The Global Circulation of the Atmosphere

Published by Princeton University Press 2008

The Global Circulation of the Atmosphere

Edited by: Tapio Schneider and Adam H. Sobel
Preface by: Edward N. Lorenz

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691236919

Overview
Contents

About this book

Despite major advances in the observation and numerical simulation of the atmosphere, basic features of the Earth's climate remain poorly understood. Integrating the available data and computational resources to improve our understanding of the global circulation of the atmosphere remains a challenge. Theory must play a critical role in meeting this challenge. This book provides an authoritative summary of the state of the art on this front.

Bringing together sixteen of the field's leading experts to address those aspects of the global circulation of the atmosphere most relevant to climate, the book brings the reader up to date on the key frontiers in general circulation theory-including the nonlinear and turbulent global-scale dynamics that determine fundamental aspects of the Earth's climate. While emphasizing theory, as expressed through relatively simple mathematical models, it also draws connections to simulations with comprehensive general circulation models. Topics include the dynamics of storm tracks, interactions between wave dynamics and the hydrological cycle, monsoons, tropical and extratropical dynamics and interactions, and the processes controlling atmospheric humidity.

An essential resource for graduate students in atmospheric, ocean, and climate sciences and for researchers seeking an overview of the field, The Global Circulation of the Atmosphere sets the standard for future research in a science that stands at a critical juncture.

With a foreword by Edward Lorenz, the book includes chapters by Christopher Bretherton; Kerry Emanuel; Isaac Held; David Neelin; Raymond Pierrehumbert, Hélène Brogniez, and Rémy Roca; Alan Plumb; Walter Robinson; Tapio Schneider; Richard Seager and David Battisti; Adam Sobel; Kyle Swanson; and Pablo Zurita-Gotor and Richard Lindzen.

Author / Editor information

Tapio Schneider is assistant professor of environmental science and engineering at the California Institute of Technology. Adam H. Sobel is associate professor of applied physics and applied mathematics and of earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University.

Reviews

"This is a terrific collection of articles. The authors, all authorities in their respective subfields, provide a diverse and insightful view of the general circulation of the atmosphere, and the book as a whole makes a unique and valuable contribution to the field. It can be used profitably by graduate students and by scientists as a general resource; furthermore, journal clubs can find here a ready-made curriculum."—Geoffrey Vallis, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and Princeton University

"This is an authoritative status report on the current theoretical understanding of the general circulation of the atmosphere, one that will be of value for many years to come."—John M. Wallace, University of Washington

"[This book] represents an outstanding aggregation of science at the forefront written by leading experts of the field. It is hard to imagine someone reading it without enhancing their insight into the fascinating field of the general circulation of the atmosphere."---Thomas Birner, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

"This edited volume, derived from a three-day conference held in 2004, includes 12 comprehensive chapters covering various aspects of the global circulation. The authors are experts in their respective fields; hence the chapters are very informative."---S.C. Pryor, Choice

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Foreword Edward N. Lorenz Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Chapter 1 Progress and Problems in Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics Isaac M. Held Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2 Theories of Baroclinic Adjustment and Eddy Equilibration Pablo Zurita-Gotor and Richard S. Lindzen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
Chapter 3 The Thermal Stratification of the Extratropical Troposphere Tapio Schneider Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
Chapter 4 Storm Track Dynamics Kyle L. Swanson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	78
Chapter 5 Eddy-Mediated Interactions Between Low Latitudes and the Extratropics Walter A. Robinson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	104
Chapter 6 On the Relative Humidity of the Atmosphere Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, Hélène Brogniez and Rémy Roca Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
Chapter 7 Quasi-Equilibrium Dynamics of the Tropical Atmosphere Kerry Emanuel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	186
Chapter 8 Simple Models of Ensemble-Averaged Tropical Precipitation and Surface Wind, Given the Sea Surface Temperature Adam H. Sobel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	219
Chapter 9 Dynamical Constraints on Monsoon Circulations R. Alan Plumb Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	252
Chapter 10 Moist Dynamics of Tropical Convection Zones in Monsoons, Teleconnections, and Global Warming J. David Neelin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267
Chapter 11 Challenges in Numerical Modeling of Tropical Circulations Christopher S. Bretherton Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	302
Chapter 12 Challenges to Our Understanding of the General Circulation: Abrupt Climate Change Richard Seager and David S. Battisti Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	331
List of Contributors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	373
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	375

Language: English
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 400
Illustrations
- Other: 140 b/w illus.
Keywords: Atmospheric circulation; Climatology; Interaction; Climate; General circulation model; Observation; David Battisti; Tapio Schneider; Edward Norton Lorenz; Adam Sobel; Isaac Held; Kerry Emanuel; Process control; Theory; Richard Lindzen; Water cycle; Storm track; Computational resource; Raymond Pierrehumbert; Monsoon; Humidity; Simulation; Overview (debate); Postgraduate education; Expert; Science; Juncture; Computer simulation; Understanding

eBook

Published: September 14, 2021
ISBN: 9780691236919