Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics
Fundamentals and Large-Scale Circulation

This second edition, now in full-color, provides a unified and comprehensive treatment of the atmosphere and ocean, for advanced students and researchers.

Geoffrey K. Vallis (Author)

9781107065505, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 June 2017

964 pages, 57 b/w illus. 293 colour illus.
26 x 20.7 x 4.6 cm, 2.34 kg

Praise for the first edition: '… highly recommended textbook: those who would like to gain a deeper understanding of the large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and at the same time want to be provided with the necessary hydrodynamic foundations, will be served very well indeed by this book.' Physik Journala

The atmosphere and ocean are two of the most important components of the climate system, and fluid dynamics is central to our understanding of both. This book provides a unified and comprehensive treatment of the field that blends classical results with modern interpretations. It takes the reader seamlessly from the basics to the frontiers of knowledge, from the equations of motion to modern theories of the general circulation of the atmosphere and ocean. These concepts are illustrated throughout the book with observations and numerical examples. As well as updating existing chapters, this full-color second edition includes new chapters on tropical dynamics, El Niño, the stratosphere and gravity waves. Supplementary resources are provided online, including figures from the book and problem sets, making this new edition an ideal resource for students in the atmospheric, oceanic and climate sciences, as well as in applied mathematics and engineering.

Preface
Part I. Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: 1. Equations of motion
2. Effects of rotation and stratification
3. Shallow water systems
4. Vorticity and potential vorticity
5. Geostrophic theory
Part II. Waves, Instabilities and Turbulence: 6. Wave fundamentals
7. Gravity waves
8. Linear dynamics at low latitudes
9. Barotropic and baroclinic instability
10. Waves, mean-flows and their interaction
11. Basics of incompressible turbulence
12. Geostrophic turbulence and baroclinic eddies
13. Turbulent diffusion and eddy transport
Part III. Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation: 14. The overturning circulation: Hadley and Ferrel cells
15. Zonally averaged mid-latitude atmospheric circulation
16. Planetary waves and zonal asymmetries
17. The stratosphere
18. Water vapour and the tropical atmosphere
Part IV. Large-Scale Oceanic Circulation: 19. Wind-driven gyres
20. Structure of the upper ocean
21. The meridional overturning circulation and the ACC
22. Equatorial circulation and El Niño
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Aerospace & aviation technology [TRP], Climate change [RNPG], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Oceanography [seas RBKC], Earth sciences [RB], Fluid mechanics [PHDF]