Problems in palaeoclimatology : A. E. M. Nairn (Editor). Interscience, New York, N.Y., 1963, 705 pp., £ 7.7.0

Abstract

This book, containing the proceedings of the NATO Palaeoclimates Institute held at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, January 7-12, 1963, comprises no less than 54 contributions, divided over thirteen chapters. The nature of the papers varies from strictly local studies to studies of world-wide interest. Summarizing, the book contains a wealth of information for any of the readers of this journal. Each chapter opens with a general introduction by the Editor, which is especially useful since most of the papers lack a summary. In the genuine intention to serve readers by interrupting the chapters as little as possible, the bibliographies are assembled at the end of each chapter. In practice, however, this was found rather unpractical and through the general great divergency between the successive papers, for a volume like the present it neither led to the desired result. It is questionable as to whether it has been wise to link an international scientific conference of this kind to a military alliance. On the other hand, it is now interesting to look for a counter-move to this challenge from e.g., S.E.A.T.O., the Warsaw-pact countries or the group of non-allied countries, since, after all, competition in this way is much to be preferred over that of a force of arms.