Microclimate and Local Climate

This is a comprehensive treatment for advanced students and researchers in climatology, environmental science, geography, meteorology, agricultural science, and forestry.

Roger G. Barry (Author), Peter D. Blanken (Author)

9781107145627, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 May 2016

379 pages, 58 b/w illus. 31 colour illus. 48 tables
26.1 x 18.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.85 kg

'[The book's] many strengths include, in particular, the chapters on observations and instrumentation, radiation, energy and moisture monitoring from remote sensing, the microclimates of different vegetation environments, and Bioclimatology; the emphasis on urban climate processes at both micro and local-to-regional scales; the larger context and importance of global environmental changes …; consideration of a wide range of non-vegetated environments; the integration of modeling approaches with the observational and empirical approaches; the physical geography and environmental history contexts of many topics …; the Box topics; the high-quality figures and clear, incisive tables; and the inclusion of detailed information from published studies spanning the widest ranges geographically and temporally. In short, this book is an outstanding, essential addition to the personal library of every student of climate and environmental science writ large!' Andrew M. Carleton, Arctic Antarctic and Alpine Research

This book provides an up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of the variables and processes of microclimate and local climate, including radiation balance and energy balance. It describes and explains the climate within the lower atmosphere and upper soil, the region critical to life on Earth. Topics that are covered include not only the physical processes that affect microclimate, but also biological processes that affect vegetation and animals, including people. A geographic tour of the microclimates of the major ecosystems around the world is included. All major biomes and surface types, including urban areas, are examined, and the effects of climate change on microclimate are described. This book is invaluable for advanced students and researchers in climatology in departments of environmental science, geography, meteorology, agricultural science, and forestry.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
Part I. Controls of Microclimate: 2. Microclimatic elements
3. Methods of observation and instrumentation
4. Radiation
5. The energy balance
6. Monitoring and modeling of radiation and energy balance via remote sensing and land surface models
7. Microclimates of different vegetated environments
8. Microclimates of physical systems
9. Bioclimatology
Part II. Local Climates: 10. Urban climates
11. Topoclimatic effects on microclimate
Part III. Environmental Change: 12. The effects of climate change on microclimates
Problems
Glossary
Symbols
SI units and conversions
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Applied ecology [RNC], Physical geography & topography [RGB], Meteorology & climatology [RBP]