The Fate of Greenland

...the book gives a refreshingly clear picture of the science of studying climate change and of the curious, dedicated scientists in action.

Publishers Weekly

This book teaches us a lot about how to do science and how to investigate difficult problems about the causes of environmental change. It shows that abrupt climate changes really have happened and puts forward likely mechanisms. It tells us a great deal about the wonders of Greenland and how important the country is as a window on to the recent glaciations. And it makes the whole idea of sudden, grave climate shocks arising from greenhouse emissions seem terribly plausible, even if it does not predict any particular shocks. It is not a story about lands' end, but it is a very fine tribute to [Gary] Comer.

Times Higher Education

Scientists and non-scientists from all walks of life will find this an eloquent and timely read.

Rick Docksai

The Futurist

[A] gripping rationale for their simple plea—'Pay attention to Greenland.'

Bud Ward

The Yale Forum

This book captures a unique view behind the scenes at a special time in climate science. It is an important work for several reasons: it connects past and potential future climate shifts that have large societal impacts to the mechanics of how the climate system works, and provides a glimpse of the personal detective work the authors have each engaged in as they and others have constructed our present understanding. It also captures well-informed views of how climate changes have worked in the recent past from the perspectives of scientists who have been at the forefront of unraveling aspects of this system. The Fate of Greenland is an excellent reference for establishing a working view of the planet on climate and glacial timescales. This is the right book, with the right tone, to bring this subject to a general audience.

Mark Fahnestock, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire

This is the best accounting of abrupt climate change available—best because the science is on-target and nuanced and the storytelling is superb.

Peter Kareiva, Chief Scientist and Vice President, The Nature Conservancy

While abrupt changes in the Earth's climate system occur with some frequency, the drivers of these dramatic events are poorly understood. Nowhere are such occurrences more prominent than in Greenland, where several abrupt changes have occurred during the period since the arrival of Norse settlers in the 10th century. In this accessible, illuminating, and richly illustrated book, several prominent climate scientists focus on the case of Greenland to explore the causes and consequences of rapid climate change events.

Oran R. Young, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California at Santa Barbara