ICE TIME Climate, Science and Life on Earth <i> by Thomas Levenson (Harper & Row: $9.95) </i>

In his compelling introduction to the science of climatology, Thomas Levenson explains the origins of the Earth’s atmosphere and its evolution through biochemical processes. He traces the history of meteorology and climatology, emphasizing how the use of sophisticated computer models is increasing human understanding of global weather patterns, and concludes by describing the ominous effects of pollution and deforestation on world weather. An associate producer of “Nova,” Levenson excels at translating complex problems into terms that the general reader can easily understand, including why each quarter-pound fast-food burger that someone consumes causes the destruction of up to 1,000 pounds of tropical rain forest biomass. After surveying the damage done to the Earth in recent decades, Levenson concludes that he chose to become an environmentalist because, “I do not want to define myself as one of those whose greatest monument is blight.”