Physics and Chemistry of Clouds

A quantitative yet approachable clouds textbook for advanced students, researchers and professionals in atmospheric science, meteorology, environmental sciences/engineering, atmospheric chemistry.

Dennis Lamb (Author), Johannes Verlinde (Author)

9780521899109, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 April 2011

600 pages, 287 b/w illus. 2 tables 80 exercises
25.4 x 18.1 x 3.1 cm, 1.29 kg

'… very valuable … suited for readers such as advanced students in atmospheric science … a very useful and popular textbook in atmospheric physics classes …' Barbara Ervens, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

Clouds affect our daily weather and play key roles in the global climate. Through their ability to precipitate, clouds provide virtually all of the fresh water on Earth and are a crucial link in the hydrologic cycle. With ever-increasing importance being placed on quantifiable predictions - from forecasting the local weather to anticipating climate change - we must understand how clouds operate in the real atmosphere, where interactions with natural and anthropogenic pollutants are common. This textbook provides students - whether seasoned or new to the atmospheric sciences - with a quantitative yet approachable path to learning the inner workings of clouds. Developed over many years of the authors' teaching at Pennsylvania State University, Physics and Chemistry of Clouds is an invaluable textbook for advanced students in atmospheric science, meteorology, environmental sciences/engineering and atmospheric chemistry. It is also a very useful reference text for researchers and professionals.

1. Introduction
2. The atmospheric setting
3. Equilibria
4. Change
5. Cloud thermodynamics
6. Cloud formation and evolution
7. Nucleation
8. Growth from the vapor
9. Growth by collection
10. Evolution of supersaturation
11. Warm clouds
12. Cold clouds
13. Cloud chemistry
14. Electrification
Appendix A. Cloud classification
Appendix B. Basics of thermodynamics
Appendix C. Boltzmann distribution
Index.

Subject Areas: Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]