TY - BOOK ID - 4804109 TI - The sun : a user's manual PY - 2008 SN - 9781402068812 1402068808 9781402068805 9048177499 9786611954604 9781402066805 1281954608 1402068816 PB - [Dordrecht] : Springer, DB - UniCat KW - Physics. KW - Astronomy, Observations and Techniques. KW - Astrophysics and Astroparticles. KW - Geophysics/Geodesy. KW - Climate Change. KW - Meteorology/Climatology. KW - Physical geography. KW - Meteorology. KW - Climatic changes. KW - Physique KW - Géographie physique KW - Météorologie KW - Climat KW - Changements KW - Solar energy. KW - Solar radiation --Physiological effect. KW - Sun. KW - Solar radiation KW - Solar energy KW - Astronomy & Astrophysics KW - Physical Sciences & Mathematics KW - Astronomy - General KW - Astrophysics KW - Physiological effect KW - Physiological effect. KW - Solar power KW - Sunshine KW - Geophysics. KW - Atmospheric sciences. KW - Observations, Astronomical. KW - Astronomy KW - Astrophysics. KW - Climate change. KW - Atmospheric Sciences. KW - Observations. KW - Solar system KW - Force and energy KW - Renewable energy sources KW - Medical climatology KW - Changes, Climatic KW - Changes in climate KW - Climate change KW - Climate change science KW - Climate changes KW - Climate variations KW - Climatic change KW - Climatic changes KW - Climatic fluctuations KW - Climatic variations KW - Global climate changes KW - Global climatic changes KW - Climatology KW - Climate change mitigation KW - Teleconnections (Climatology) KW - Geography KW - Environmental aspects KW - Astronomy—Observations. KW - Atmospheric sciences KW - Earth sciences KW - Atmosphere KW - Geological physics KW - Terrestrial physics KW - Physics KW - Astronomical physics KW - Cosmic physics KW - Astronomical observations KW - Observations, Astronomical KW - Global environmental change UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:4804109 AB - The Sun is an account of the many ways in which our nearest star affects our planet, how its influence has changed over the last few centuries and millennia, and the extent to which we can predict its future impact. The Sun's rays foster the formation of Vitamin D by our bodies, but it can also promote skin cancer, cataracts, and mutations in our DNA. Besides providing the warmth and light essential to most animal and plant life, solar energy contributes substantially to global warming. Although the charged particles of the solar wind shield us from harmful cosmic rays, solar storms may damage artificial satellites and cripple communication systems and computer networks. The Sun is the ideal renewable energy source, but its exploitation is still bedevilled by the problems of storage and distribution. Our nearest star, in short, is a complex machine which needs to be treated with caution, and this book will equip every reader with the knowledge that is required to understand the benefits and dangers it can bring. ER -