state, and possible future states of the Earth system, including the interactions among the components of this system.

Expert contributions feature on:

• Historical trends in various environmental indicators, both in the past century and extending back through geological time
• What we have learned, and the tools used to gain knowledge about the functioning of this complex system, from field programs to model simulations
• Effects of human intervention on climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion
• Details of organized international observing, data management, and research programs in the Earth sciences
• Brief biographies of a selection of leading scientists

This volume represents a uniquely valuable source of focused, timely, and authoritative information relating to the issues of global environmental change. It has been constructed broad enough in scope to illuminate every corner of the relevant geophysical sciences, while remaining concise and readily usable by the non-specialist.