The global circulation of the atmosphere / edited by Tapio Schneider and Adam H. Sobel ; foreword by Edward N. Lorenz.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Schneider, Tapio, 1972- editor.

Sobel, Adam H., 1967- editor.

Lorenz, Edward N., writer of foreword.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Atmospheric circulation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (402 pages)

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey ; Oxford : Princeton University Press, [2007]

Summary:

Despite major advances in the observation and numerical simulation of the atmosphere, basic features of the Earth's climate remain poorly understood. Integrating the available data and computational resources to improve our understanding of the global circulation of the atmosphere remains a challenge. Theory must play a critical role in meeting this challenge. This book provides an authoritative summary of the state of the art on this front. Bringing together sixteen of the field's leading experts to address those aspects of the global circulation of the atmosphere most relevant to climate, the book brings the reader up to date on the key frontiers in general circulation theory-including the nonlinear and turbulent global-scale dynamics that determine fundamental aspects of the Earth's climate. While emphasizing theory, as expressed through relatively simple mathematical models, it also draws connections to simulations with comprehensive general circulation models. Topics include the dynamics of storm tracks, interactions between wave dynamics and the hydrological cycle, monsoons, tropical and extratropical dynamics and interactions, and the processes controlling atmospheric humidity. An essential resource for graduate students in atmospheric, ocean, and climate sciences and for researchers seeking an overview of the field, The Global Circulation of the Atmosphere sets the standard for future research in a science that stands at a critical juncture. With a foreword by Edward Lorenz, the book includes chapters by Christopher Bretherton; Kerry Emanuel; Isaac Held; David Neelin; Raymond Pierrehumbert, Hélène Brogniez, and Rémy Roca; Alan Plumb; Walter Robinson; Tapio Schneider; Richard Seager and David Battisti; Adam Sobel; Kyle Swanson; and Pablo Zurita-Gotor and Richard Lindzen.

Contents:

Progress and problems in large-scale atmospheric dynamics / Issac M. Held

Theories of baroclinic adjustment and eddy equilibration / Pablo Zurita-Gotor and Richard S. Lindzen

The thermal stratification of the extratropical troposphere / Tapio Schneider

Storm track dynamics / Kyle L. Swanson

Eddy-mediated interactions between low latitudes and the extratropics / Walter A. Robinson

On the relative humidity of the atmosphere / Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, Hélène Brogniez, and Rémy Roca

Quasi-equilibrium dynamics of the tropical atmosphere / Kerry Emanuel

Simple models of ensemble-averaged tropical precipitation and surface wind, given the sea surface temperature / Adam H. Sobel

Dynamical constraints on monsoon circulations / R. Alan Plumb

Moist dynamics of tropical convection zones in monsoons, teleconnections, and global warming / J. David Neelin

Challenges in numerical modeling of tropical circulations / Christopher S. Bretherton

Challenges to our understanding of the general circulation: abrupt climate change / Richard Seager and David S. Battisti.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691236919

0691236917

OCLC:

1264471127