The Atmosphere and Ocean is a fully revised and updated student friendly physical introduction to the atmosphere and ocean. Now in its Third Edition, the book continues to provide students with an accessible description of the atmosphere and ocean with emphasis on their physical properties and inter-dependence.Clearly structured throughout, the book demonstrates that the atmosphere and ocean are both subject to the influence of the earth's rotation and therefore they have a common dynamical basis. The author clearly demonstrates the fundamental differences between the two environments and provides the reader with a much better understanding of the atmosphere and the ocean and an appreciation of their closest interactive relationship. There have been many developments in the field over the past ten years and this latest edition of a highly successful textbook brings together new material on the ocean-atmosphere system and climate, the observed circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and radiation in the atmosphere and ocean.Fully revised and updated 3rd Edition of student friendly physical introduction to the atmosphere and ocean.Now includes new chapters on observed circulation of the atmosphere and ocean, energy flows in the ocean atmosphere system, modeling the ocean and atmosphere, the ocean atmosphere system and climate.Well structured and written in an authoritative yet accessible style suitable for 2nd and 3rd year students taking courses in meteorology, oceanography and related Earth Sciences or as an introduction for graduate students.Emphasis placed on physical properties and inter-dependence of the ocean and climate.
Author(s): Neil C. Wells
Edition: 3
Publisher: Wiley
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 424
Tags: Науки о Земле;Метеорология и климатология;
The Atmosphere and Ocean......Page 3
Contents......Page 7
Series Foreword......Page 11
Preface to the Third Edition......Page 13
1.1 The Sun and its constancy......Page 15
1.2 Orbital variations in solar radiation......Page 18
1.3 Radiative equilibrium temperature......Page 22
1.4 Thermal inertia of the atmosphere......Page 24
1.5 Albedo......Page 28
1.6 The topography of the Earth's surface......Page 32
2.1 Evolution of the atmosphere and ocean......Page 39
2.2 Present-day composition of sea water......Page 43
2.3 Introduction to gases and liquids......Page 45
2.4 Hydrostatic equilibrium......Page 53
2.5 Adiabatic changes and potential temperature......Page 55
2.6 Vertical stability of the ocean and atmosphere......Page 60
3.1 Vertical variation of atmospheric constituents......Page 67
3.2 The attenuation of solar radiation......Page 72
3.3 Absorption of planetary radiation......Page 79
3.4 Vertical temperature profile and its relation to radiation......Page 81
3.5 The absorption of solar radiation in the ocean......Page 89
3.6 Diurnal and seasonal temperature cycles in the ocean......Page 92
4.1 Introduction......Page 97
4.2 The moist atmosphere......Page 98
4.3 Measurement and observation of water vapour......Page 100
4.4 Stability in a moist atmosphere......Page 102
4.5 Processes of precipitation and evaporation: The formation of clouds......Page 108
4.6 Macroscopic processes in cloud formation......Page 120
5.1 The measurement of heat budgets at the surface......Page 125
5.2 Observations of surface heat fluxes and budgets......Page 131
5.3 The measurement of the water budget......Page 140
5.4 Observations of the water budget......Page 141
5.5 The salt budget of the ocean......Page 145
5.6 Temperature and salinity relationships in the ocean......Page 148
5.7 Tracers in the ocean......Page 155
6.1 Measurement of winds and currents......Page 161
6.2 Scales of motion in the atmosphere and ocean......Page 173
6.3 Time averaged circulation......Page 178
6.4 Time-dependent motion......Page 189
7.1 An introduction to the Earth's rotation......Page 195
7.2 Inertial motion......Page 198
7.3 Pressure gradients and geostrophic motion......Page 201
7.4 Vorticity and circulation......Page 211
7.5 The atmosphere and ocean boundary layers......Page 220
7.6 Equatorial winds and currents......Page 224
8.1 The spectrum of surface waves......Page 233
8.2 Wind waves and swell......Page 237
8.3 Long waves......Page 244
8.4 Internal waves......Page 248
8.5 Ocean tides......Page 251
8.6 Storm surges......Page 258
8.7 Atmospheric waves and tides......Page 263
9.1 Modes of energy in the ocean–atmosphere system......Page 267
9.2 The kinetic energy of the atmosphere and ocean......Page 273
9.3 Mechanisms of kinetic energy transfer......Page 276
9.4 General circulation of the atmosphere......Page 285
9.5 General circulation of the ocean......Page 291
10.1 Introduction......Page 297
10.2 Scientific modelling: A simple model of the surface layer of the ocean......Page 298
10.3 A dynamical model of the ocean surface layer......Page 302
10.4 Numerical solutions of mathematical models......Page 305
10.5 Numerical solutions for momentum on a rotating Earth......Page 307
10.6 Atmospheric and climate general circulation models......Page 309
10.7 Global ocean models......Page 315
10.8 Observations of the ocean and atmosphere......Page 319
11.1 Air-sea interaction: An introduction......Page 329
11.2 Seasonal anomalies of the ocean-land-atmosphere system......Page 336
11.3 Interannual fluctuations in the ocean-atmosphere system......Page 340
11.4 Decadal variations in the ocean-atmosphere system......Page 346
12.1 Past climate observations......Page 351
12.2 Mechanisms of climate change......Page 355
12.3 Current climate change......Page 360
12.4 Understanding recent climate change......Page 364
12.5 Predicting future climate......Page 365
Problems......Page 367
Glossary......Page 383
General Reading......Page 391
Further Reading and References......Page 393
Figure Sources......Page 399
B SI Unit Prefixes......Page 405
Index......Page 407
