The atmosphere and ocean : a physical introduction / Neil C. Wells.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wells, Neil.

Series:

Advancing weather and climate science.

Advancing weather and climate science

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Atmospheric physics.

Oceanography.

Physical Description:

vii, 411 p., [16] p. of plates : ill. (some col.).

Edition:

3rd ed.

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, 2012.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

The Atmosphere and Ocean The Atmosphere and Ocean is a fully revised and updated student friendly physical introduction to the atmosphere and ocean. Now in its Third Edition, the book continues to provide students with an accessible description of the atmosphere and ocean with emphasis on their physical properties and interdependence. Clearly structured throughout, the book demonstrates that the atmosphere and ocean are both subject to the influence of the Earth's rotation and therefore they have a common dynamical basis. The author clearly demonstrates the fundamental differences between the two environments and provides the reader with a much better understanding of the atmosphere and the ocean and an appreciation of their close interactive relationship. There have been many developments in the field over the past ten years and the latest edition of this highly successful textbook brings together new material on the ocean-atmosphere system and climate, the observed circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and radiation in the atmosphere and ocean. * Fully revised and updated Third Edition of student friendly physical introduction to the atmosphere and ocean. * Now includes new chapters on observed circulation of the atmosphere and ocean, energy flows in the ocean atmosphere system, modeling the ocean and atmosphere, the ocean atmosphere system and climate. * Well structured and written in an authoritative yet accessible style suitable for 2nd and 3rd year students taking courses in meteorology, oceanography and related Earth Sciences or as an introduction for graduate students. * Emphasis placed on physical properties and inter-dependence of the ocean and climate.

Contents:

Intro

The Atmosphere and Ocean

Contents

Series Foreword

Preface to the Third Edition

1 The Earth within the Solar System

1.1 The Sun and its constancy

1.2 Orbital variations in solar radiation

1.3 Radiative equilibrium temperature

1.4 Thermal inertia of the atmosphere

1.5 Albedo

1.6 The topography of the Earth's surface

2 Composition and Physical Properties of the Ocean and Atmosphere

2.1 Evolution of the atmosphere and ocean

2.2 Present-day composition of sea water

2.3 Introduction to gases and liquids

2.4 Hydrostatic equilibrium

2.5 Adiabatic changes and potential temperature

2.6 Vertical stability of the ocean and atmosphere

3 Radiation, Temperature and Stability

3.1 Vertical variation of atmospheric constituents

3.2 The attenuation of solar radiation

3.3 Absorption of planetary radiation

3.4 Vertical temperature profile and its relation to radiation

3.5 The absorption of solar radiation in the ocean

3.6 Diurnal and seasonal temperature cycles in the ocean

4 Water in the Atmosphere

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The moist atmosphere

4.3 Measurement and observation of water vapour

4.4 Stability in a moist atmosphere

4.5 Processes of precipitation and evaporation: The formation of clouds

4.6 Macroscopic processes in cloud formation

5 Global Budgets of Heat, Water and Salt

5.1 The measurement of heat budgets at the surface

5.2 Observations of surface heat fluxes and budgets

5.3 The measurement of the water budget

5.4 Observations of the water budget

5.5 The salt budget of the ocean

5.6 Temperature and salinity relationships in the ocean

5.7 Tracers in the ocean

6 Observations of Winds and Currents

6.1 Measurement of winds and currents

6.2 Scales of motion in the atmosphere and ocean

6.3 Time averaged circulation.

6.4 Time-dependent motion

7 The Influence of the Earth's Rotation on Fluid Motion

7.1 An introduction to the Earth's rotation

7.2 Inertial motion

7.3 Pressure gradients and geostrophic motion

7.4 Vorticity and circulation

7.5 The atmosphere and ocean boundary layers

7.6 Equatorial winds and currents

8 Waves and Tides

8.1 The spectrum of surface waves

8.2 Wind waves and swell

8.3 Long waves

8.4 Internal waves

8.5 Ocean tides

8.6 Storm surges

8.7 Atmospheric waves and tides

9 Energy Transfer in the Ocean-Atmosphere System

9.1 Modes of energy in the ocean-atmosphere system

9.2 The kinetic energy of the atmosphere and ocean

9.3 Mechanisms of kinetic energy transfer

9.4 General circulation of the atmosphere

9.5 General circulation of the ocean

10 Mathematical Modelling of the Ocean and Atmosphere

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Scientific modelling: A simple model of the surface layer of the ocean

10.3 A dynamical model of the ocean surface layer

10.4 Numerical solutions of mathematical models

10.5 Numerical solutions for momentum on a rotating Earth

10.6 Atmospheric and climate general circulation models

10.7 Global ocean models

10.8 Observations of the ocean and atmosphere

11 Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction

11.1 Air-sea interaction: An introduction

11.2 Seasonal anomalies of the ocean-land-atmosphere system

11.3 Interannual fluctuations in the ocean-atmosphere system

11.4 Decadal variations in the ocean-atmosphere system

12 Climate Change

12.1 Past climate observations

12.2 Mechanisms of climate change

12.3 Current climate change

12.4 Understanding recent climate change

12.5 Predicting future climate

Problems

Glossary

General Reading

Further Reading and References

Figure Sources

Appendices.

A Standard International (SI) Units

B SI Unit Prefixes

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781299189560

1299189563

9781119979845

1119979846

9781119994589

1119994586

9781119994596

1119994594

OCLC:

768732116