1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910806844903321

Autore

Vita-Finzi Claudio

Titolo

The Sun [[electronic resource] ] : A User's Manual / / by Claudio Vita-Finzi

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Dordrecht : , : Springer Netherlands : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2008

ISBN

9781402068812

9781402066805

1-281-95460-8

9786611954604

1-4020-6881-6

Edizione

[1st ed. 2008.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (162 p.)

Disciplina

523.7

Soggetti

Observations, Astronomical

Astronomy—Observations

Astrophysics

Geophysics

Climate change

Atmospheric sciences

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques

Astrophysics and Astroparticles

Geophysics/Geodesy

Climate Change

Atmospheric Sciences

Sun

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-150) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Looking at the Sun -- Inside the Sun -- The Variable Sun -- Sun and climate -- Sun and life -- Sun and Health -- Space Weather -- Solar Energy.

Sommario/riassunto

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.