Atmosphere, Weather, and ClimateThis book presents a comprehensive introduction to weather processes and climatic conditions around the world, their observed variability and changes, and projected future trends. Extensively revised and updated, this ninth edition retains its tried and tested structure while incorporating recent advances in the field. From clear explanations of the basic physical and chemical principles of the atmosphere, to descriptions of regional climates and their changes, the book presents a comprehensive coverage of global meteorology and climatology. In this new edition the latest scientific ideas are again expressed in a clear, non-mathematical matter. New features include:
Atmosphere, Weather and Climate continues to be an indispensable source for all those studying the earth's atmosphere and world climate, whether from environmental and earth sciences, geography, ecology, agriculture, hydrology, or related disciplinary perspectives. Its pedagogic value is enhanced by several features: learning points at the opening of each chapter and discussion topics at their ending, boxes on topical subjects and on twentieth century advances in the field. |
Contents
B Solar energy 3 | |
Climate response 440 | |
Atmospheric composition mass and structure 13 | |
Variations with latitude and season 20 | |
B Mass of the atmosphere 30 | |
Solar radiation and the global energy budget 40 | |
The age of the air mass 233 | |
Warm air masses 228 | |
E Frontal characteristics 238 | |
G Surfaceupperair relationships and the formation of frontal cyclones 247 | |
Weather and climate in middle and high latitudes 269 | |
Synoptic anomalies 278 | |
The temperate west coast and cordillera 287 | |
The subtropical margins 298 | |
Effect of cloud cover 49 | |
Effect of elevation and aspect 60 | |
E Atmospheric energy and horizontal heat transport 69 | |
Spatial pattern of the heat budget components 73 | |
Moisture transport 82 | |
E Precipitation characteristics and measurement 90 | |
Drought 107 | |
Atmospheric instability cloud formation and precipitation processes 109 | |
Air stability and instability 114 | |
E Formation of precipitation 124 | |
Orographic precipitation 133 | |
principles 145 | |
Local winds 153 | |
Planetaryscale motions in the atmosphere and ocean 163 | |
Mean upperair patterns 166 | |
Surface pressure conditions 173 | |
Circulations in the vertical and horizontal planes 181 | |
Ocean structure and circulation 193 | |
The oceans and atmospheric regulation 202 | |
B Model simulations 211 | |
Longrange outlooks 219 | |
High latitudes 311 | |
Tropical weather and climate 326 | |
Cyclones 335 | |
The South Asian monsoon 344 | |
Autumn 360 | |
East Asian and Australian summer monsoons 361 | |
F Amazonia 373 | |
H Other sources of climatic variations in the tropics 383 | |
Boundary layer climates 397 | |
B Nonvegetated natural surfaces 399 | |
Urban surfaces 410 | |
Tropical urban climates 425 | |
Climate change 432 | |
The importance of framework 441 | |
Understanding recent climatic change 452 | |
F Projected change in other system components 464 | |
Vegetation 470 | |
Système International SI units 487 | |
Polar lows 252 | |