Mountain Weather and Climate remains the only all-encompassing textbook describing mountain weather and climate processes. Results from several recent major field programs have been incorporated into this completely updated edition, including the European Alpine Experiment, studies of air drainage in the western United States and experiments on air flow over low hills. There are many new figures and selected regional case studies including new material on central Asia, Tibet, Greenland, Antarctica, the Andes, New Zealand, the Alps and equatorial East Africa. Chapters examine topics from human bioclimatology, weather hazards and air pollution, to current climate change in mountain regions. Beginning with historical aspects of mountain meteorology, the book deals with the latitudinal, altitudinal and topographic controls of meteorological elements, circulation systems related to orography, and the climatic characteristics of mountains. It is ideal for graduates and researchers in meteorology, climatology, ecology, forestry, glaciology and hydrology.
Author(s): Roger G. Barry
Edition: 3
Year: 2008
Language: English
Pages: 512
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Figures......Page 9
Tables......Page 21
Preface to the third edition......Page 23
Acknowledgments......Page 24
1.1.1 Historical perceptions......Page 27
1.2 Characteristics of mountain areas......Page 28
1.3 History of research into mountain weather and climate......Page 31
1.4 The study of mountain weather and climate......Page 37
1.4.1 Advances in instrumentation......Page 40
Bibliography......Page 42
Proceedings of alpine meteorology conferences......Page 48
Carpathian Meteorology Conference......Page 49
2.1 Latitude......Page 50
2.2 Continentality......Page 52
2.3 Altitude......Page 57
2.3.1 Air pressure and density......Page 58
2.3.2 Vapor pressure......Page 59
2.3.3 Solar radiation......Page 61
2.3.4 Ultraviolet radiation......Page 69
2.3.5 Infrared radiation......Page 73
2.3.6 Net radiation......Page 75
2.3.7 Temperature......Page 78
2.3.8 Wind......Page 96
2.4 Topography......Page 98
2.4.1 Dimensional effects......Page 99
2.4.2 Relief effects......Page 107
2.4.3 Slope and aspect......Page 113
2.4.4 Topo- and microclimates......Page 122
2.4.4.1 Microclimatic gradients......Page 123
2.4.4.2 Topoclimatic effects......Page 127
Notes......Page 134
Bibliography......Page 136
3.1.1 Planetary-scale effects......Page 151
3.1.1.1 Topography in GCMs......Page 155
3.1.2.1 Blocking effects and barrier winds......Page 158
3.1.2.2 Frontal modifications......Page 164
3.1.2.3 Lee cyclogenesis......Page 169
3.1.3.1 Wave phenomena......Page 176
3.1.3.2 Associated cloud forms......Page 194
3.1.4.1 Föhn......Page 196
3.1.4.2 Bora......Page 201
3.1.4.3 Windstorms......Page 205
3.1.4.4 Katabatic winds......Page 209
3.2 Thermally induced winds......Page 212
3.2.1 Slope winds......Page 213
3.2.2 Mountain and valley winds......Page 222
3.2.2.1 Winds in the Grand Canyon......Page 241
3.2.3 Regional-scale interactions......Page 243
3.2.3.1 Models of the orographic wind field......Page 252
3.3 Notes......Page 256
Bibliography......Page 257
4.1 Energy budgets......Page 277
4.2.1 Slope profile......Page 285
4.2.2 Thermal belts and cold air lakes......Page 290
4.3 Clouds......Page 292
4.4.1 Precipitation processes......Page 299
4.4.2 Altitudinal characteristics......Page 308
4.4.3 Evaluating the orographic component......Page 314
4.4.4 Snowfall and snow cover......Page 318
4.4.5 Theoretical models of orographic precipitation......Page 323
4.4.6 Observational problems......Page 332
4.5.1 Fog......Page 342
4.5.2 Fog precipitation......Page 343
4.5.3 Rime......Page 345
4.5.4.1 Blowing and drifting snow......Page 349
4.6.1 Processes and methods of calculation......Page 354
4.6.1.2 Energy balance method......Page 355
4.6.1.3 The aerodynamic method......Page 356
4.6.1.4 Combination methods......Page 357
4.6.1.5 Measurements......Page 358
4.6.2 Evaporation and water balance......Page 359
Bibliography......Page 368
5.1.1 New Guinea......Page 389
5.1.2 East Africa......Page 391
5.2 The Himalaya......Page 394
5.3 Sub-tropical desert mountains – the Hoggar and Tibesti......Page 404
5.4 Central Asia......Page 407
5.5 The Alps......Page 412
5.6 The maritime mountains of Great Britain......Page 423
5.7 The Rocky Mountains in Colorado......Page 427
5.8 The sub-polar St. Elias mountains – Alaska/Yukon......Page 433
5.9 High plateaus......Page 437
5.9.1 The Tibetan Plateau......Page 438
5.9.2 The ice plateaus......Page 441
5.9.2.1 Antarctica......Page 442
5.9.2.2 Greenland......Page 446
5.10.1 Equatorial and tropical Andes......Page 447
5.10.2 The dry subtropical Andes......Page 449
5.10.3 The wet Andes......Page 451
5.11 New Zealand Alps......Page 452
Bibliography......Page 453
6.1.1.1 Oxygen deficiency......Page 470
6.1.1.2 The human energy budget and cold effects......Page 473
6.1.2 Clothing......Page 477
6.1.4 Adaptations......Page 478
6.1.4.1 High altitude......Page 479
6.1.4.2 Sub-freezing temperatures......Page 481
6.2.1 Lightning......Page 482
6.2.2 Snow avalanches......Page 484
6.3 Air pollution in mountain regions......Page 486
6.3.1 Pollution characteristics......Page 487
6.3.2 Controls of atmospheric diffusion in complex terrain......Page 488
Bibliography......Page 494
7.1 Evidence......Page 500
7.1.1 Temperature trends......Page 501
7.1.2 Precipitation and snow pack......Page 505
7.1.3 Proxy data......Page 507
7.2 Significance......Page 512
Bibliography......Page 514
Energy conversion factors......Page 521
Index......Page 523
