Applied Thermodynamics for Meteorologists

A textbook connecting fundamental physics to practical applications, for students in meteorology or atmospheric science and for working professionals as a reference text.

Sam Miller (Author)

9781107100718, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 June 2015

392 pages, 39 b/w illus. 52 colour illus. 52 tables 142 exercises
26.1 x 18.4 x 2.4 cm, 0.9 kg

'Miller's book is conversational and down-to-earth. He pays more attention to derivations than do most other authors. As he leads the student through the material, he notes assumptions carefully, while successfully avoiding the annoying 'it can be shown' tone of too many textbooks. Miller also provides data tables of key thermodynamic values for various substances, as I found to my delight while working on a research paper; the information is not easy to locate elsewhere … Numerous inclusions of real-life weather data, from surface weather maps to radiosonde soundings, relate the concepts to atmospheric observations.' John Knox, Physics Today

This textbook on atmospheric thermodynamics is for students of meteorology or atmospheric science. It also serves as a reference text for working professionals in meteorology and weather forecasting. It is unique because it provides complete, calculus-based derivations of basic physics from first principles, and connects mathematical relationships to real-world, practical weather forecasting applications. Worked examples and practice problems are included throughout.

1. Basic concepts and terminology
2. Equations of state
3. Work, heat, and temperature
4. The first law of thermodynamics
5. Adiabatic processes
6. The second law of thermodynamics
7. Water vapor and phase transitions
8. Moisture considerations: effects on temperature
9. Atmospheric statics
10. Model and standard atmospheres
11. Stability
12. Severe weather applications
Index.

Subject Areas: Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Earth sciences [RB], Thermodynamics & heat [PHH], Physics [PH]