Abstract
Climate change science is a part of Earth science. One cannot study the Earth and not study climate; and climate is changing throughout the globe. Weather is also changing and the study of weather is also part of Earth science. The faint early Sun paradox is discussed and some of the early evidence from the geologic past is presented. The four premises of the Gaia hypothesis or theory are given and reasons are stated for and against the hypothesis or theory. The Great Oxygenation Event is introduced with the role of cyanobacteria in the early Earth atmosphere. There are different kinds of ways to conduct scientific work and these are discussed. Examples of good science, bad science, and non-science are given. Different scales and their importance are discussed. Fractals are introduced.
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Additional Readings
Barnsley, M. F., & Rising, H. (1993). Fractals everywhere. Boston: Academic Press Professional. ISBN 0-12-079061-0.
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Sagan, C. (1995). The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a candle in the dark (p. 261). A Ballantine Book, New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-53512-X.
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Farmer, G.T., Cook, J. (2013). Climate Change Science as Earth Science. In: Climate Change Science: A Modern Synthesis. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5757-8_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5757-8_7
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