Climates and Weather Explained

Climates and Weather Explained presents a comprehensive introduction to the study of the atmosphere. Clear explanations of basic principles, concepts and processes are supported by a wealth of highly informative illustrations and an array of case studies. The authors of this innovative textbook/CD package offer valuable new insights into topical environmental concerns including climate change, global warming, sustainable population, environmental degradation, agriculture and drought. Providing resources for practical work and more advanced study, the CD-ROM features: over 170 extra scientific notes, with 60 additional illustrations and tables; interactive numerical, multiple choice and practical exercises and self-assessment tests; hypertext presentation, clear navigation; plus print-out and download options.

Preface

ix

Part I Air

3

(22)

1 THE ATMOSPHERE

3

(22)

1.1 Introduction

3

(1)

1.2 Origin of the Atmosphere

4

(2)

1.3 Composition of Air

6

(4)

1.4 Ozone in the Upper Atmosphere

10

(2)

1.5 Atmospheric Pressure

12

(4)

1.6 Atmospheric Temperature

16

(3)

1.7 Atmospheric Electricity

19

(1)

1.8 Atmospheric Structure

20

(5)

Part II Energy

25

(84)

2 RADIATION

25

(25)

2.1 Kinds of Radiation

25

(2)

2.2 Solar Radiation reaching the Earth

27

(6)

2.3 Attenuation within the Atmosphere

33

(3)

2.4 Radiation at Ground Level

36

(2)

2.5 Albedo

38

(2)

2.6 Ultra-violet Radiation

40

(3)

2.7 Longwave Radiation

43

(5)

2.8 Net Radiation

48

(2)

3 TEMPERATURE

50

(26)

3.1 Temperature Measurement

50

(4)

3.2 Screen Temperatures

54

(7)

3.3 Seasonal Changes

61

(4)

3.4 Daily Changes

65

(4)

3.5 Ground Temperatures

69

(2)

3.6 Frost

71

(1)

3.7 Urban Temperatures

72

(4)

4 EVAPORATION

76

(17)

4.1 Changes of State

76

(2)

4.2 Vapour Pressure and Evaporation

78

(1)

4.3 Features of the Evaporation Process

79

(3)

4.4 Determining the Evaporation Rate

82

(2)

4.5 Various Evaporation Rates

84

(3)

4.6 Values of the Evaporation Rate

87

(4)

4.7 Dew

91

(2)

5 ENERGY BALANCES

93

(16)

5.1 The Energy-balance Equation

93

(3)

5.2 Energy Balance of Large Scale

96

(2)

5.3 Local Energy Balances

98

(3)

5.4 Altering the Energy Balance

101

(2)

5.5 The Energy Balance of the Human Body

103

(6)

Part III Water

109

(134)

6 HUMIDITY

109

(18)

6.1 The Hydrologic Cycle

109

(1)

6.2 Describing the Air's Humidity

110

(3)

6.3 Measuring the Air's Humidity

113

(3)

6.4 Humidity at the Surface

116

(6)

6.5 Humidity and Human Comfort

122

(2)

6.6 Humidity Aloft

124

(3)

7 ATMOSPHERIC INSTABILITY

127

(19)

7.1 Instability and Feedback

127

(1)

7.2 Lapse Rates

128

(2)

7.3 Instability of the Atmosphere

130

(4)

7.4 Examples of Instability

134

(4)

7.5 Tornadoes, Dust-devils and Waterspouts

138

(1)

7.6 Stable Layers

139

(7)

8 CLOUDS

146

(24)

8.1 The Formation of Clouds

146

(5)

8.2 Cloud Droplets

151

(1)

8.3 Categories and Changes

152

(3)

8.4 Fog

155

(3)

8.5 Stratiform Clouds

158

(1)

8.6 Cumuliform Clouds

158

(3)

8.7 High Clouds

161

(1)

8.8 Observing Cloudiness

162

(2)

8.9 Amounts of Cloud

164

(2)

8.10 Effects of Clouds

166

(4)

9 CLOUD PROCESSES

170

(22)

9.1 Clouds and Rain

170

(2)

9.2 Forming Raindrops

172

(2)

9.3 Cloud Seeding

174

(1)

9.4 Kinds of Precipitation

175

(2)

9.5 Thunderstorms

177

(7)

9.6 Cloud Electricity

184

(4)

9.7 Global Electricity

188

(1)

9.8 Hail

189

(3)

10 PRECIPITATION

192

(27)

10.1 General

192

(1)

10.2 Rainfall Intensity

193

(2)

10.3 Spatial Differences

195

(4)

10.4 Variations of Rainfall

199

(6)

10.5 Water Balances

205

(3)

10.6 Floods

208

(1)

10.7 Droughts

209

(6)

10.8 Snow

215

(4)

11 OCEANS

219

(24)

11.1 Oceans and Climates

219

(1)

11.2 Ocean Temperatures

220

(7)

11.3 Salinity

227

(2)

11.4 The Coriolis Effect and the Oceans

229

(5)

11.5 Ocean Currents

234

(9)

Part IV Winds

243

(78)

12 GLOBAL WINDS

243

(28)

12.1 Surface Winds of the Globe

243

(5)

12.2 Factors Governing Global Winds

248

(4)

12.3 Circulations within the Troposphere

252

(6)

12.4 The Upper Westerlies

258

(3)

12.5 Jet Streams

261

(1)

12.6 Models of the General Circulation

262

(2)

12.7 ENSO

264

(7)

13 SYNOPTIC-SCALE WINDS

271

(24)

13.1 Introduction

271

(1)

13.2 Air Masses

272

(1)

13.3 Fronts

273

(9)

13.4 Lows

282

(2)

13.5 Tropical Cyclones

284

(8)

13.6 Highs

292

(3)

14 LOCAL WINDS

295

(26)

14.1 General

295

(4)

14.2 Sea Breezes

299

(6)

14.3 Mountain Winds

305

(3)

14.4 Turbulence

308

(3)

14.5 Wind Energy

311

(2)

14.6 Sea Waves

313

(3)

14.7 Urban Air Pollution

316

(5)

Part V Climates

321

(66)

15 WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

321

(27)

15.1 Weather Data

321

(2)

15.2 Weather Forecasting

323

(8)

15.3 Past Climates

331

(8)

15.4 Climates in the Twentieth Century

339

(4)

15.5 Future Climates

343

(5)

16 SOUTHERN CLIMATES

348

(39)

16.1 Introduction

348

(1)

16.2 Climate Classification

349

(6)

16.3 Antarctica

355

(4)

16.4 South America

359

(9)

16.5 South Africa

368

(6)

16.6 Australia

374

(6)

16.7 New Zealand

380

(2)

16.8 Conclusions

382

(5)

Part VI Supplements

387

(8)

17 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

387

(8)

17.1 Assistance

387

(1)

17.2 Advice

387

(1)

17.3 Tables, Notes and Illustrations

388

(7)

List of Plates

395

(1)

List of Figures

396

(8)

List of Tables

404

(2)

List of Notes

406

(6)

List of Abbreviations

412

(2)

Bibliography

414

(8)

Index

422

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Climates and Weather Explained

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Climates and Weather Explained

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License