Contemporary Climatology

Now in its second edition,Climatologycontinues to provide an up-to-date stimulating and comprehensive guide to the nature of the earth's climate. It presents a synthesis of contemporary scientific ideas about atmospheric circulation. Topics covered include: -Energy systems-The hydrological cycle-General circulation, local and regional climate-Application of climate information-Use of satellite observations

Preface to the second edition

viii

(2)

Preface to the first edition

x

(1)

Acknowledgements

xi

(1)

List of symbols

xii

Chapter 1 The scope and controls of the climate

1

(16)

1.1 The science of climatology

2

(2)

1.2 The development of climatology

4

(5)

1.3 Climatic elements

9

(1)

1.4 The climate system

10

(4)

1.5 Climatological space and time scales

14

(1)

Box 1.A Climate applications and impacts: the use of climatological knowledge

15

(1)

Box 1.I The climate observing system

16

(1)

Chapter 2 The Earth's radiation budget

17

(22)

2.1 The nature of radiation

17

(4)

2.2 Solar radiation reaching the Earth

21

(2)

2.3 Interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere

23

(2)

2.4 Solar radiation at the Earth's surface

25

(6)

2.5 Terrestrial radiation

31

(1)

2.6 The global radiation budget

32

(2)

2.7 Surface radiation budgets

34

(2)

Box 2.A Application of solar radiation information

36-8

(2)

Box 2.I Instruments and methods for monitoring radiation

26-8

(2)

Chapter 3 Energy and temperature

39

(17)

3.1 Surface energy budgets

39

(5)

3.2 Major surface types and their consequences

44

(1)

3.3 Temperatures at the Earth's surface

45

(2)

3.4 The temperature structure of the atmosphere

47

(2)

Box 3.A Applications of energy and temperature information

49-52

(3)

Box 3.I The measurement of temperature

52-5

(3)

Chapter 4 Moisture in the atmosphere

56

(19)

4.1 Evaporation

57

(4)

4.2 Moisture in the atmosphere

61

(2)

4.3 Cloud types and distribution

63

(4)

4.4 Cloud formation

67

(2)

4.5 Hydrostatic stability

69

(3)

Box 4.A Application of moisture information

72-4

(2)

Box 4.I Monitoring water in the air

58-60

(2)

Chapter 5 Precipitation

75

(18)

5.1 Precipitation formation

75

(3)

5.2 Precipitation at the ground

78

(6)

5.3 Global precipitation distribution

84

(4)

5.4 The surface water budget

88

(3)

Box 5.A Applications of precipitation information

91-2

(1)

Box 5.I The measurement of precipitation

80-3

(3)

Chapter 6 Winds and pressure

93

(14)

6.1 Atmospheric pressure

93

(2)

6.2 Air movement around a rotating planet

95

(6)

6.3 Barotropic and baroclinic conditions

101

(4)

Box 6.A Applications of wind information

105-6

(1)

Box 6.I Measurement of pressure and winds

93-4

(1)

Chapter 7 The general circulation and global climate

107

(18)

7.1 The function of the general circulation

107

(2)

7.2 The nature of the general circulation of the atmosphere

109

(4)

7.3 Large-scale effects of the surface boundary

113

(4)

7.4 Climate classification and regions

117

(1)

Box 7.A Succinct and accurate climate descriptions

118-19

(1)

Box 7.I Combining and comparing observations

124

(1)

Chapter 8 Tropical weather and climate

125

(26)

8.1 Tropical climates -- the Hadley cell

125

(9)

8.2 Tropical climates -- the monsoon regime

134

(4)

8.3 Hurricanes

138

(7)

8.4 El Nino and the Southern Oscillation

145

Box 8.A Impacts: hurricanes and ENSO

142-4

(2)

Box 8.I Monitoring the ocean surface

148-50

(2)

Chapter 9 Extra-tropical weather and climate

151

(28)

9.1 The mid-latitude baroclinic zone

151

(4)

9.2 Mid-latitude weather

155

(7)

9.3 Mid-latitude climate regions

162

(8)

9.4 Polar climates

170

(3)

Box 9.A Applications old and new

173-6

(3)

Box 9.I Observational networks

176-8

(2)

Chapter 10 Local climates

179

(23)

10.1 Factors controlling local climates

179

(3)

10.2 Interactions between surfaces

182

(2)

10.3 The urban climate

184

(8)

10.4 The influence of topography

192

(6)

10.5 The influence of larger-scale atmospheric features

198

Box 10.A Airflow around obstacles: applications and impacts

188-91

(3)

Box 10.1 Defining and measuring local climates

200-1

(1)

Chapter 11 Human interaction with climate

202

(24)

11.1 The impacts of climate on humans

202

(12)

11.2 Human modifications of the atmosphere

214

(9)

11.3 Changes in the character of the surface

223

Box 11.A Climate impacts on an electric utility

203-4

(1)

Box 11.I Derived variables for practical use

210-13

(3)

Chapter 12 Climates of the past

226

(21)

12.1 Palaeoclimatic observations

226

(3)

12.2 Past climates

229

(7)

12.3 Mechanisms of climate change

236

(7)

Box 12.A Climate and long-term ecological change

243-4

(1)

Box 12.1 The use of proxy variables

245-6

(1)

Chapter 13 Modelling the climate

247

(20)

13.1 A simple global energy balance model

247

(5)

13.2 Global-scale climate models

252

(6)

13.3 Regional and local climate models

258

(5)

Box 13.A Spatial models for applications and impacts

263-5

(2)

Box 13.I Linking models and observations

265-6

(1)

Chapter 14 Climate, climate change and the future

267

(23)

14.1 Implications of climate variability and change

267

(5)

14.2 Climate forecasts

272

(4)

14.3 Scenarios of future climates

276

(12)

Box 14.A Estimating future climates for decision-making

288-9

(1)

Box 14.I Monitoring for climate change

281-2

(1)

Appendix A -- SI units

290

(3)

Appendix B -- Selected World Wide Web sites

293

(3)

Glossary

296

(8)

Bibliography

304

(8)

Index

312

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Contemporary Climatology

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials