Page numbers refer to the print edition but are hyperlinked to the appropriate location in the e-book.
acclimatization societies, 93
agriculture and agricultural development: animal labor in, 67; auguries in, 134– 35; chemicals used in, 83–84; climate change and, 67–69, 304n106; crop, 50, 53; fires in, 63; land impact from, 64–69; life cycles for, 124; movement and, 64–66, 303n101; Neolithic Revolution and cultures in, 59–60, 64–66, 124–25; pest animals and, 82; rain and engineering, 259; Secondary Products Revolution in, 61; soil erosion in, 65–66; swidden, 65; weeds and, 80–81. See also plant domestication
American robin (Turdus migratorius), 134
animal domestication: artificial selection in, 46–48, 90; of Australian dingo, 44–45, 298n27; Book of Job on, 35–36, 41, 296n1; breeding in, 42, 89–90; in Çatal Hüyük, 52, 53; of cattle, 54–55; conditions for, 41–42, 251–52; of dogs, 42–43, 44–45, 48–50; Fertile Crescent and, 50–51; genetic traits in, 46–47; of horses, 74–75; human activity impacted by, 36, 42; land cover impact of, 58–62; movement in, 90; of onagers, 72–73, 75, 100; predators and, 228; reproductive activity in, 89–90; size and, 51; tame animals compared to, 45–46; time and timing of, 47–48, 52; of unicorn, 38, 39; of wild ox, 41, 50–53; of wolf, 43–48; women nursing in, 43–44, 45
animal preservation: in conservation ecology, 222; food chain patterns and, 223–26, 228–29; landscapes required in, 222; of large predators, 223, 228–29, 251; population in, 228–29; in “whirlwind speech,” 254–55; “whirlwind speech” on, 222, 251, 254–55. See also food, food chain, and food web patterns
animals: agriculture and labor of, 67; alien species of, 95; biological timing in, 134, 140–42, 150; chorological classification of, 88; disease in, 85, 97–98; in Earth system, 11; horse as ridden, 74; human-dominated ecosystems and pest, 82–84; humans impacted by disease in, 85; migration and classifying, 142–43; moas and moa extinction, 249; onager as draft, 73, 74; religion on movement of, 54–55; “whirlwind speech” on reproduction of, 140. See also megafauna and megafaunal extinctions; taming and tame animals; wildlife; specific animals
Anthropocene epoch, 86–87
anthropogenic landscapes, 62–66
arid and semiarid environments, 183–85
asynchronous coupling, 215, 217
atmosphere: carbon dioxide in, 211–13; gases in, 30–31; geoengineering through aerosols in, 276–77; geography and, 185; life-supported, 27–31, 295n70; wind circulation and global, 163–71
auguries: agricultural, 134–35; astrology and, 133–34; in biological and ecological timing, 132–35; bird, 123–24, 134–35, 318n32; geography and location for, 134; historical use of, 133, 134; for Kantu’ people, 134–35; Pliny the Elder on, 133
auroch or wild ox: animal domestication of, 41, 50–53; in Book of Job, 35–36; cave paintings of, 39–40; crop agriculture and, 50; description of, 39–40, 297n13; as domestic cattle source, 41; geographical location of, 39–40, 41; hunting, 40–41; in Ishtar Gate, 40; origins of, 39; as power symbol, 41; taming, 50, 51; uses of, 53–54, 56. See also cattle, domestic
Australia: dingo in, 44–45, 298n27, 298nn29–30; exploration of, 191; human arrival, 244–48; humans by boat to, 245; megafaunal extinction in, 242–47; rabbit as feral species in, 90–91; rainmaking attempts in, 269, 270
Baity, Elizabeth Chesley, 127
banteng (Bali cattle), 56
Becquerel, Antoine-César, 69
Belyaev, Dmitry K., 46–48
Bible and biblical text: on agriculture and climate change, 68; on bird migration, 142; creation accounts in, 31–32; environmental implications from, x; Genesis in, 6–7, 9, 13–14; meaning of, ix–x; on planetary engineering and weather, 257–59, 279, 347n1; rain in, 183–84, 185, 186; science and natural world in, 149–50, 183–84, 185, 218, 254–55, 321n84; “whirlwind speech” and translations of, 10–11. See also Book of Job; creation and creation myth
biological and ecological timing: in animals, 134, 140–42, 150; auguries in, 132–35; circadian and circannual rhythm for, 141; climate and climate change impact on, 150–51; clocks for, 140–42, 144–45; in migration, 142–49; phenology and, 135–40; timers, 141. See also auguries; phenology
birds and bird migration: of American robin, 134; auguries involving, 123–24, 134–35, 318n32; Bible on, 142; biological timing in, 142–49; clocks in, 142, 144–45, 320nn68–69; compasses in, 145–47; from food shortage, 143; maps in, 147–48; obligate, 143–44; of Rufous hummingbirds, 148–49; of wandering tattler, 123–24, 142, 143
Book of Job: on animal domestication, 35–36, 41, 296n1; antiquity of, 8–10; on Asiatic lion, 221, 254–55; astrology in, 133–34; Babylonian captivity and, 40; on bird migration, 142; creation in, 6–9, 14–15, 103–4, 283–84; dating, 8–9, 290n8; Earth’s systems and, ix–xi, 6–8, 13; Israelites in, 9; on life cycles and heavenly ordinances, 123, 124; oceans in, 103, 120–21, 180–81; onager in, 71–72, 100; religious fusion in, 9–10; Ugaritic legends and, 9–10, 291n26; Uz as homeland in, 2; “whirlwind speech” in, x–xi, xiv, 1–2, 3–8. See also “whirlwind speech” and questions
Canterbury Tales (Chaucer), 107–8
carbon and carbon dioxide: in asynchronously coupled models, 215, 217; in atmosphere, 211–13; FACE, 213–14; forests and transfer of, 210; geoengineering and, 278–79; human emission of, 212; leafy plant canopies and, 211–14; plant growth from, 212–14, 217
Carnot, Nicolas Léonard Sadi, 161
cattle, domestic: auroch as source of, 41; banteng, 56; breeding, 55–56; common features of, 58; in crop agriculture, 53; in culture and society, 54; DNA for determining origin of, 54; domestication of, 54–55; genes and genetic traits of, 54–56; herd management, 58–59; mithan, 56; movement of, 54–56; taurine, 54–55; water buffalo, 57–58; yak, 56–57; zebu, 54, 55
chorology and chorological classification, 87–89
circadian and circannual rhythm, 141
climate and climate change: agricultural impact on, 67–69, 304n106; Aristotle on, 188; biological and ecological timing impacted by, 150–51; ecological models of, 201–3, 204–18; ecosystem impact from, 199–200, 225; exploration and, 189–92; GCMs on, 180, 215; geoengineering of, 273–79; geography or location and, 187–88; human-induced, 138–39, 216–18; IPCC report on, 117–18; Kaya identity and, 117; land cover impacting, 67–69; maps, 198–99; megafaunal extinctions and, 240–41; ocean gyres and, 176–77; ocean levels and, 115–16, 117–19; phenology and global, 138–40; in Pleistocene epoch, 240–41; species loss from, 252–53; vegetation relationship with, 11, 183, 187–219, 225. See also atmosphere; geoengineering or planetary engineering; greenhouse gases; plants and vegetation, climate change impact; rain and rain storms; temperature; weather
clouds and cloud seeding, 267–72
Clutton-Brock, Juliet, 41–42
conservation and conservation ecology, 222, 251–54
creation and creation myth: biblical accounts of, 31–32; in Book of Job, 6–9, 14–15, 103–4, 283–84; in Enŭma Elish, 103–4; in Genesis, 6–7, 9, 13–14; God in, 13–15, 32; humans as focus of, 7; oceans in, 103–4; “priestly” account of, 6, 13–14; religious fusion of, 14; science on, 11, 15, 32; of solar system, 11; water in, 13–14; “Yahwistic account” within, 6–7. See also formation
culture and society: acclimatization, 93; Americas and human, 235–37; archaeology revealing, 60; Botai, 74; of Çatal Hüyük, 52–53; cattle in, 54; Clovis, 233–35, 237, 239; Neolithic Revolution, period, and, 59–60, 64–66, 124–25, 127–30, 150; nonlinear development of, 61–62; phenology in, 136; Solutrean, 237; species introduction and acclimatization, 93
date and dating: Archean eon, 30, 31; of Australian dingo appearance, 44–45, 298n29; Book of Job, 8–9, 290n8; Hadean eon, 30; humans in Americas, 235, 236–37; humans in Australia, 245–46; of megafauna extinction, 244, 246; of Pleistocene epoch, 39, 230; weeds, 80; of Zircons, 24–25
da Vinci, Leonardo, 37–38
DDT. See dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane
Decorated Plate of the Geißenklösterle, 128–29
deserts. See arid and semiarid environments
DGVMs. See Dynamic Global Vegetation Models
dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT), 83–84
disease: animal and plant, 85, 97–98; in Çatal Hüyük, 53; classification, 85; evolution, 86; feral species and, 91; in human-dominated ecosystems, 84–87; humans and novel, 96–97; introduced, 96–98; medical advances and, 86; in megafaunal extinction, 239–40; smallpox, 96–97; species movement and, 84–86, 96–98; zoonoses transmission of, 85. See also specific diseases
distribution, species and plant, 87, 88–92
diversity. See species; specific topics
Doodson, Arthur Thompson, 110, 111
Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs), 214–15, 216
Earth: archaeoastronomy and rotation of, 128; geoengineering in reflectivity change to, 277–78; greenhouse gases and radiation of, 178–80, 181, 278–79; history of, 24, 28; human-dominated ecosystems and, 98–100; humans as keystone species on, 86–87; human understanding of, 287; Moon of, 22–24, 282; phenology and greenness of, 139–40; solar energy of, 178; “whirlwind speech” as creation and function account of, 6–9, 103–4, 283–84
Earth, formation of: early, 18–20; elemental signature in, 22, 292nn22–23; gravity in, 20–21, 22; heat in, 21; land and oceans, 24–27; physical systems, 24–31; solar system and, 15, 18–24; stellar dust in, 20–21, 22; Theia collision in, 23–24; violence of, 23; water in, 25
Earth, systems of: animals in, 11; atmosphere supporting life in, 27–31, 295n70; Book of Job and, ix–xi, 6–8, 13; change natural to, 11; component interaction, 11, 21–22, 181; formation of physical, 24–31; life changing, 286–87; nature of, ix; origins, 15–17; sciences in understanding, 284–86; “whirlwind speech” questions on, 1–2, 3–5, 283–84. See also creation and creation myth; environment; geoengineering or planetary engineering
Ebola hemorrhagic fever, 86
ecology, ecologists, and ecological view: on climate change ecosystem impact, 199–200, 225; conservation, 222, 251–54; exploration and regularity in, 192; leafy plant canopy models, 211–12; of plants and vegetation, 187, 199, 219; vegetation and climate change models, 201–3, 204–18. See also biological and ecological timing; plants and vegetation
ecosystems: climate impact on, 199–200, 225; food chains and control of, 224–26, 337n22; humans and services of, 218–19; material circulation in, 209–10; radiation transfer in, 209–10; solar systems and, 98; undisturbed, 98–99, 310n106
elements, signature of, 22, 292nn22–23
environment: arid and semiarid, 183–85; biblical text and implications for, x; built, 82; human change to, 1–2, 11; hunter-gatherers impacting, 247; periodicity to, 11; plant phenology and, 137–38; reproduction coordinated with, 140–42; synthesis of, ix. See also ecosystems
exploration and expeditions: of Australia, 191; by Banks, 190–91, 328n25; on biological and ecological regularity, 192; climate and vegetation through, 189–92; involving Humboldt, 193–95; navigation and, 122, 130–32, 173–74, 317n21; ships used in, 174; species diversity in, 191–92
food, food chain, and food web patterns: animal preservation and, 223–26, 228–29; bird migration and shortage of, 143; ecosystem control and, 224–26, 337n22; food chain analysis in, 223; large predators in, 224, 226–29; megafaunal extinction impacted by, 240; plant production required for, 223–24, 228–29, 336n9; predator size in, 226–28; warm-blooded compared to cold-blooded, 223
formation: of Earth and solar system, 15, 18–24; of Earth’s physical systems, 24–31; gravity in planetary, 20–21, 23; of land and oceans, 24–27, 28–29, 294n45; of Moon, 23–24; stellar dust in, 19, 20–21, 22, 292n18; of Sun, 19–20; violence in planetary, 23. See also Earth, formation of
Free Air Carbon Dioxide Experiments (FACE), 213–14
frequencies of variation, 105
general circulation models (GCMs), 180, 215
geoengineering or planetary engineering: for anthropogenic global warming, 275–79; atmospheric aerosols as, 276–77; Bible on, 257–59, 279, 347n1; carbon and carbon dioxide in, 278–79; of climate, 273–79; complexity and consequences of, 278, 280–81; decision makers in, 278; early ideas in, 273–75; Earth reflectivity change as, 277–78; energy balance incoming change in, 276–78; energy balance outgoing change in, 278–79; glaciers or arctic ice melted as, 274–75; human, 11, 86–87; reflecting materials in orbit as, 276; “rings of Saturn” project in, 274; in Russia, 273–76; for scientists, 280–81; summary of, 279–81; volcanic eruptions involved in, 275–76. See also rainmaking
geography and location: atmosphere and, 185; for auguries, 134; for cattle domestication, 54–55; climate and, 187–88; continents and, 98, 230–31; of Fertile Crescent, 50–51; mountains in, 187–88, 194–95; plant, 195–96; vegetation by, 188; wild ox in, 39–40, 41; winds and, 154–55. See also land, landscapes, and land cover; movement; specific continents; specific geography
glaciers, glaciations, and ice ages: in Alaska’s Inner Passage, 102; causes, 114–15; cycles for, 113, 114; European, 177; extinction from, 231, 233; future ocean levels and, 116, 118–19; geoengineering in melting, 274–75; Laurentide ice sheet, 116–17; Little, 216; in North America, 233; past ocean levels and, 112–17; in Pleistocene epoch, 230–31; Sun’s summer radiation and, 114
greenhouse gases: Earth’s radiation, heat, and, 178–80, 181, 278–79; ocean levels
and, 117; in photosynthesis, 208–9, 213–14, 216; science and scientists on, 179–80, 253–54; vegetation impact from, 202–3, 208–9, 213–14, 216. See also carbon and carbon dioxide
hardiness, animal, 42, 251
Hatfield, Charles Mallory, 262–63
heat and warming: early life and, 27–29; in Earth’s formation, 21; Earth’s radiation, greenhouse gases, and, 178–80, 181, 278–79; global, 215–18, 275–79; during Hadean eon, 27; hurricanes as engines of, 160–61; matter and, 21; in ocean formation, 25–26; ocean gyres and, 177, 178; plant phenology and, 137; winds and, 164, 166, 169–70, 178
heavenly ordinances. See stars or heavenly ordinances
heraldry. See coats of arms and heraldry
herd and herd management, 58–59
house finches (Carpodacus cassinii), 148
humans and humanity: Americas and arrival of, 235–39; Americas and culture of, 235–37; animal and wildlife disease impacting, 85; animal domestication and regard for, 42; animal domestication impact on, 36, 42; Anthropocene epoch and impact of, 86–87; appearance and genes of early, 238; auguries in history of, 133, 134; Australia and arrival of, 244–48; boats used by early, 237–38, 245; carbon dioxide emission by, 212; chorological classification of, 88; climate change induced by, 138–39, 216–18; as creation story focus, 7; DDT risk to, 84; disease and movement of, 84–86, 96–98; Earth understanding of, 287; ecosystems and radioactive transfer to, 209–10; ecosystem services to, 218–19; energy use of, 287; environmental change from, 1–2, 11; extinctions caused by, 230, 251; as keystone species, 77–79, 86–87; land and landscapes altered by, 62–66, 69; in megafaunal extinctions, 232, 233–35, 239, 241–42, 244–47, 248, 249, 250–51; natural world and place of, 183–84, 185, 218, 255; novel diseases and, 96–97; pest animal cohabitation with, 82–83; planetary engineering by, 11, 86–87; religion and “why” questions for, 283–84; species introduction by, 89–94, 100–101. See also animal domestication; ecosystems, human-dominated; geoengineering or planetary engineering
Humboldt, Friedrich W. H. Alexander von, 284–86; background of, 192–93; on climate and vegetation relationship, 193, 194; exploration by, 193–95; geomagnetism contribution of, 196; isothermal lines theory from, 196–97; natural history for, 193; plant geography contribution of, 196; scientific contribution of, 195–97, 330n52
hunting: aurochs, 40–41; by Clovis, 234, 239, 241–42; fires and fire-stick, 63–64, 239; in megafaunal extinctions, 232, 233–35, 239, 241–42, 244–47, 248, 249, 250–51; tradition of, 40–41; unicorns, 37–38
hurricanes, 169; cloud seeding and, 269– 70; components of, 158–60; definition and nature of, 155–56, 322nn9–11; derivation of, 156; eye in, 157–58, 159–60; forces involved in, 159–60, 163, 323n22; as heat engines, 160–61; media on, 161–62; naming, 156–57, 322nn14–15; rain storms and, 158; record, 161–63; spiraling morphology, 158; temperature and, 157–58, 160, 161; violence of, 156, 162; water in, 157–58, 161; winds in, 155–56, 157–58, 162–63, 322n12; as working mechanism, 157–61
IBM. See individual-based model
ICOMOS. See International Council on Monuments and Sites
individual-based model (IBM), 206, 207
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 117–18
International Astronomical Union, 17, 18, 128
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), 128
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), 167, 168–69
IPCC. See Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Isaac, Rabbi Shelomo Ben “Rashi,” ix–x
isothermal lines, theory of, 196–97
Israel and Israelites, 9, 269
ITCZ. See Intertropical Convergence Zone
Jefferson, Thomas, 67, 68
land, landscapes, and land cover: agricultural impact on, 64–69; animal domestication impact on, 58–62; for animal preservation, 222; anthropogenic, 62–66; climate impacted by, 67–69; fires altering, 63–64, 66; formation of, 24–27; herd management impacting, 58–59; human alteration of, 62–66, 69; hunter-gatherer alteration of, 63–64; Martu altering, 63–64, 69; overgrazing impact on, 59; Polynesian impact on, 64–66; soil erosion in, 65–66
Late Heavy Meteorite Bombardment, 24
Late Quaternary Extinction, 232
life: atmosphere supporting, 27–31, 295n70; cycles, 19, 123–25, 128–30, 136–37; Earth changes from, 286–87; “Eden hypothesis” for, 28–29; Gaia hypothesis for, 29–30; gases and, 30–31; during Hadean eon, 27; heat and early, 27–29; on Mars, 29–30; “Noah hypothesis” for, 29; plants by form of, 204–5, 207–8; sedentary village, 59–60, 61–62
lions: in Africa, 229; animal preservation and care of, 228–29, 251; Asiatic, 221–22, 254–55; “Dying Lioness,” 220, 221; ecosystem control by, 226, 337n22; food webs for, 224, 226–28; population of, 221–22; size of, 226–28
literature, tides in, 107–8
location. See geography and location
magnetism and magnetic field, 146, 196
megafauna and megafaunal extinctions: asteroid impact in, 240; Australian, 242–47; carnivores, 243–44; causes of, 231; classical explanation for North American, 233–35; climate change in, 240–41; computer models for, 234, 250; dating, 244, 246; definition and nature of, 231, 232; disease in, 239–40; fires in, 239, 246, 249; food chain effects impacting, 240; habitat alteration by modern, 231–32; humans and hunting in, 232, 233–35, 239, 241–42, 244–47, 248, 249, 250–51; kangaroos in, 243; as Late Quaternary Extinction, 232; marsupial, 242–44; moas in, 247– 50, 345n138, 345n141; in New Zealand, 247–51; North American, 232–42; in Pleistocene epoch, 229–47, 251
migration and migrants: ability, development and loss, 148–49; animal classification and, 142–43; biological timing in, 142–49; clocks in, 142, 144–45, 320nn68–69; compasses in, 145–47; irruptive, 143, 144; maps in, 147–48; obligate, 143–44; returning home in, 144–48. See also birds and bird migration
movement: agricultural development through, 64–66, 303n101; of animals in religion, 54–55; of cattle, 54–56; disease and species, 84–86, 96–98; of domesticated animals, 90; of feral species, 89–92; genes and, 54–56; Noah’s ark and species, 88; Pleistocene and continental, 230–31. See also distribution
NACA. See National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
NASA. See National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), 295n66
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 29–30, 295n66
New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (NRSV). See Bible and biblical text
North America: Beringia route to, 235, 238–39; boats and humans arriving in, 237–38; glaciations in, 233; human appearance and genes in, 238; human culture in, 236–37; megafaunal extinctions in, 232–42
NRSV. See New Revised Standard Version of the Bible
ocean gyres and currents: climate and, 176–77; Coriolis force and, 172; major, 172, 175; summary of, 181; temperature and, 175–77, 178; thermohaline circulation and, 174–77; thermohaline circulation and conveyer belt of, 176–77; volta do mar and, 172–74; water density in, 174–76; winds and, 171–77
ocean levels: cities vulnerable to rising, 120; climate, climate change, and, 115–16, 117–19; economic cost of rising, 120; foraminifera and, 114–15; future rise in, 116–19; glaciers and future, 116, 118–19; glaciers and past, 112–17; greenhouse gas and, 117; impact of rising, 119–20; oxygen and, 114–15; past, 112–16; in Pleistocene epoch, 112–13, 114, 115–16; population and rising, 119; sea basin size in, 112; summary of, 120–21; Sun and, 113–14
oceans: in Alaska’s Inner Passage, 102; in Book of Job, 103, 120–21, 180–81; in creation accounts, 103–4; early, origin of, 25–26; formation of, 24–27, 28–29, 294n45; keystone species in, 77–78; summary of, 120–21; tides of, 104–11. See also hurricanes; tides
onager or wild ass: in Book of Job, 71–72, 100; breeding of, 75–76, 100; description of, 72, 300n58; domestication and taming of, 72–73, 75, 100; as draft animal, 73, 74; genetic nature of, 72; in Standard of Ur, 73, 75; Sumerian writings on, 75–76; summary of, 100; wild, 76–77
orbits, regularities in, 16
Origin of the Species (Darwin), 88
phenology: and biological cycles, 135–40; biological timing, ecological timing, and, 135–40; in culture and society, 136; definition and nature of, 135–36; Earth’s greenness and, 139–40; European network for, 139; global climate change and, 138 plant, 136–38; research, 136, 138–40; temperature and, 137, 139
plant domestication: agricultural development, movement, and, 64–66, 303n101; through domiculture, 79; in Neolithic Revolution, 59–60; pollen grains revealing, 60–61, 62; sedentary villages and, 59–60, 61–62
plants and vegetation: as alien species, 94–95; chorological classification of, 87–88; climate relationship with, 11, 183, 187–219, 225; convergence in arid conditions for, 182, 184–85; disease in, 97–98; distribution of, 89; ecosystem control by, 225; environmental changes registered by, 137–38; food chains and required, 223–24, 228–29, 336n9; as keystone species, 78; life cycles of, 136–37; phenology involving, 136–38; water in, 204, 211–13
plants and vegetation, climate change impact: asynchronous coupling of models for, 215; carbon dioxide and growth of, 212–14, 217; DGVMs for, 214–15, 216; ecological models of, 201–3, 204–18; ecological view of, 187, 199, 219; ecosystem radiation transfer through, 210; energy and water in, 204, 211–13; functional types or life-form, 204–5, 207–8; gap models in, 207, 208; geography and, 195–96; greenhouse gases, 202–3, 208–9, 213–14, 216; human, 216–18; individual and IBMs, 206–8; isothermal lines theory for, 196–97; leafy canopies of, 211–14; maps and mapping, 197–98, 200–202, 205–6; as medicinal, 186–87; perennating tissue for classifying, 198; scale and classification of, 200–203; science on, 186–87, 188–89; species mapping, 205–6. See also Humboldt, Friedrich W. H. Alexander von
Pleistocene epoch: climate change in, 240–41; date and dating, 39, 230; dogs origins during, 51–52; megafaunal extinctions in, 229–47, 251; nature of, 230–31; ocean levels in, 112–13, 114, 115–16. See also megafauna and megafaunal extinctions
politics and politicization, 5
Portugal and Portuguese, 173
predators, large: animal domestication and, 228; animal preservation of, 223, 228–29, 251; ecosystem control by, 224–25, 226, 337n22; in food chains, 224, 226–29; size of, 226–28
pressure-gradient force, 159, 166
rain and rain storms: agricultural engineering and, 259; in arid and semiarid environments, 183, 185; in Bible, 183–84, 185, 186; hurricanes and, 158; makers, 262–64; population impacted by drought and, 259; religion and, 258–62; sacrifices for, 259–60; seasonality, 199; as steam engine, 265–66; trade winds and, 166, 168–69
Raunkiaer, Christen Christensen, 198
religion: belief in, 5, 32; Book of Job and fusion of, 9–10; calendars by, 126, 316n8; chorological classification and, 88; creation myths and fusion of, 14; humans and “why” questions, 283–84; Job and devotion to, 2–3; on movement of animals, 54–55; rain and, 258–62; Ugaritic, 10; unicorn in, 38; weather made through, 261–62; “whirlwind speech” questions relation to, 7–8
research. See specific topics
Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus), 148–49
Saussure, Horace-Bénédict de, 179
science and scientists: belief in, 5, 32; biblical view of natural world and, 149–50, 183–84, 185, 218, 254–55, 321n84; of biology, 192; of chorology, 87–89; on climate and vegetation, 186–87, 188–89; on creation, 11, 15, 32; on Earth’s origins, 15; Earth understanding through, 284–86; geoengineering for, 280–81; on greenhouse gases, 179–80, 253–54; Humboldt’s contribution to, 195–97, 330n52; on species distribution, 88–89; technology impacting, 32–33, 286; on trade winds, 163–66; truth and, 5; weather modification or rainmaking through, 264–71, 349n33; “whirlwind speech” questions answered by, 4–5. See also ecology, ecologists, and ecological view
seas. See oceans
seasons and seasonality, 199
Secondary Products Revolution, 61–62
ships, in exploration, 174
Siegesbeck, Johann Georg, 87–88
Silent Spring (Carson), 84
society. See culture and society
solar system: creation of, 11; ecosystems and, 98; formation of, 15, 18–24; moon regularities in, 17; orbit regularities in, 16; Orion nebula and, 12; patterns in, 15–17; planetary regularities in, 16, 17; rotational regularities in, 16; stellar dust in formation of, 19, 22, 292n18
species: acclimatization societies introducing, 93; animal alien, 95; arid environments and survival of, 184; climate change and loss of, 252–53; continents and diversity of, 98; disease and movement of, 84–86, 96–98; distribution, 87, 88–92; domiculture, 79; evolution for diversity of, 230; exploration and diversity of, 191–92; extinction of, 229, 231, 252–53; feral, 89–92; game ranches for introduction of, 93–94; human introduction of, 89–94, 100–101; keystone, 77–79, 86–87, 254; magnitude of diversity of alien, 94–95; mapping plant, 205–6; Noah’s ark and movement of, 88; photosynthetic, 286–87; plants as alien, 94–95; purposeful introduction of, 92–94; rare, 254; wild equids endangerment as, 76–77. See also animals; megafauna and megafaunal extinctions; specific types
Species Plantarum (Linnaeus), 88
Sternberg, Kaspar Maria Graf von, 188– 89
stick navigation charts, 122, 132
Stonehenge World Heritage Site, 129
Sumeria and Sumerians, 75–76
Sun: compass, 146; as energy source, 178; glaciers and summer radiation from, 114; nebulas and formation of, 19–20; ocean levels and, 113–14; thermonuclear reaction in, 20; tides and, 104, 105–7, 109; time and calendars from, 125, 150. See also geoengineering or planetary engineering
Systema Naturae (Linnaeus), 87
taming and tame animals: artificial selection for, 46–48; aurochs, 50, 51; crop agriculture and, 50; domesticated compared to, 45–46; of onagers, 72–73, 75, 100; for ritual sacrifice, 51; salt and, 51. See also animal domestication
temperature: hurricanes and, 157–58, 160, 161; ocean gyres and, 175–77, 178; phenology and, 137, 139; winds and, 155, 164, 166, 169–70, 178. See also heat and warming
thermohaline circulation, 174–77
thermonuclear reaction, 20
tides: cycles of, 104–5, 106, 111–12, 114; extreme, 105; frequencies of variation in, 105; in literature, 107–8; in military history, 108–11, 311n16; Moon and Sun in, 104, 105–7, 109; neap, 106, 107–9; Normandy invasion and, 109–11; ocean, 104–11; prediction machines for, 109–11, 311n21; spring, 106–9; syzygy and, 106
time and timing: in animal domestication, 47–48, 52; biological and ecological, 132–51; calendars for, 125–26, 128–30, 150, 260, 316n8; of dog origins, 48–50; Moon and Sun in, 125–26, 150; phenology and biological, 135–40; tide cycles, 111–12; of wild ox domestication, 52; for years, 125. See also biological and ecological timing; date and dating
tropical cyclones. See hurricanes
Unicorn in Captivity, The, 34
unicorns, 296n6; ancient scholars on, 36–37; in Book of Job, 35–36, 296n1; in coats of arms and heraldry, 38–39, 297n11; Ctesias’ description of, 36; domestication of, 38, 39; horns of, 38, 297n10; hunting, 37–38; in medieval period, 37–38; in religion, 38; young women and, 37–38
vegetation. See plants and vegetation Viking missions, 29–30, 295n66
volcanoes and volcanic eruptions, 275–76
vortices. See whirlwinds or vortices
warming. See global warming; heat and warming
water: buffalo, 57–58; in creation myths, 13–14; in Earth’s formation, 25; in hurricanes, 157–58, 161; ocean gyres and density of, 174–76; in plants, 204, 211–13; wind impacted by, 155, 169–70. See also oceans
weather: Bible on control of, 257–59, 279, 347n1; controlling, summary of, 279–81; El Niño, 170–71; military and modification of, 271–72, 279; religion for making, 261–62; scientific modification of, 264–71, 349n33; tropical storm, 155–63; in “whirlwind speech,” 153. See also geoengineering or planetary engineering; hurricanes; ocean gyres and currents; rain and rain storms; winds
weeds: agricultural development and, 80–81; dating, 80; evolution of, 81–82; in human-dominated ecosystems, 80–82; negative impact of, 81
whirlwinds or vortices, 158–59
“whirlwind speech” and questions: animal domestication in, 35–36; animal preservation and care in, 222, 251, 254–55; on animal reproduction, 140; antiquity of, 8; Behemoth and Leviathan in, 5–6; biblical translations used for, 10–11; on bird migration, 142; in Book of Job, x–xi, xiv, 1–2, 3–8; creation and function account of, 6–9, 103–4, 283–84; Earth system in, 1–2, 3–5, 283–84; God as whirlwind and, 158–59; Job’s answers to, 3, 4; rain in, 183–84, 185, 186; religious aspects of, 7–8; science answering, 4–5; weather in, 153
wildlife: DDT in, 84; humans impacted by disease in, 85; reproduction, 89–90. See also specific animals
Willdenow, Carl Ludwig, 195
winds: African, 168–69; atmosphere and circulation of, 163–71; chinook, 154–55, 322n7; doldrums in trade, 166–68; El Niño and, 170–71; Ferrel cell in, 171–72; föhn, 154–55; forces and pressure involved in, 166, 169, 171; geography impacting, 154–55; global belts of, 167; Greek and Roman gods of, 152, 154; Hadley circulation, 166–69; in hurricanes, 155–56, 157–58, 162–63, 322n12; ITCZ in, 167, 168–69; ocean currents and, 171–77; ocean gyres and, 171–77; physical process behind, 154–55; polar cells and, 171; rain and trade, 166, 168–69; science on trade, 163–66; summary of, 181; temperature and, 155, 164, 166, 169–70, 178; trade, 163–71, 167; types of, 154, 322n2; Walker circulation, 169–71; water’s impact on, 155, 169–70; westerly, 171–72, 325n54. See also hurricanes
women: animal domestication and nursing by, 43–44, 45; Martu, 63–64; unicorns and young, 37–38
Woolley, Sir Leonard, 70, 73
Wragge, Clement Lindley, 156–57
Young Woman Seated in a Landscape with a Unicorn (Leonardo da Vinci), 37–38