Dynamics in Atmospheric Physics

A text for first year graduate students in atmospheric sciences.

Richard A Lindzen (Author)

9780521018210, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 22 August 2005

324 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.5 kg

'Written with wit, peppered with personal anecdotes, and illustrated with simple physical problems, this text is a pleasure to read and acts as a useful reference book as well.' Howard B. Bluestein, The Times Higher Education Supplement

Motion is manifest in the atmosphere in an almost infinite variety of ways. In Dynamics in Atmospheric Physics, Dr Richard Lindzen describes the nature of motion in the atmosphere, develops fluid dynamics relevant to the atmosphere, and explores the role of motion in determining climate and atmospheric composition. The author presents the material in a lecture note style, and the emphasis throughout is on describing phenomena that are at the frontiers of current research, but due attention is given to the methodology of research and to the historical background of these topics. The author's treatment and choice of topics is didactic. Problems at the end of each chapter will help students assimilate the material. In general the discussions emphasize physical concepts, and throughout Dr Lindzen makes a concerted effort to avoid the notion that dynamic meteorology is simply the derivation of equations and their subsequent solution. His desire is that interested students will delve further into solution details. The book is intended as a text for first year graduate students in the atmospheric sciences. Although the material in the book is self contained, a familiarity with differential equations is assumed; some background in fluid mechanics is helpful.

Preface
1. Introductory remarks
2. Simple energy balance climate models
3. Effect of transport on composition
4. 'Statics' of a rotating system
5. Observed atmospheric structures
6. Equations of motion
7. Symmetric circulation models
8. Internal gravity waves, 1
9. Atmospheric tides
10. Internal gravity waves, 2
11. Rissby waves and the Gulf stream
12. Vorticity and quasi-geostrophy
13. The generation of eddies by instability, 1
14. Instability 2: energetics and climate implications
Postscripts
Appendix - Gravity wave program
References.

Subject Areas: Atmospheric physics [PHVJ]