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This new undergraduate textbook provides a basic grounding in the science of global change. Although the climate has been changing constantly throughout Earth's history, human impacts on the system are relatively recent. The authors base the philosophy of the book on the view that an understanding of natural global change is necessary to assess the impact of human activity. Early chapters introduce the student to the basic science of earth systems. Later chapters consider anthropogenic effects against a background of natural climate change, and discuss the implications of continuing change for agriculture, health and demographic issues