Mathematics of Planet Earth

Our planet faces many challenges. In 2013, an international partnership of more than 140 scientific societies, research institutes, and organizations focused its attention on these issues. This project was called 'Mathematics of Planet Earth' and featured English- and French-language blogs, accessible to non-mathematicians, as part of its outreach activities. This book is based on more than 100 of the 270 English-language blog posts and focuses on four major themes: A Planet to Discover; A Planet Supporting Life; A Planet Organized by Humans; and A Planet at Risk. Readers will learn about the challenges that confront the Earth today, and how mathematics and mathematicians can contribute to a better understanding of these challenges. This book is accessible to a general audience with a basic scientific background. Mathematicians will learn about some planetary challenges which provide mathematical and/or interdisciplinary research problems.

In 2013, an international partnership of more than 140 societies, institutes, and organizations focused its attention on challenges facing the planet, resulting in the 'Mathematics of Planet Earth' project. Based on outreach blog posts from the project, this book is accessible to a general audience with a basic scientific background.

Preface; Part I. A Planet to Discover: 1. Planet Earth; 2. Ocean and atmosphere; 3. Weather and climate; 4. Beyond Planet Earth; Part II. A Planet Supporting Life: 5. Biosphere; 6. Ecology and evolution; Part III. A Planet Organized by Humans: 7. Communication and representation; 8. Energy; 9. Economics and finance; 10. Human behavior; Part IV. A Planet at Risk: 11. Climate change; 12. Biological threats; 13. Predicting catastrophes and managing risk; Contributor index; Name index; Subject index.