This book introduces an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and climate change. It reviews basic meteorological, hydrological and ecological concepts to examine the physical, chemical and biological processes by which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. The textbook is written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying ecology, environmental science, atmospheric science and geography. The central argument is that terrestrial ecosystems become important determinants of climate through their cycling of energy, water, chemical elements and trace gases. This coupling between climate and vegetation is explored at spatial scales from plant cells to global vegetation geography and at timescales of near instantaneous to millennia. The text also considers how human alterations to land become important for climate change. This restructured edition, with updated science and references, chapter summaries and review questions, and over 400 illustrations, including many in colour, serves as an essential student guide.

‘Gordon Bonan's excellent Ecological Climatology text provides an up-to-date status report on ecosystem-climate interactions … across a broad range of disciplines. The text is clearly written and little specialized knowledge is required to read it. … Ecological Climatology clearly outlines the scope of possibility for integrating the physics of climate, the biological principles of ecology, and the biogeochemical pathways that link atmosphere and land surface.’

David S. Gutzler Source: Natural Resources Journal

‘ … successfully integrates fundamental concepts in climatology and ecology ... I highly recommend the text for climatologists and meteorologists interested in better understanding the role of vegetation in the climate system, or ecologists and plant physiologists interested in better understanding the role of the climate system in vegetated ecosystems.’

Source: Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

‘… extremely well-written and even the more technical parts are accessible to a non-specialist.’

Pam Berry Source: Environmental Conservation

'… the second edition is highly recommended for students in the atmospheric sciences and physical geography; and for reference libraries. … I congratulate Cambridge University Press on the quality of their workmanship in bringing this manuscript to publication.'

Source: Bulletin of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society