This revised text presents a cogent explanation of the fundamentals of meteorology, and explains storm dynamics for weather-oriented meteorologists. It discusses climate dynamics and the implications posed for global change. The new edition features a companion website with MATLAB exercises and updated treatments of several key topics. Much of the material is based on a two-term course for seniors majoring in atmospheric sciences.
Key features:
- lead author Gregory J. Hakim, a major contributor to the 4th Edition, succeeds James Holton (deceased) on this 5th Edition
- provides clear physical explanations of key dynamical principles
- contains a wealth of illustrations to elucidate text and equations, plus end-of-chapter problems
- and "Instructor's Manual" available to adopters. New in this edition: substantial chapter updates, and integration of new research on climate change
- content on the most recent developments in predictability, data assimilation, climate sensitivity, and generalized stability
- a fresh streamlined pedagogical approach to tropical meteorology, baroclinic development, and quasi-geostrophic theory
- aspects of synoptic meteorology provide stronger linkage to observations
- and companion website includes MATLAB codes for plotting animated weather patterns
- Problem sets and exercises
- streaming video, illustrations and figures
1. Introduction
2. The Basic Conservation Laws
3. Elementary Applications of the Basic Equations
4. Circulation and Vorticity
5. The Planetary Boundary Layer
6. Synoptic Scale Motions I: Quasi-geostrophic Analysis
7. Atmospheric Oscillations: Linear Perturbation Theory
8. Extratropical Synoptic Scale Motions II: Baroclinic Instability
9. Mesoscale Circulations
10. The General Circulation
11. Tropical Dynamics
12. Middle Atmosphere Dynamics
13. Numerical Prediction
Appendix A: Useful Constants and Parameters
Appendix B: List of Symbols
Appendix C: Vector Analysis
Appendix D: Moisture Variables
Appendix E: Standard Atmosphere Data
Appendix F: Symmetric Baroclinic Oscillations
Answers to Selected Problems
Review from previous editions:
"The book is very clearly and well written [...] the author succeeds in presenting the fundamentals while providing a motivating discussion on the full scope of dynamic meteorology and its applications."
– Jorg Matschullat, Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Center, in Environmental Geology, Vol. 49, March 2006
" [...] reflects the full scope of modern dynamic meteorology, while providing a presentation of the fundamentals."
– Bulletin American Meteorological Society
"The careful presentation of introductory material and clear discussion of dynamical principles make this an excellent basic account of dynamical meteorology."
– Journal of Fluid Mechanics