Solar Impact: Climate and the Sun - A Conversation with Joanna Haigh

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Joanna Haigh, Professor Emerita of Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London. After inspiring details about how she got into her field of study and how we can encourage more girls to get more interested in science, the conversation examines her research of the influence of the sun and solar variability on our climate, how energy emitted by the Sun in the form of heat, light and ultraviolet radiation warms the earth and drives our climate, how data from satellites and modelling the processes helps us distinguish the warming effects of greenhouse gases from those of natural variations in solar energy, and more. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Confronting Complexity, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:I. Meteorological Beginnings - Joanna finds her nicheII. Science and Gender - Different disciplines, different storiesIII. A Curious Correspondence - Examining the link between temperature and solar variationIV. Considering the Earth - A changing orbit and changing tiltV. Considering the Sun - Looking at the solar cycleVI. The Big Picture - More than just the sunVII. Examining the Details - Recreating the weather, more or lessVIII. Getting The Word Out - Increasing public awarenessIX. Public Policy - From words to actsX. Final Thoughts - Towards a better futureAbout Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research.