Introduction to Circulating Atmospheres

An advanced undergraduate text on the large scale circulation of the atmosphere.

I. N. James (Author)

9780521429351, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 October 1995

448 pages, 178 b/w illus. 66 exercises
24.6 x 18.9 x 2.3 cm, 0.8 kg

' … this is a valuable new textbook in atmospheric dynamics … it is heartily recommended.' P. Haynes, Journal of Fluid Mechanics

This book gives an account of the modern view of the global circulation of the atmosphere. It brings the observed nature of the circulation together with theories and simple models of the mechanisms which drive it. Early chapters concentrate on the classical view of the global circulation, on the processes which generate atmospheric motions and on the dynamical constraints which modify them. Later chapters develop more recent themes including low frequency variability and the circulations of other planetary atmospheres. The book will be of interest to advanced students and researchers who wish for an introduction to the subject before engaging with the original scientific literature. The book is copiously illustrated, and includes many results of diagnostic and modelling studies. Each chapter includes a set of problems and bibliographical notes.

1. The governing physical laws
2. Observing and modelling the global circulation
3. The atmospheric heat engine
4. The zonal mean meridional circulation
5. Transient disturbances in the mid-latitudes
6. Wave propagation and the steady eddies
7. Three dimensional aspects of the global circulation
8. Low frequency variability of the circulation
9. The stratosphere
10. Planetary atmospheres and other fluid systems.

Subject Areas: Atmospheric physics [PHVJ]