Thin Ice: The Inside Story of Climate Science

Gr 11 Up—Climatology is the study of long- term weather conditions. With the advent of concern regarding global warming, climatologists have come under increasing attack by the deniers of climate change. Simon Lamb, a personable New Zealand geologist, sets out to answer some questions regarding the men and women who study and forecast future climate conditions. Who are they? What do they do? And are they credible scientists? In this comprehensive documentary, he travels to the work places of biologists, geologists, atmospheric chemists, atmospheric physicists, meteorologists, oceanographers, climate modelers, and ocean chemists, among others. Lamb journeys to the Antarctic, the Southern Ocean, Europe, and America, where he shows the sophisticated science and research and gives a human face to the men and women dedicated to this work. These international scientists, often young and always articulate, exude enthusiasm for their work and an unexpected optimism for the future. The level-headed narration, though alarming, is not alarmist, and the excellent accompanying soundtrack adds, rather than interferes, with the story being told. Dense with facts, but nonetheless accessible for more advanced students, this accurate portrayal of the science behind the crisis is a vital resource for students of the environment.—Eva Elisabeth Von Ancken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School Library, Pawling, NY