Fundamentals of Weather and Climate

Familiarity and modern, sheltered lifestyles can dull our awareness of the ever changing sky above us. But an unusually colourful sunset or threatening storm can rekindle interest, admiration, and even fear. Even so, we generally fail to comprehend the enormous scale, power, and complexity of the atmosphere. With the effects of global climate change becoming increasingly apparent, an understanding of the processes that underpin our weather and climate is vital. Fundamentals of Weather and Climate offers an engaging and insightful treatment of the behaviour of the lower atmosphere and takes a quantitative approach to describing the mechanisms involved. Beginning with an overview of the atmosphere and its components, the reader is introduced to the physics that drive weather systems, before setting these principles in the context of specific systems of differing scales and latitudes. Finally, the text draws this information together in relation to the problem of anthropogenic climate change. Custom drawn illustrations enliven and enhance the educational value of the text, enabling students to visualize the processes and interactions described more easily · Enhanced mathematical support opens the text to those without a strong mathematical background · Key points throughout reinforce the essential facts and themes being presented Online Resource Centre The Online Resource Centre to accompany Fundamentals of Weather and Climate features: For students: · Selected solutions to end of chapter problems · Hyperlinked bibliography · Useful weblinks For lecturers: · Selected solutions to end of chapter problems · Figures from the book in electronic format, ready to download